Guardian Heroes

n/a

Guardian Heroes

System(s): Sega Saturn, Xbox Live Arcade

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Treasure

Sound driver:

SCSP/CD-DA (23 tracks)

Peripherals supported:

Saturn 6 Player Adaptor

Genre: Action

Number of players: 1-6

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1996-01-26	¥5,8005,800	GS-9031
US	1996-04-24	$59.0059.00	81035
EU	1996-06-20^[1]		MK81035-50

ESRB

Sega

PEGI

ELSPA

USK

OFLC

CERO
Missing Parameter!

GRB

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Guardian Heroes (ガーディアンヒーローズ) is a beat-'em-up game developed by Treasure and published by Sega exclusively for the Sega Saturn in 1996.

The game would be see a sequel eight years later with Advance Guardian Heroes which Sega was not involved with.

Gameplay

The game is largely a sidescrolling beat-'em-up with some elements of an RPG. Unlike games such as Golden Axe and Streets of Rage, players are unable to move "in and out" of the screen with the and buttons. Instead, they jump between three fixed planes using and , and as such the control scheme is more similar to fighting games like Street Fighter, wherein is jump and is duck.

Some aspects of the game are more RPG-like. At the end of each stage, the player is given options on the direction the story will take. There is a total of 30 levels^[2] of which players will see fewer than 10 in a given playthrough, and five possible endings. Defeating enemies gives the players experience which can be spent at the end of each stage on the following: strength (damage done to enemies), vitality (player's health), intelligence (spell strength and radius), mentality (magic points and recovery rate), agility (speed) and luck (modifies damage dealt and received).

Versus mode has up to six players (some can be computer-controlled) fighting each other in an arena. Most characters from the story mode can be used in versus mode, although the player must have encountered them in the game (thereby encouraging multiple playthroughs).^[3]

Xbox Live Arcade version

A port of the game was released by Sega for Xbox Live Arcade in Autumn 2011. This version features online play that also allows drop in co-op. Multiplayer mode can go up to four players locally, or up to twelve players online. The gameplay was also rebalanced and retooled to take advantage of the Xbox 360 controller. The translation was also revised as well as featured restored content that was removed from non-Japanese versions of the game. Finally the game features a graphics filter that gives a stylized look to the original low-resolution art of the Sega Saturn original.

Magazine articles

Main article: Guardian Heroes/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Saturn JP print advert
Saturn JP flyer

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

576 KByte (HU)

93

^[11]

Consoles News (FR)

PAL

90

^[4]

Consoles + (FR)

90

^[12]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

93

^[5]

Digitiser (UK)

PAL

86

^[13]

Edge (UK)

80

^[14]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

81

^[15]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

65

^[16]

Fun Generation (DE)

PAL

70

^[17]

Gambler (PL)

80

^[18]

GameFan (US)

NTSC-U

96

^[19]

Game Players (US)

NTSC-U

86

^[20]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

73

^[21]

GMR (US)

100

^[6]

Intelligent Gamer (US)

NTSC-U

91

^[22]

Intelligent Gamer's Fusion (US)

NTSC-U

91

^[23]

Joypad (FR)

88

^[24]

MAN!AC (DE)

NTSC-J

61

^[25]

MAN!AC (DE)

PAL

64

^[26]

Maximum (UK)

100

^[27]

Mega Force (FR)

PAL

87

^[28]

Mega Fun (DE)

PAL

75

^[29]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

NTSC-J

93

^[7]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

93

^[30]

neXt Level (DE)

PAL

65

^[31]

Player One (FR)

85

^[32]

Power Up! (UK)

82

^[33]

Saturn Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

80

^[34]

Saturn+ (UK)

PAL

90

^[35]

Secret Service (PL)

90

^[36]

Sega News (CZ)

93

^[37]

Sega Power (UK)

NTSC-J

80

^[38]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

94

^[39]

Sega Saturn Magazine (UK)

PAL

95

^[40]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

80

^[41]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

86

^[10]

Total Saturn (UK)

PAL

80

^[42]

Ultimate Future Games (UK)

NTSC-J

30

^[43]

Video Games (DE)

PAL

62

^[44]

	82
Based on 39 reviews

Guardian Heroes

Saturn, US
Cover
Disc Manual

Saturn, EU
Cover
Disc Manual

Saturn, JP
Cover
Spinecard Disc

Artwork

External links

Guardian Heroes on Xbox Marketplace: UK, US, JP, KR

References

↑ File:CVG UK 176.pdf, page 48
↑ File:CVG UK 175.pdf, page 92
↑ File:CVG UK 175.pdf, page 93
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 File:ConsolesNews FR 02.pdf, page 83 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ConsolesNews FR 02.pdf_p83" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 File:CVG UK 172.pdf, page 22 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 172.pdf_p22" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 File:GMR US 05.pdf, page 92 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GMR US 05.pdf_p92" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 File:MeanMachinesSega42UK.pdf, page 68 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega42UK.pdf_p68" defined multiple times with different content
↑ File:SSM_UK_08.pdf, page 64
↑ File:SSM_JP_19960112_1996-01.pdf, page 189
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 Saturn no Game wa Sekai Ichi~i~i~i!: Satamaga Dokusha Race Zen Kiroku, SoftBank Publishing, page 11 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SnGwSISDRZK Book JP.pdf_p11" defined multiple times with different content
↑ 576 KByte, "Július-Augusztus 1996" (HU; 1996-xx-xx), page 24
↑ Consoles +, "Mai 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 140
↑ Digitiser (UK) (1996-06-14)
↑ Edge, "April 1996" (UK; 1996-03-08), page 72
↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 26
↑ Famitsu, "1996-02-02" (JP; 1996-01-19), page 31
↑ Fun Generation, "05/96" (DE; 1996-04-10), page 50
↑ Gambler, "10/1996" (PL; 1996-xx-xx), page 42
↑ GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 4: April 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 14
↑ Game Players, "Vol. 9 No. 7 July 1996" (US; 1996-06-11), page 54
↑ GamePro, "July 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 72
↑ Intelligent Gamer, "July 1996" (US; 1996-0x-xx), page 78
↑ Intelligent Gamer's Fusion, "Volume 2, Number 8: April 1996" (US; 1996-02-27), page 64
↑ Joypad, "Mai 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 72
↑ MAN!AC, "03/96" (DE; 1996-02-14), page 43
↑ MAN!AC, "07/96" (DE; 1996-06-12), page 64
↑ Maximum, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-05-30), page 125
↑ Mega Force, "Mai 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 82
↑ Mega Fun, "08/96" (DE; 1996-07-17), page 70
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-05), page 90
↑ neXt Level, "Juli 1996" (DE; 1996-06-12), page 64
↑ Player One, "Mai 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 110
↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, June 29, 1996" (UK; 1996-06-29), page 1
↑ Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 6" (JP; 1996-03-01), page 120
↑ Saturn+, "Easter/April 1996" (UK; 1996-03-07), page 42
↑ Secret Service, "Październik 1996" (PL; 1996-10-01), page 67
↑ Sega News, "Leden 1997" (CZ; 1997-xx-xx), page 12
↑ Sega Power, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-03-14), page 50
↑ Sega Pro, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-07-xx), page 18
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "June 1996" (UK; 1996-05-22), page 64
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-01 (1996-01-12,26)" (JP; 1995-12-22), page 189
↑ Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 30
↑ Ultimate Future Games, "April 1996" (UK; 1996-02-29), page 78
↑ Video Games, "7/96" (DE; 1996-06-26), page 93

[:File:CVG_UK_176.pdf_p48-1] File:CVG UK 176.pdf, page 48

[:File:CVG_UK_175.pdf_p92-2] File:CVG UK 175.pdf, page 92

[:File:CVG_UK_175.pdf_p93-3] File:CVG UK 175.pdf, page 93

[:File:ConsolesNews_FR_02.pdf_p83-4] 4.0 ^4.1 File:ConsolesNews FR 02.pdf, page 83 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ConsolesNews FR 02.pdf_p83" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:CVG_UK_172.pdf_p22-5] 5.0 ^5.1 File:CVG UK 172.pdf, page 22 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 172.pdf_p22" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:GMR_US_05.pdf_p92-6] 6.0 ^6.1 File:GMR US 05.pdf, page 92 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GMR US 05.pdf_p92" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:MeanMachinesSega42UK.pdf_p68-7] 7.0 ^7.1 File:MeanMachinesSega42UK.pdf, page 68 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega42UK.pdf_p68" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:SSM_UK_08.pdf_p64-8] File:SSM_UK_08.pdf, page 64

[:File:SSM_JP_19960112_1996-01.pdf_p189-9] File:SSM_JP_19960112_1996-01.pdf, page 189

[:File:SnGwSISDRZK_Book_JP.pdf_p11-10] 10.0 ^10.1 Saturn no Game wa Sekai Ichi~i~i~i!: Satamaga Dokusha Race Zen Kiroku, SoftBank Publishing, page 11 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SnGwSISDRZK Book JP.pdf_p11" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:576KB_HU_1996-0708.pdf_p24-11] 576 KByte, "Július-Augusztus 1996" (HU; 1996-xx-xx), page 24

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_054.pdf_p140-12] Consoles +, "Mai 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 140

[digitiser1996-06-14-13] Digitiser (UK) (1996-06-14)

[:File:Edge_UK_031.pdf_p72-14] Edge, "April 1996" (UK; 1996-03-08), page 72

[:File:EGM_US_083.pdf_p26-15] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 26

[16] Famitsu, "1996-02-02" (JP; 1996-01-19), page 31

[:File:FunGeneration_DE_1996-05.pdf_p50-17] Fun Generation, "05/96" (DE; 1996-04-10), page 50

[:File:Gambler_PL_35.pdf_p42-18] Gambler, "10/1996" (PL; 1996-xx-xx), page 42

[:File:GameFan_US_0404.pdf_p14-19] GameFan, "Volume 4, Issue 4: April 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 14

[:File:GamePlayers_US_0907.pdf_p54-20] Game Players, "Vol. 9 No. 7 July 1996" (US; 1996-06-11), page 54

[:File:GamePro_US_094.pdf_p72-21] GamePro, "July 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 72

[:File:IntelligentGamer_US_02.pdf_p78-22] Intelligent Gamer, "July 1996" (US; 1996-0x-xx), page 78

[:File:IGFusion_US_0209.pdf_p64-23] Intelligent Gamer's Fusion, "Volume 2, Number 8: April 1996" (US; 1996-02-27), page 64

[:File:Joypad_FR_053.pdf_p72-24] Joypad, "Mai 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 72

[:File:MAN.21AC_DE_1996-03.pdf_p43-25] MAN!AC, "03/96" (DE; 1996-02-14), page 43

[:File:MAN.21AC_DE_1996-07.pdf_p64-26] MAN!AC, "07/96" (DE; 1996-06-12), page 64

[:File:MAXIMUM_UK_07.pdf_p125-27] Maximum, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-05-30), page 125

[:File:MegaForce_FR_50.pdf_p82-28] Mega Force, "Mai 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 82

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1996-08.pdf_p70-29] Mega Fun, "08/96" (DE; 1996-07-17), page 70

[:File:MeanMachinesSega47UK.pdf_p90-30] Mean Machines Sega, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-08-05), page 90

[:File:NextLevel_DE_1996-07.pdf_p64-31] neXt Level, "Juli 1996" (DE; 1996-06-12), page 64

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_064.pdf_p110-32] Player One, "Mai 1996" (FR; 1996-0x-xx), page 110

[33] Power Up!, "Saturday, June 29, 1996" (UK; 1996-06-29), page 1

[:File:SaturnFan_JP_1996-06_19960315.pdf_p120-34] Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 6" (JP; 1996-03-01), page 120

[:File:SaturnPlus_UK_02.pdf_p42-35] Saturn+, "Easter/April 1996" (UK; 1996-03-07), page 42

[:File:SecretService_39_PL.pdf_p67-36] Secret Service, "Październik 1996" (PL; 1996-10-01), page 67

[:File:Sega_News_4_CZ.pdf_p12-37] Sega News, "Leden 1997" (CZ; 1997-xx-xx), page 12

[:File:SegaPower_UK_78.pdf_p50-38] Sega Power, "May 1996" (UK; 1996-03-14), page 50

[:File:SegaPro_UK_61.pdf_p18-39] Sega Pro, "September 1996" (UK; 1996-07-xx), page 18

[:File:SSM_UK_08.pdf_p64-40] Sega Saturn Magazine, "June 1996" (UK; 1996-05-22), page 64

[:File:SSM_JP_19960112_1996-01.pdf_p189-41] Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-01 (1996-01-12,26)" (JP; 1995-12-22), page 189

[:File:TotalSaturn_UK_04.pdf_p30-42] Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 30

[:File:UltimateFutureGames_UK_17.pdf_p78-43] Ultimate Future Games, "April 1996" (UK; 1996-02-29), page 78

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1996-07.pdf_p93-44] Video Games, "7/96" (DE; 1996-06-26), page 93

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Guardian Heroes

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

Xbox Live Arcade version

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Artwork

External links

References