Guardian Heroes Critic Reviews

The HD remixes to controls and visuals are nice additions, but the ability to switch back to the classic look and feel is welcomed.

Guardian Heroes is one of the most comprehensive and generous ports on Xbox Live Arcade, a game that has been lovingly updated to suit the contemporary hardware.

It was always the definitive scrolling beat 'em-up but this Xbox Live Arcade release goes the extra mile with a loving revamp of one of gaming's great co-op experiences.

Re-releasing updated versions of classic titles has become something of a trend, but Guardian Heroes isn't just another title hopping on the bandwagon. This is a port that has been given proper care, resulting in a game that is still solid all around. Top that off with a bargain 800 MSP ($10 USD) price point, and there's little reason not to add Guardian Heroes to your collection.

I was pleasantly surprised at just how good Guardian Heroes wound up being. The original game's gameplay has held up really well even if its graphics haven't, and the remixed version is outstanding.

The game is just so original and fun to play that you would be hard-pressed to not enjoy it. If you even remotely like games like Final Fight and Streets of Rage, then Guardian Heroes should be in your collection. Don't let this classic slip into obscurity for a second time.

Unavoidable rendez-vous for the old-school games amateurs, the Xbox Live Arcade offers now a much justified remix of Guardian Heroes, odd mix between 2D brawler and RPG blessed by a iconic music score. Most developers would have failed, but Treasure prooves, 15 years later, that they stroke the right balance between a demanding technical approach and the pure visceral fun of beat'em all gameplay.

Guardian Heroes is one of the best HD remake of this generation. The awesome original game is now sharper and more balanced, with tons of new options and brand new controls. At the price of 800 Microsoft Points, you MUST buy it and enjoy its greatness!

The old-school masterpiece Guardian Heroes touches the heart of every nostalgic gamer and so far. A full action rpg based game that still brings to you all the Treasure's craziness: just love it!

This timeless classic is back and better than ever. The brilliant combat system fuses side scrolling action with classic fighting games, and together with a branching story system the game keeps you coming back.

If you've never had the fortune of playing Guardian Heroes before, HD is an essential purchase. Treasure has a spotless record and this long forgotten beat 'em up is easily one of their crowning achievements.

A must have for all 2D side scrolling beat 'em up lovers, with a lovely graphic style and a perfect gameplay.

The animation is superb and the backdrops look exquisite.

It's an old school classic, with enough forward thinking to make it feel fresh after fifteen years and enough depth to ensure it'll be relevant in another fifteen.

A fantastic addition to the XBLA catalog of remakes. While the remix graphics don't benefit the game, and the gameplay flow shows its age, Guardian Heroes remains a classic in the hack and slash genre.

Guardian Heroes for the Xbox Live Arcade is a great addition to anyone's game library. The game still plays as well as I remember it 15 years ago and the improved visuals really bring it into the modern world. The revamped controls help to alleviate some of the aged gameplay mechanics but even those issues aside, the game still holds up surprisingly well.

Even though some aspects of Guardian Heroes haven't aged well, the strength of the battle system, branching paths, and characters help this brawler retain its place near the top of the class.

Guardian Heroes isn't a long ride, but it's one worth taking. If you owned a Sega Saturn, this will bring back memories. If you're a newcomer, now you'll know what we saw in the system back in 1996.

Those without boiling Guardian Heroes nostalgia are probably going to wonder what makes it any better than Castle Crashers, another celebrated downloadable beat-'em-up that was greatly inspired by Treasure's classic brawler. They have their little similarities, but is there anything that makes one less worthy over the other? Not at all -- GH still has that extra complexity in the fighting and the RPG-like leveling system.

And holy cow, if it's sheer bat-guano crazy you're after, you'll love Versus mode. Pick from 45 (!) unlockable characters and square off against 11 other nutjobs (humans or bots) in completely ridiculous battle royales over Live. We'd happily pay 10 bucks just to listen to the chaos in each wild melee.