Review: Vengeful Guardian Moonrider is a Solid Throwback

At the beginning of 2022, The Arcade Crew and Berzerk Studio’s Metroidvania title, Infernax, was among my top three games of the year. It really did a good job of setting the expectation for the rest of the year. So naturally, when I saw that The Arcade Crew was publishing a new retro-themed game at the beginning of 2023 with JoyMasher as the developer, I knew I had to test it out.

But instead of a Metroidvania title this time around, this one, Vengeful Guardian Moonrider would focus on the long begotten retro platformer of the 80s and 90s. This title had a bizarre, attention-catching title and offered gorgeous visuals, as well as some intriguing-looking gameplay.

So when I was offered the chance to try Vengeful Guardian Moonrider for myself, I just couldn’t pass it up. Having now played Vengeful Guardian Moonrider, I can definitely say that this title too will set the stage for what I’m expecting in 2023.

Vengeful Guardian Moonrider Review Biggest Takeaways

• Every level offered in Vengeful Guardian Moonrider is unique, offering gameplay shakeups often.
• Though there are many original ideas, Vengeful Guardian Moonrider still maintains that iconic retro feel.
• Vengeful Guardian Moonrider has an aesthetic that is worth the price of admission, in its own right.
• Arcade Crew proves that they know what games gamers want to be published.

Final Score: 9/10

Related: Reddit Leaker Teases an Announcement About Metroid Prime

An Vintage Aesthetic That Oozes Character

Before getting into the gameplay, it’s important to dig into what really makes this game magical, at face value. That’s the gorgeous visuals that JoyMasher was able to put together. Not only are the color and the actual character or environmental designs themselves really well done, but there’s way more going on in Vengeful Guardian Moonrider that you may not realize at first.

Every one of the eight levels or so that players can take on has an entirely different look and feel, with music that goes along with it. Whether in a weapons lab, in a lost forest, in a desolate city, or even on the moon, there’s so much passion and attention to detail that can be found here. It’s just amazingly immersive in that way and makes you feel as if there was a lot of thought that went into the game’s lore behind the scenes.

There’s also a great deal of technical development that went into visuals when it came to depth perception. There are often times when enemies will move in and out of focus, giving some distance to them as they move around the screen. When I first experienced it, I was extremely impressed and only continued feeling that way as it happened even more often.

Vengeful Guardian Moonrider Offers Retro Platforming Goodness

Another way that Vengeful Guardian Moonrider leans into its retro platforming niche is through its simple yet effective gameplay. Vengeful Guardian Moonrider itself moves very slowly as a character, though can run straight forward in order to clear obstacles or make heavier attacks.

Aside from that, you’ll often be wall-jumping, watching out for hazardous obstacles, and dispatching various enemies across the levels given. Boss fights can be a real blast, as I felt that they were truly original. The Bioweapons Lab is the first level and it perfectly sets up how different this title is going to be from what you may be expecting from it.

The modern flair thrown in is that you can find chips scattered across the many levels, each having the capability to be equipped and give Vengeful Guardian Moonrider special abilities. Though only two can be used at a given time. It’s a perfect marriage of new meets old, and I’m happy to see a platformer that isn’t either a Soulslike or a Rogue-lite, no matter how much I like those sub-genres.

Each Level Is wholly Different From One to the Next

Rounding out the gameplay is the fact that each of Vengeful Guardian Moonrider’s levels is basically its own contained game in a way. Partly because of the drastic changes in the visual landscapes of course, but also because of the fact that each one is handled completely differently throughout.

One may have you start in a sort of mini boss fight with all kinds of new obstacles to face, whereas another may be a good old-fashioned platforming level. It’s also worth noting that there’s really no order in which Vengeful Guardian Moonrider’s levels have to be played. You’re given most of them from the start and are able to play as you please.

It makes it incredibly fun to play on the go, as you’re able to just pick up whatever level you’re currently feeling at that moment, and have a go at it. We aren’t in the early days of gaming, so it’s nice to have an arcade game where you’re actually able to pick which levels you want to play without having to progress in a linear path.

The Arcade Crew Has Done It Again

There is no doubt that Vengeful Guardian Moonrider really kick-started my year. The Arcade Crew has absolutely done it again, delivering another fantastic retro arcade game that players are going to love. It also shows that JoyMasher has some really impressive ideas that not only make for a fun game but offer innovation for the industry as well.

If you’re a gamer who’s looking for something fun that has clearly had love put into it, then Vengeful Guardian Moonrider should be your next arcade pickup. Between the visuals, audio, gameplay, and environments, this title is well worth its wallet-friendly price tag.

Vengeful Guardian Moonrider is available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, and Amazon Luna for $16.99.

So, now that you know our thoughts on Vengeful Guardian Moonrider, consider checking out some of our guides for it too, such as “How to Beat the Bioweapon Lab Bosses in Vengeful Guardian Moonrider”. And don’t forget to like Gamer Journalist on Facebook in order to be kept up to date on all of the latest game reviews!