Sega sent a shockwave through the world of beat-em-up fans when the company announced that not only would Guardian Heroes be getting a high-definition update, but it would be playable at E3. For those already in love with the game, this is great news. For those who never had a Sega Saturn, the appeal may not be immediately apparent. So why should you get excited?
I spoke with Racketboy, whose eponymous site is an authority on collectible and rare games. "Much like other games from Treasure, Guardian Heroes is a bit of a cult favorite. And like other games from Treasure—such as Gunstar Heroes, Radiant Silvergun, Ikaruga, etc— it did a great job of taking an established genre and adding some extra depth while also making the most of the console's technical resources." The game took the standard beat-em-up formula and added an extra layer of RPG elements, while making impressive use of the Saturn's 2D abilities. The game also placed a heavy emphasis on story, with branching paths that reward multiple playthroughs.
The graphics will be updated, and the rest of the modern features will add value. "Guardian Heroes is a wonderful party beat-em-up, so I'm glad we will have some online capabilities once it makes its way to XBLA," Racketboy said. The battle mode supports up to 12 players at once, in addition to the standard co-op.
Racketboy also pointed out that this is one of the games that came out late in the Saturn's life and although there was a "lackluster" Game Boy Advance sequel, the original has never been released in any other form. If you wanted to play, you'd have to buy a dead system and track down the expensive and somewhat rare physical release. The Xbox Live Arcade release will allow others to play a game that only a few were able to enjoy upon release. That's why we're excited: a great game will finally be available as a wide release.
Guardian Heroes HD will be an Xbox Live Arcade exclusive, with no set release date.
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