Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider Reviews
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is a throwback to 90's action-platformer games that will appeal to those looking for a challenging nostalgia trip.
Rather than being a game for people who miss the old school ninja platformers of yesteryear, Moonrider feels more like a game made for the people who miss the idea of them, rather than the games themselves. The game borrows liberally from its inspirations and combines them into a game that looks and plays the part just fine. It just doesn't push itself or the player on a level that will fully satisfy people who still regularly enjoy the games it takes from.
As Blazing Chrome, Vengeful Guardian Moonrider is a neat tribute to old action games. It really feels like a lost Mega Drive title, but on more modern platforms. A good retro trip with a gorgeous aesthetics from the 90s and a soundtrack that could have been in a Streets of Rage game. Imperfect, yes, but generous.
Review in French | Read full review
Vengeful Guardian Moonrider is yet another fantastic retro gaming experience from Joymasher, and it shows that the developer has really found its niche. However, with the game being way too short for it's own good, and speedrun games aren't for everyone, Vengeful Guardian Moonrider is in an awkward position. Great gameplay, great music, it's just too damned short.
There's no doubt that it's a decent way to spend a couple hours as far as action-platformers go, and fans of the genre–particularly the retro-focused kind–will get a kick out of something so clearly paying homage. For my money, though, I'd have liked to see a few twists and a bit more risk taking with such a well-worn type of video game. Falling short of being a full Moonrider, Vengeful Guardian does enough to make rolling credits worthwhile, if not much else.
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is a quick and powerful hit of retro action platformer nostalgia.
Delivers that crunchy, stylized arcade action that helped make the Genesis generation so memorable.
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.
We’ve had an abundance of memorable ninja games over the years, but recently, there’s been a distinct lack of robot ninja games. Thankfully, now we have Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider. After giving fans what Konami couldn’t with the excellent Contra-inspired action title Blazing Chrome, developer JoyMasher has now set their sights on new retro horizons: reviving the 2D action platformer as exemplified by classics like Shinobi and Strider. The result, Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider, is just about as loyal to the classics as one could ask for: equally demanding and satisfying, Moonrider overcomes a handful of rough edges to deliver a worthwhile, modern reinvention of old-school action.
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider feels like a blast from the past and kicks off the year with a challenging and rewarding experience.
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.
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