Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider appears like a sport from a unique time. That is apparent on a floor stage with its presentation. It’s a retro-inspired motion platformer with a 16-bit artwork model that prioritizes precision and problem over narrative. But it surely goes one step additional with regards to its nostalgic pool of reference: invoking a mixture of 90s cyberpunk and pulpy ultraviolent tokusatsu. The result’s like discovering a extremely underrated videogame tie-in to a movie that does not exist.
I would Purchase That For A Greenback
The story of Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is convoluted however acquainted. It is set within the far future the place a totalitarian regime has risen up. They’re utilizing robots, in addition to mysterious cyborg tremendous warriors, to maintain the inhabitants scared and in line. You play as one in every of these tremendous warriors, Moonrider, who awakens from a stasis chamber within the basement of a secret laboratory. Enraged by the oppression of the folks, he takes up a laser katana and proceeds to struggle a one man struggle towards the dangerous guys.
Whereas that’s the fundamental define of the story of Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider, how it’s instructed is disjointed at finest. The primary batch of cutscenes opens with some Robocop-esque channel browsing, displaying snippets of the world outdoors of the degrees. These scenes flounder between acquainted vignettes of darkish satire – a cooking present giving recommendation on easy methods to make your rations last more – and information experiences of a higher battle occurring within the margins. The scenes are additionally intercut with Moonrider piecing collectively his previous whereas giving lengthy speeches in regards to the risks of fascism and the ability of the human spirit.
These components do give Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider a tacky B-movie appeal, but it surely does not conceal the truth that the story is filled with holes. I wasn’t being dismissive after I in contrast the sport’s story to a licensed film tie-in. There are a number of factors all through the sport the place characters go away, change sides, or are referenced for seemingly no motive. There is a subplot the place a bunch of human resistance fighters begins attacking the corrupt leaders’ headquarters, which is resolved in two cutscenes. Moonrider seemingly figures out in every single place he must go and has a dramatic revelation about his origins offscreen. This erratic narrative pacing stored making me think about the slower-paced character drama and build-up that might have occurred within the film the sport is predicated on filling in these gaps.
Transfer Appropriately, Do Not Die
Fortunately, Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is extra keen on being a automobile for high-speed motion than telling a cohesive story, which is the place it shines. The core gameplay takes a number of hints from the Ninja Gaiden and Shinobi sequence. You progress to the best, lower by way of enemies, navigate platforming challenges, and struggle a boss on the finish. To do all of this you’ve got a three-hit combo together with your laser sword, a wall soar, a drop kick assault, and a few particular assaults tied to a particular meter.
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider retains every of its ranges attention-grabbing with a ton of entertaining setpieces. These embrace being pursued by a killer robotic, escaping a burning constructing, preventing waves of enemies on a bike, navigating laser traps whereas transferring by way of a moon base, and avoiding aerial bombardment whereas leaping throughout enemy fighter jets. All of those sequences are bolstered by a catchy techno soundtrack and artwork path that mixes Japanese sci-fi aesthetics, chunky mecha designs, and sprite animation full of bloody satisfying punch.
No Recreation Genie Required
However whereas Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider excels in presentation and spectacle, there are a number of points that preserve the gameplay from hitting moments of pure zen. Moonrider’s wall soar is the most important offender because it feels barely off in responsiveness in comparison with fast and punchy assault animations. Finally, you get used to it, however it may actually mess up the rhythm of blazing by way of a stage. Moreover, whereas the sport does have a Mega Man-style stage choose display screen, there is not a lot incentive to play them in a sure order. Each single particular assault is equally efficient towards bosses: the most important hitters by far being the Darkish Portal and Photon Sprint. The closest factor to an optimum path is collectible armor chips scattered all through every stage, which offer bonuses like a double soar or therapeutic each time you kill an enemy.
Lastly, regardless of pulling references from notoriously tougher video games, Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is not notably unfair or exhausting. Whereas sure boss battles might be exercised in “Nintendo Arduous” frustration, nearly all of every stage might be blazed by way of in a trance as a consequence of a number of trendy design touches. Therapeutic objects, further lives, and particular assault power are given away generously. Falling down a pit is not an on the spot kill. Enemy assaults are all well-telegraphed with wind-up animations and dependable patterns. Lastly, there are checkpoints outdoors every boss’s struggle enviornment. Couple this with a mix of sure armor chips and the sport’s sense of problem modifications from the stuff that raises your blood stress to a lightweight adrenaline rush.
This does not imply that Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider feels dangerous to play. Actually, when you acknowledge that retro inspirations are extra in regards to the look than the texture, it turns into a vastly pleasing delight. If you happen to’re an motion platformer veteran, you may simply clear the complete sport in about two hours, give or take an additional hour when you hunt for all the armor chips. The lean runtime is aided by how no setpieces are repeated or padded out, which marks good design. Additionally, when you get pleasure from pace runs or no-hit runs, there’s a rank and rating system so that you can compete with your mates.
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider | Remaining Verdict
If you happen to ever needed to seize the texture of renting a cult basic late 90s motion platformer for an thrilling afternoon, then I like to recommend Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider. It isn’t essentially the most tightly designed throwback to the SNES/Genesis period on the market, however with regards to embodying the model of that point, it’s a nostalgic rush that can not be matched.
TechRaptor reviewed Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider on PC with a duplicate supplied by the writer. The sport can also be obtainable on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Change.
