Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider Evaluation – Evaluation

Revealed by The Arcade Crew, who additionally put out titles comparable 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 easy vogue, the eight ranges you will battle by supply little selection, and there actually is not something right here you have not seen earlier than.

Earlier than hopping into the principle story, I might say it is value finishing the transient tutorial to acquainted your self with Moonrider’s package. You have got 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 practically each stage you’ll find energy modules that may be outfitted to Moonrider so as to add perks and buffs, comparable to stronger armor, computerized MP regen, and well being restoration from defeating enemies. Most of those modules are fastidiously hidden, typically 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 like Moonrider. In consequence, 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. A wide range of mini-bosses pop up all through the sport as effectively, however the fundamental enemy selection is certainly missing. The degrees themselves, outdoors of some underwater areas and a few motorcycle segments, are a extremely comparable aesthetic, making it exhausting to tell apart between them. Thankfully, you do have a alternative of phases after the primary one which opens the sport and might return to every to enhance your rating, time, rating and discover any hidden energy modules.

By way of visuals and its soundtrack, Vengeful Guardian completely seems to be and seems like a Sega Genesis or SNES title, and for higher or worse, it even retains a bit little bit of jank, too. What hurts the aesthetic is how practically each stage seems darkish and gritty, with plenty of blacks, greys, and browns that includes prominently on display. After some time, every part simply form 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 every stage actually helps to alleviate among the monotony, although.

Specializing in the minute-to-minute gameplay, guiding Moonrider by 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 believed 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 dashing headlong into the sport.

Whereas there’s actually nothing actually off placing about Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider, it finally feels fairly spinoff. It does an admirable job of conjuring up emotions and impressions of the 16-bit period, however it fails to push the envelope in any significant manner. There’s little question that it’s a good method to spend a pair hours so far as action-platformers go, and followers of the style–notably the retro-focused variety–will get a kick out of one thing so clearly paying homage. For my cash, although, I’d have appreciated to see a number of twists and a bit extra danger taking with such a well-worn sort of online game. Falling wanting being a full Moonrider, Vengeful Guardian does sufficient to make rolling credit worthwhile, if not a lot else.