Axelay[a] is a 1992 scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Konami for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

Set in the fictional solar system Illis where an alien empire known as "Armada of Annihilation" invades its planets including the Earth-like Corliss (Mother), players take control of the titular D117B space fighter craft as a last resort to stop the alien invasion by recovering its lost weaponry.

The gameplay mainly consist of both vertical-scrolling and horizonal-scrolling stages in the same vein as Konami's own Life Force, with players choosing three different weapon-types that increase in number as they progress through the game.

Headed by Super Castlevania IV producer Kazumi Kitaue, Axelay was developed by most of the same team that would later go on to form Treasure, the creators of Gunstar Heroes.

The title became popular and regarded by publications as a classic of the shoot 'em up genre, garnering praise for its visuals, music and an advanced selection of weapons available at the time.

Axelay is a scrolling shooter similar to Konami's own Life Force where players take control of the D117B space fighter craft as a last resort to stop the Armada of Annihilation by recovering its lost weaponry through six stages, each with a boss at the end that must be fought before progressing any further.

Getting hit by enemy fire or colliding against solid stage obstacles will result in losing a life and once all lives are lost, the game is over though players have the option to continue playing via a limited number of credits.

Having traversed the cloud covered Cumuluses, the space colony Tralieb, the largely populated Urbanite, the watery Cavern, and Sector 3 Lava Planet, the Axelay D117B fighter makes its way to the fortress of Armada of Annihilation and completes its mission.

[1] Axelay was designed by a group of Konami employees that would later go on to found Treasure, the creators of Gunstar Heroes.

[5] Tsunenari "Boncharu" Yada and "Furiten" Nagisa Tsuchiya acted as designers with Toshiharu Furukawa and M. "Kagenin Sasaki" Suzuki gave additional support during development, while artist Kazuhiro "PD."

[5] Former Konami Kukeiha Club composer Taro Kudo scored the soundtrack, however the music for the second stage boss ("Cosmic Dance!")

[9][10][11] The game was originally intended to be a Japanese exclusive but was given an international release in response to numerous letters from consumers and critics.

[20] Axelay's visual effects combined with what was then seen as an advanced selection of weapons available, as well as the music score, made it into a popular shooter for the SNES console.