Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider Reviews

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is ranked in the 79th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
4.5 / 5.0
Jan 11, 2023

From its stunning sprite work to its masterful level designs that make full use of your ninja abilities, Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider will keep you glued to your controller until the end credits roll. My only real complaint aside from the relatively easy bosses is that it’s such a short burn. With just eight levels available, skilled players will make their way through the game in just a couple of hours. Still, completionists should be able to squeeze out a few more by unlocking all of the hidden upgrades in each map. When all is said and done, if you’re a fan of games like Shinobi, Hagane: The Final Conflict, or Ninja Gaiden, Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is a must-play love letter to the ninja action games of the ’90s.

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8 / 10.0
Jan 11, 2023

In short, “Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider” is a great game for fans of the style and a great gateway for those new to the universe of retro games. Despite being short, lasting an average of two to three hours, the game delivers very well what it promises: something new with a classic flavor.

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9 / 10.0
Jan 11, 2023

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider kicks off 2023 in the best way possible with an immaculate retro platforming title delivering tight gameplay, gorgeous visuals, great enemy variety and intense boss fights. Anyone who enjoys classics like Contra or Shinobi should have this game on their radar.

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Recommended
Jan 13, 2023

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider feels like a blast from the past and kicks off the year with a challenging and rewarding experience.

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Recommended
Jan 14, 2023

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is a good action-platformer and an even better retro throwback. Amidst a sea of retro-inspired games, Moonrider does enough things to make itself stand out. The controls could have been smoother and a game bit longer. But, as it stands, the satisfying gameplay loop and the excellent aesthetics make it a must-have for folks like you and me.

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Loved
Jan 17, 2023

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider certainly isn’t the most unique or downright original game that ever was. But it’s just so well conceived and fun to play that it would be a crime for you not to give it a go. It’s readily available on just about every single modern platform, so I would urge you to give it a shot. It’s also not terribly long – if you know what you’re doing, you can finish it in a couple of hours leisurely, so it’s a fantastic pick up and play in short bursts. I had my eye on this game ever since it was announced and I’m overjoyed it turned out so well.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jan 17, 2023

This game was just the greatest cup of coffee for me to help start the new year. Last year started with a bang when I had the pleasure of playing Infernax, and 2023 got off to a great start as well with Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider. It’s not terribly involved, the storyline is a bit heavy handed, and you need to figure out how it handles, but it’s exactly what it needs to be.

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Jan 11, 2023

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is an action-platforming title that follows a sentient robot that tries to restore peace to civilization. Was this eight stage campaign worth my time? Find out in this Rapid Review.

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8 / 10.0
Jan 27, 2023

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider has a steel-like focus on its demographic: people who either grew up with titles like Shinobi and Strider or people who have taken the dive into retro gaming and want the thrill of something new that feels authentic to the time period.  The short run time, use of a lives system, and difficulty that some may feel is cheap may deter some gamers. That said, all in all, the developers have knocked it out of the park once again with some high-octane ninja action with intuitive controls, smooth gameplay, and the kind of pick-up-and-play style hook that the loftier AAA games just don’t have.

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Unscored
Jan 11, 2023

Although the game gets interesting just before it ends, Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is a fantastic throwback specially for fans of Ninja Gaiden or the recently released Cyber Shadow. Also the CRT filter in Switch OLED is just fantastic.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Jan 28, 2023

As it stands right now you just have a 3 hour, phenominal retro adventure to slash through that you’ll enjoy every second of, and arguably exceeds the great retro balance found in Blazing Chrome, nearing outright perfection in several aspects. The ultimate definition of short and sweet.

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7.4 / 10.0
Jan 13, 2023

Though in general it doesn’t break new ground, 16-bit era fans should enjoy this pretty authentic action platformer

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5 / 5.0
Jul 5, 2023

Look, I’m a kid of the 90’s so this is a hard game to truly review without some level of taint. It looks, plays and sounds like a refinement of games of the Mega Drive. An elevation to a new level, a classic of a system it’s not even for. It’s a strange experience to explain, but an experience I don’t think you or I should explain. Instead, simply play Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider. You’ll thank me.

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Feb 8, 2023

"Another speedy retro cyber ninja!"

Review in Finnish | Read full review