Cyber fightin’ ninja
You would be excused if you didn’t recognize Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider. Aside from the jumbled name and the fact that there are so many 16-bit inspired games released on a weekly basis, it is easy to lose them in the shuffle. What sets this one apart from the standard fare though is that it comes from JoyMasher. This two-man development team is responsible for some of the better games clinging to that nostalgia such as Oniken and of course Blazing Chrome. Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider continues that trend by mashing together a bunch of styles including HR Giger, Sega Genesis pixel art, and even some Mega Man to create a unique experience that is worth checking out.
The story as one would imagine is more of a backdrop than a gripping narrative. It feels pulled right out of 80s sci-fi, which works considering the style. Players assume the role of Moonrider, a robot samurai created by a totalitarian government to rule over its people. Moonrider becomes aware and decides to not go along with their plans and instead works to take them down. That’s it. The game spans eight stages and is built more with execution in mind than driving home a narrative.
MSRP: $16.99
Platforms: PlayStation (reviewed), Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $16.99
Games mimicking this era rarely nail what made them special. JoyMasher does this better than most and Moonrider is no exception. The game is eight stages mostly consisting of moving left-to-right and killing everything on the way while tackling some challenging platforming from time to time. This game is difficult, but not impossible. The developers have dropped plenty of checkpoints and any time I died, I knew it was my fault. This is a delicate balance that few get right. This game had me frustrated, but never enough to quit. Instead it had me coming back over and over, and that is excellent game design.
There are augments obtainable in the game. These serve as the collectibles so they are not part of the critical path. Instead they work more as secrets that help to alleviate some of the game’s challenge. Things like padding armor while handicapping your high score. It is a push and pull system that further enforces the speed run mentality behind the game. There are even scores and ratings based on time and performance. This game was built with multiple playthroughs in mind. The idea is to learn and master, which is neat for players for sure and helps pad out the otherwise short run time.
What I really liked about Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is that each level feels like a theme park ride. Each one has its own unique design and style. There is even a Mode-7 inspired motorcycle level. Combined with the crystal clear pixel art that feels like a 4K Genesis game and it truly is worth playing just to see everything. The game runs beautifully and has some great sound effects and music. There is so much to love about this game if you grew up humming the ‘Sega’ theme.
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider stands out among the pack of games looking to capture that 16-bit nostalgia. It is not just an art style. There are so many pieces that go into making a modern retro game and JoyMasher continues to prove they are better at it than most. I highly recommend this game and don’t let it slip through the cracks. It is definitely one of the better ones available.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
