There is no shortage of 16-bit throwbacks. PS store, but some stand head and shoulders above the rest. His forgettable name Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is his one such release. Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master Sega Genesis and Mega Man X on the Super Nintendo, with a Mode 7-inspired motorcycle chase sequence and an HR Giger-infused cyberpunk pixel art aesthetic. This is essential for retro enthusiasts.
A political storyline involving a totalitarian state sets the backdrop for past actions, but what you really need to know is that you’re denying your true purpose and launching an attack on your creators. All you have to do is be a super soldier wielding a samurai. This sets up several different levels of stages, each with their own flavor, enemies, and boss fights. The campaign can be completed in a few hours, but finding all the secrets and achieving a high score is worth replaying.
As you’d expect from the era the title inspired, gameplay is punishing but not frustrating. Developer JoyMasher has smartly installed checkpoints to minimize repetition. , you can quickly begin to understand combat patterns and gain a satisfying advantage over your opponents. The controls are tight, allowing you to settle into the flow of platforming and combat.
Discovering secrets unlocks augments that complement your playstyle. In some cases, these can be used to make gameplay more manageable. For example, more armor at the cost of a limited score. Others point to collectibles. Much like the aforementioned Mega Man, levels can be tackled in any order, with each boss defeating unlocking a new special weapon and approaching the campaign. Adds an element of strategy to the method.
Each level feels unique and goes through stages that ensure the gameplay is fun and engaging. And it’s all complemented by a phenomenal art style that can feel a little dirty at times, but has some truly standout setpiece moments, like boss enemies filling the entire screen. There is a CRT toggle available for true retro enthusiasts, but we preferred to play with unfiltered, super-sharp 4K pixels. And we loved every minute.