The Sega Genesis / Mega Drive is getting another dose of classic fantasy action, and fans of Golden Axe may want to keep an eye on an upcoming homebrew project called Morning Star. Inspired by some of the most recognizable fantasy beat ’em ups of the 1990s, the game looks to bring back the sort of cooperative arcade action that helped make the genre so memorable.
Developed by a five-person team, Morning Star draws inspiration from both Golden Axe and Dungeons & Dragons, with its first footage showcasing a hammer-wielding dwarf taking on groups of goblins and orcs. The brief gameplay glimpse already establishes a distinctly old-school fantasy atmosphere, complete with colourful pixel art, scrolling environments, and plenty of enemies to knock around.
There are also some interesting features planned beyond its obvious inspirations. According to lead programmer Jorge Adriano Luna, Morning Star will feature four playable heroes, two-player cooperative multiplayer, magical attacks, magic items, and mountable creatures. The latter should particularly appeal to anyone familiar with Golden Axe, where riding creatures into battle was one of the series’ defining gameplay elements.
The project is being developed by Jorge Adriano Luna, with Paulo Italo Medeiros and Thiago Limaverde handling artwork, homebrew developer @amaweks working on the levels, and RDiggoSilva composing the music. It is an ambitious collection of features for a small development team, particularly when considering that the project is being built for Sega’s original 16-bit hardware.
While Morning Star is still in development, its initial footage offers an encouraging glimpse of what the team is attempting to accomplish. There is certainly no shortage of retro-inspired beat ’em ups these days, but seeing a new fantasy adventure embrace the particular appeal of Golden Axe and the classic Dungeons & Dragons arcade games makes this one worth following.
There is currently no confirmed release date, but fans can follow the project’s development for future updates.