oprainfall writes: "Guardian Heroes is a classic, and is considered one of the best Saturn games ever released. I bought the original in 1996, and still boot my Saturn from time to time for a play through. The XBLA release takes the game and molds it into something even better, removing the slowdown, tweaking the combat in meaningful ways, and adding online functionality to the already fun multiplayer, all while being far less expensive than the original ever was. This is a game that deserves to be in everyone’s collection, and I highly recommend Guardian Heroes to anyone with an Xbox 360."
This week Trees returns and we are talking about the Japanese developer Treasure, best known for some of the most impressive games on Sega’s consoles (Gunstar Heroes, Radiant Silvergun, Guardian Heroes, and Ikaruga) as well as Nintendo’s later consoles (Bangai-O and Sin & Punishment). We discuss the company origins, values, and of course the entire library of this innovative developer.
EDGE - Scrolling beat ‘em ups are one of gaming’s longest-serving genres – not yet in retirement but teetering on the pensionable as each blundering Final Fight: Streetwise turns up to undo the good work of an Urban Reign. One-on-one scrappers have settled down into a stable domestic relationship with gamers, but the dedicated scrolling beat ‘em up still remain marginalised. The art of one-on-many thumping has moved on: absorbed into myriad action games, it’s always the bridesmaid and never the bride. It features in many games but stars in few, long divorced from the arcades where it once achieved a blissful, balanced existence, able to wow the punters with instant, tap-tap-tap combo gratification while siphoning the credits out of their pockets with cruel boss scraps.
Man I loved Guardian Heroes! used to play it all the time with my kid brother, I think the only VS character we never managed to unlock was Han with the mystic sword.
Would be great to see some more games like this making a return.
GameDynamo - "If there had never been a Battletoads, Contra, or even Donkey Kong to set the bar for gaming, then would we have Batman: Arkham Asylum, or any number of Dynasty Warriors games? As the industry has reached new heights, they have done so with the help of their predecessors to lead the way. "
Great list. Flashback was amazing when it came out and it seems nobody knows about it lol.
There's SOME good entries in there, but I think he really missed out on a few of the pinnacle entries. Why Metroid instead of Super Metroid, its superior in every way? Why SMB2 (Doki Doki Panic, really) instead of 3, widely regarded as the greatest of all NES platform games? Plus, the original Megaman is easily bested by 2 and 3. I agree with one or two entries (Guardian Heroes deserves A place, not #1), but I think you may have sacrificed objectivity here for personal preference (3 slots for very similar beat 'em ups?).
Other entries that may have deserved more of a nod than the myriad beat 'em ups: Castlevania SOTN, Megaman X, Sparkster, Ninja Gaiden, Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, Donkey Kong Country... If we're talking best in history, these are the kinds of games that objectively hold up because of quality and impact on not only their genre, but the industry and gamers as a whole.
You are right. Super Mario World still holds up, Donkey Kong never goes wrong (just started the Wii DK and it's awesome). I think it was meant as series' of side scrollers. Super Metroid was def better than Metroid on the NES.
I still play the original on my Sega Saturn, great time with friends, the versus multiplayer was a blast.
Just beat it with some random yesterday and its well worth the time and little money it cost me. Got it off of the marketplace for 160 points...best deal ever.