11/9/2023 0 Comments Vengeful guardian moonrider xbox![]() The titular Moonrider that you play as isn’t a ninja in a traditional sense – he’s more like a robot guy that happens to use a sword. More importantly, that criteria would disqualify Moonrider. What makes a platformer a ninja platformer? You’d think that it must simply star a ninja to be one, but that’s way too simple. I’m essentially judging this game by two criteria: how it measures up to other ninja platformers, and how well it utilizes the Mega Man structure to differentiate itself from them. In Moonrider’s case, it borrows in ways that exceed just genre and mechanics, which constantly invites comparisons. If you stick too closely to your sources, you bury the more personal touches. Games that do this risk obscuring their own identity. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with mixing and matching from other games this way, it just comes with a caveat. Moonrider blends the ninja platforming action of games like Shinobi and Strider with the feel and progression of a Mega Man game. In some cases, however, a game borrows so heavily from its inspirations that separating them would simply not be telling the full story, as is the case here. The simple fact that a game borrows elements from other games should not dominate the conversation around it. No matter how original one claims to be, everyone draws inspiration from something for any kind of creative endeavor. I want to see a game on its own terms and highlight what makes it interesting as an individual experience. Normally when I write about a game, I avoid directly comparing it to others as much as is practical. Rather than a double-edged sword, it may be more accurate to describe Moonrider as a double-edged pastiche. Despite the obvious craftsmanship behind it, Moonrider’s blade cuts with a duller force than I anticipated. ![]() While I certainly like it, I ultimately came away from my time with Moonrider feeling dissatisfied. It combines elements of many of my favorite games, so in theory I should love it. You’ll thank me.Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider unsheathes a double-edged sword: one that cuts with the strengths of its inspirations while also reflecting its weaknesses in its sheen. Instead, simply play Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider. It’s a strange experience to explain, but an experience I don’t think you or I should explain. An elevation to a new level, a classic of a system it’s not even for. It looks, plays and sounds like a refinement of games of the Mega Drive. Look, I’m a kid of the 90’s so this is a hard game to truly review without some level of taint. ![]() Moonrider’s basic combat flows into the zippy movement, which in turn washes between the foes and hazards the player faces. Every little aspect of their work feels like it has been wrapped with meticulous attention. Developer JoyMasher has a rich pedigree in crafting modern retro with masterclasses like Blazing Chrome and Odaluss: The Dark Call. It should come as no surprise that this is exactly what Moonrider offers. Moonrider’s ability to master the pacing and placement of level design from the period provides a platform to build a modern classic experience. Everything comes together to form the accumulation of decades of fast-paced, side-scrolling experiences into one single life form. A garnish of Mega-Man, a serving of Strider spiced with Shinobi. A true understanding of why games of those eras worked and what aspects of them continue to work. It’s less of a celebration of late 80s and early 90s side-scrollers and more of a refinement. The success of Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is in its execution. It all starts to sound like games you’ve played in the past, and that’s because you have. ![]() Each final boss unlocks a special attack that can be used at any point during the game. Seven levels, each with their own min-bosses and final boss. Like shredded memories thrown into the air, falling back into disjointed patterns…I’ve played this before…right? Warming up those parts of my fleshy moist juice box results in the feeling I’ve been here before, but not quite in the same way. Loading up Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider felt more like a ritual than it did the start of something new. MonsterVine was supplied with a PC code for review It’s easy to find yourself caught off-guard while indulging in the pleasures of the past, or even hijacking the memories of those around you. An era of blowing into carts, slamming them into a tight gap, and hoping your developing understanding of forces and worth hasn’t betrayed you. The bright eyed boy sat before the screen, glazed with the blues, grays and mixtures of an era never even close to forgotten. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |