The games that have inspired me the most in creating Axe & Bow Land are primarily Rainbow Islands, though SonSon has also influenced the gameplay and graphical style to a lesser extent. In terms of aesthetics, I would also cite games like Parasol Stars, Bubble Bobble Symphony, Adventure Island, and Alex Kidd in Miracle World, among others.
Rainbow Islands is one of my top three arcade games, alongside Final Fight and the first Shock Troopers. It’s an incredible game with a concept that is not only original but also extremely fun when you fully understand its mechanics, allowing it to be played like no other game. With Axe & Bow Land, we aimed to capture that essence and create a similar experience, but with its own unique identity.
For Bowie's levels, the archer, the initial inspiration was to design a gameplay style similar to SonSon by Capcom, but with vertical scrolling instead of horizontal. SonSon is a very original game because it plays like a horizontal spaceship shoot 'em up, but with a character moving on platforms and the ability to shoot backward. It’s a very fun experience and, compared to other arcade games of its time, it’s not overly difficult. Perhaps unfairly, it didn’t achieve the success of other games from that era, though it certainly deserves more recognition.
I also want to mention some recent indie games that have inspired me, particularly in puzzle design, such as ElecHead and VVVVVV. Both are more focused on puzzles and adventure but stay true to the roots of classic 2D games.