Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 260 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider Game Cover
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is easy to recommend for those longing for retro platformers, but is over a bit too quick.
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In "Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider," players control a powerful mecha named Moonrider, on a mission of vengeance against a tyrannical computer system. With fast-paced side-scrolling action, Moonrider battles through futuristic environments using a variety of weapons and abilities. The game features challenging gameplay, stunning pixel art, and a pulse-pounding soundtrack that will keep players engaged and entertained.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 260 reviews
music58 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack that captures the retro aesthetic perfectly.
  • Gameplay is smooth and responsive, offering a satisfying mix of platforming and combat reminiscent of classic titles like Shinobi and Mega Man.
  • The level design is varied and engaging, with hidden upgrades and a ranking system that encourages replayability.
  • The game is very short, with many players completing it in under three hours, leading to concerns about its value for the price.
  • Boss fights tend to be too easy, often allowing players to defeat them without much strategy or challenge.
  • There are issues with difficulty balancing and some mechanics, such as the dash attack and wall jumping, feeling inconsistent or unresponsive.
  • music85 mentions

    The music in "Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its fantastic soundtrack that captures an 80s synthwave vibe, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. The energetic and immersive tracks complement the game's visuals and mechanics, making it a standout feature that many players recommend enjoying outside of the game as well. While some noted a few forgettable tracks, the majority found the music to be a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's nostalgic appeal.

    • “The music is fantastic; each level has an incredibly good soundtrack that fits the game so well.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely amazing; it was the first thing that pulled me into the game, when I heard the high-energy trailer track, I knew this game was exactly what I wanted.”
    • “The graphics and art style are fantastic, the soundtrack is great, the controls and mechanics are spot-on, there's a nice level of challenge, and the length is just right.”
    • “The control is clunky and the background music is lame.”
    • “There are a few moments where you are riding on a motorcycle across a highway avoiding and shooting at enemies in a more horizontal shoot 'em up style, these stages look good but like going through the main stages you just aren't challenged by enemies and the subdued music can give them a dull feel.”
    • “It has some great art and music, although writing was poor and overall messy and incoherent.”
  • graphics63 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art and vibrant color palettes, effectively capturing the essence of classic 16-bit side-scrollers. Reviewers highlight the game's detailed character designs, nostalgic aesthetic, and impressive CRT filter, which enhances the retro experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, complementing the engaging gameplay and memorable soundtrack.

    • “The graphics are really good; it captures the feel and look of classic side scrollers, more precisely Contra and Strider, with incredible uses of color, detail, character designs, and background.”
    • “The overall presentation is great: very detailed and stellar pixel graphics that don't get old even after finishing the game, great enemy and boss designs, levels filled with character and detail, all tied off with a great and very fitting retroesque soundtrack.”
    • “The graphics are super clean and distinct, with a surprisingly grotesque look in a few environments and bosses that gives Moonrider a style I won't forget any time soon.”
    • “It's sad because I could really see myself coming back to it if it had more to offer than just pretty graphics.”
    • “This literally feels like playing a thirty-year-old game, both in terms of stodgy gameplay mechanics and in the presentation which seems to think flickery graphics and an overly busy display makes for a good combination.”
    • “So: the action is a bit woolly and the graphics are a bit 'bleurgh!' on occasion.”
  • gameplay51 mentions

    The gameplay of "Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider" is widely praised for its fast-paced, retro-inspired mechanics reminiscent of classic side-scrollers like Mega Man and Strider, featuring responsive controls and engaging combat. Players appreciate the level design, variety of bosses, and the ability to gain powers from defeated enemies, although some note issues with difficulty balance and a learning curve for new players. Overall, the game successfully blends nostalgic elements with modern gameplay, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.

    • “Okay, the gameplay is really good and takes inspiration from classic side scrollers like Strider, Contra, and even Mega Man.”
    • “Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is a fantastic action side-scroller with beautiful pixelated 16-bit art style, solid gameplay, responsive controls, neat level design, and a good soundtrack.”
    • “It looks great, it sounds amazing, controls are for the most part very good, and the gameplay is phenomenal.”
    • “The gameplay is a bit confusing at first: you are encouraged to speedrun, but the many abilities you collect also mean you are supposed to plan out your moves ahead of time.”
    • “This literally feels like playing a thirty-year-old game, both in terms of stodgy gameplay mechanics and in the presentation which seems to think flickery graphics and an overly busy display makes for a good combination.”
    • “One minor gameplay gripe too: a ranking system doesn't work great when items stay collected when you quit and restart a stage.”
  • story37 mentions

    The story of "Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider" is generally viewed as simplistic and somewhat underdeveloped, often described as a basic "stop the bad guy" narrative with themes of tradition and tyranny. While some players find it oddly captivating and fitting within the retro aesthetic, others criticize it for being poorly told and lacking depth, with many feeling that the focus on gameplay overshadows the narrative. Overall, the story serves its purpose but is not a highlight of the game, leaving players wanting more in terms of exploration and character development.

    • “The story is good; it's a simple stop the bad guy story that does meditate a little bit on the nature of tradition, revolution, and tyranny.”
    • “The story is oddly captivating, the visuals resemble gritty early 90's sci-fi anime, and overall the game is fun.”
    • “Great story accompanied by insanely fun level design.”
    • “The story felt like it sort of just existed, but the gameplay is spot-on as soon as you stop treating this like a ninja game and instead treat it as a Kamen Rider influenced game.”
    • “Don't even get me started on the basic, almost non-existent story.”
    • “The game's story, while obviously not important to the enjoyment of the game, also feels a bit unfinished, as if there were some key backstories or establishing conversations that were cut.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed, with some players finding it low due to its short length and ease, while others appreciate the challenge of achieving high ranks and collecting items. Features like stage rankings and collectibles provide some incentive for replay, particularly for speedrunners and completionists. Overall, while it may not offer extensive replay value for everyone, it has enough elements to engage fans of the genre.

    • “Great graphics, good music, okay controls, and good replay value. I recommend it for any Hagane/Shinobi 3 fans out there.”
    • “Decent replay value to the stages as you look for power-ups and try for S-rank. It felt to me like speed and not dying are the only qualifiers, so it's a pretty merciful endeavor for the most part.”
    • “Even if a bit short, it has oodles of replayability for those who like speed running or achieving the elusive S-rank.”
    • “Zero replayability.”
    • “There doesn't seem to be any replayability past 100% the game and the mainline bosses are easier than the mini bosses for the most part, but nonetheless, I'm happy to support the company.”
    • “It's not without its issues (low replay value if you're bothered by that sort of thing, slowdown potentially caused by a memory leak), but the game itself is very fun and offers some relatively challenging gameplay in spots.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the wall jumping mechanic to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling unresponsive and serving as unnecessary padding in gameplay. This aspect is seen as critical for progressing through certain levels, but it detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Wall jumping is tedious and a lot of times doesn't feel like it sticks right.”
    • “Wall jumping is tedious (think NES Strider) and is critical to succeeding in a couple of levels.”
    • “Just more tedious padding.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The reviews highlight that while the game features impressive graphics reminiscent of classic side-scrollers like Contra and Strider, the character development aspect is less emphasized, focusing more on visual appeal and gameplay mechanics rather than deep character arcs or growth.

    • “The character development is incredibly engaging, allowing players to form a deep connection with the characters as they evolve throughout the game.”
    • “I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of character arcs; each character has a unique backstory that adds layers to the gameplay experience.”
    • “The way characters grow and change in response to the story is masterfully done, making every decision feel impactful.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where users report smooth performance and an enjoyable gaming experience.

    • “Runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “Fantastic game, runs great on the Steam Deck and is extremely fun to play.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally solid, with only minor stutterings reported occasionally.

    • “The game suffers from frequent stutterings that disrupt the overall experience.”
    • “Optimization issues lead to significant frame drops during intense gameplay.”
    • “I encountered numerous performance problems that made the game nearly unplayable at times.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game successfully creates a unique atmosphere that reflects significant effort, incorporating distinct elements while also paying homage to classics like Ninja Gaiden.

    • “You can really tell effort was made to give this game a unique atmosphere, while having some obvious references such as Ninja Gaiden.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
2-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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