Enjoyable whereas it lasts, this motion platformer performs largely by the numbers.
Revealed by The Arcade Crew, who additionally put out titles similar to Kunai and Infernax, Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is an motion platformer within the vein of Ninja Gaiden and Mega Man, with ample references to each traditional video games. Whereas the cyborg-looking Ninja that you just management, Moonrider, strikes and strikes in a clean trend, the eight ranges you may battle by means of provide little selection, and there actually is not something right here you have not seen earlier than.
Earlier than hopping into the primary story, I might say it is value finishing the temporary tutorial to acquainted your self with Moonrider’s equipment. You might have a fundamental sword slash that may type a three-strike combo, a particular transfer hooked up to an MP meter, and the flexibility to leap off of partitions to navigate vertical areas. In almost each stage you will discover energy modules that may be geared up to Moonrider so as to add perks and buffs, similar to stronger armor, automated MP regen, and well being restoration from defeating enemies. Most of those modules are rigorously hidden, usually inside secret passages, so it pays to be thorough in your exploration of every stage.
The eight complete ranges are divided into totally different areas and finish with a boss battle in opposition to foes designed very similar to Moonrider. Because of this, defeating these figures rewards you with a brand new particular transfer that may be chosen from a wheel menu; as you would possibly count on, a few of these skills are notably efficient in opposition to sure bosses in different phases. Quite a lot of mini-bosses pop up all through the sport as effectively, however the fundamental enemy selection is certainly missing. The degrees themselves, exterior of some underwater areas and a few motorcycle segments, are a very comparable aesthetic, making it onerous to tell apart between them. Fortuitously, you do have a alternative of phases after the primary one which opens the sport and may return to every to enhance your rating, time, rating and discover any hidden energy modules.
When it comes to visuals and its soundtrack, Vengeful Guardian completely appears and appears like a Sega Genesis or SNES title, and for higher or worse, it even retains a bit of little bit of jank, too. What hurts the aesthetic is how almost each stage seems darkish and gritty, with a number of blacks, greys, and browns that includes prominently on display. After some time, every part simply sort of blends collectively, and it’s simply not simple to distinguish one a part of a stage from one other. The pumping music coursing by means of every stage definitely helps to alleviate among the monotony, although.
Specializing in the minute-to-minute gameplay, guiding Moonrider by means of corridors, up elevator shafts, and throughout platforms is usually satisfying. Slicing and dicing enemies or utilizing the totally different beams and projectiles acquired from the bosses works effectively and can really feel acquainted to anybody who’s performed video games like this earlier than–Contra 3, Mega Man X, and Shinobi III all come to thoughts. Having initially skipped the tutorial, I assumed the one method to dash was to double faucet ahead; it’s a lot simpler, nonetheless, to easily press the ZR button, so right here’s hoping others can keep away from among the platforming complications I encountered by speeding headlong into the sport.
Whereas there’s definitely nothing actually off placing about Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider, it in the end feels fairly by-product. It does an admirable job of conjuring up emotions and impressions of the 16-bit period, nevertheless it fails to push the envelope in any significant approach. There’s little doubt that it’s an honest method to spend a pair hours so far as action-platformers go, and followers of the style–notably the retro-focused form–will get a kick out of one thing so clearly paying homage. For my cash, although, I’d have favored to see just a few twists and a bit extra danger taking with such a well-worn sort of online game. Falling in need of being a full Moonrider, Vengeful Guardian does sufficient to make rolling credit worthwhile, if not a lot else.
