Those who enjoy retro-style ninja action games like Strider and Cyber Shadow now have something new to look forward to. That something comes in the form of Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider, a 16-bit side scrolling jump-and-slasher developed by JoyMasher, the studio behind games like Oniken and Blazing Chrome. Considering that JoyMasher’s previous titles have generally adopted similar retro stylings and have all reviewed well, it seems likely that Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider will be a game worth playing. Surprisingly, even though The Arcade Crew just announced this game, the publisher plans to release it as soon as fall of this year.
According to the Steam page, Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider takes place in a dystopian setting where authoritarian leaders construct “an army of super soldiers as weapons of war.” One of these super soldiers, a ninja warrior who goes by the name Moonrider, turns on its creators and fights against them as well as the other super soldiers to seek vengeance.
What about the gameplay?
Of course, the gameplay stands as the most important aspect of retro action titles like this, and Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider promises to more than deliver in this regard. Specifically, it promises frenetic combat that responds instantly to button inputs and challenges players at every turn. You can gain an edge in fights by finding and equipping hidden modifier chips that grant a degree of customization over the Moonrider’s playstyle. Of course, you will have no shortage of platforming sections to engage with as you make their way through the game’s eight stages.
The trailer for Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider makes the game look incredibly fast-paced and exciting, which is certainly helped by the myriad set pieces and flashy visuals. If you want to get a feel for JoyMasher’s earlier titles before jumping into its newest game, though, their low prices on Steam should make that easy.
