There aren’t any scarcity of 16-bit throwbacks on the PS Retailer, however some stand head and shoulders above the remaining. The forgettably named Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is one such launch: a white-knuckle mixture of Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Grasp on SEGA Genesis and Mega Man X on the Tremendous Nintendo, full with a Mode 7-inspired bike chase sequence and an H.R. Giger-infused cyberpunk pixel artwork aesthetic – that is important for retro fans.
A politically charged storyline involving a totalitarian state backdrops the throwback motion, however all you actually need to know is that you simply’re a man-made samurai-wielding tremendous soldier who’s rejected your true objective and launching an offensive in your creators. This units the stage for a number of diversified ranges, every with their very own distinctive flavour, foes, and boss fights. You may clear the marketing campaign inside a couple of hours, however there’s replay worth find the entire secrets and techniques and reaching a excessive rating.
As you’d count on of the period the title’s impressed by, the gameplay is punishing – however not frustratingly so. Developer JoyMasher has neatly put in checkpoints to minimise repetition, and also you’ll start to know fight patterns fairly shortly, supplying you with a gratifying benefit over your foes. The controls are tight, permitting you to settle right into a movement of platforming and fight, which is gratuitous and violent in the absolute best manner. (Some enemies will actually slide aside as you rip your sword by means of their torso.)
As you uncover secrets and techniques, you’ll unlock augments which may complement your playstyle. In some cases, these can be utilized to make the gameplay extra manageable – like rising your armour on the expense of your rating being capped – whereas others level out collectibles. Very like within the aforementioned Mega Man, you’ll be able to sort out the degrees in any order, and also you’ll unlock new particular weapons with every boss you defeat, including a component of technique to the way you strategy the marketing campaign.
Every stage feels distinctive, and goes by means of phases that make sure the gameplay stays fascinating and interesting. And it’s all complemented by a jaw-dropping artwork type, which may really feel a little bit grungy occasionally, however has some true standout set-piece moments – just like the boss enemies that fill the complete display screen. A CRT toggle is obtainable for true retro fans, however we most well-liked to play with unfiltered, razor-sharp 4K pixels. And we beloved each minute.
