Guardian Heroes (Game) - Giant Bomb (2025)

Overview

Guardian Heroes is a 2D high-fantasy side-scrolling role-playing beat-'em-up developed by Treasure and published by Sega for the Sega Saturn in Japan on January 25, 1996, with a North American release on April 24, 1996 and a European release on June 20, 1996.

Set in a fantasy world, Guardian Heroes tells the tale of a group of adventurers (warrior Han, sorcerer Randy, ninja Ginjirou, and cleric Nicole) who find a mysterious sword and become wanted rebels by the royal kingdom. When possession of the sword is transferred to a fierce undead warrior that obeys their command, the troupe must seek their destiny, as the true history of the royal kingdom (and the world itself) is not as simple as they thought.

The game is known for its various RPG elements, including the use of both Hit Points and Magic Points, as well as experience point, leveling, and skill point systems. Along with a dedicated Story Mode (with two-player co-operative play and multiple branching paths and endings), the game features a Versus Mode with unlockable characters (45 in total) and six-player combat (either Human, with multi-tap peripheral support, or with CPU-controlled players).

Unlike belt-scrolling beat-em-ups of the time, Guardian Heroes does not allow players to freely move around the playfield, instead opting for a multi-plane system similar to the Fatal Fury series of fighting games (where players jump between each of the three "planes" or "lines" of the playfield using specific buttons), allowing players to quickly evade attacks, focus on specific enemies, and perform special attacks and techniques using fighting game commands.

The game received a handheld sequel, titled Advance Guardian Heroes, for the Game Boy Advance in 2004. The original game later received an enhanced digital port for the Xbox 360 (via Xbox Live Arcade) on October 12, 2011, featuring enhanced HD visuals, rebalanced gameplay (including full widescreen support and new controls), updated dialogue, online drop-in multiplayer, and new game modes (including a survival mode and an expanded arena mode that doubles the maximum number of combatants to 12).

Gameplay

Unlike most beat-'em-ups at the time, Guardian Heroes controls more like a 2D fighting game where players can shift between different battle lines (or "planes"). Default controls are as follows:

A - Guard
B - Weak Attack
C - Fierce Attack
X - Undead Command. Activates the menu to control the Undead Hero.
Y - Plane Shift. Shifts one plane either downward (when the d-pad is held downward) or upward, looping to the backmost/forwardmost plane if done at the bottom/top.
Z - Select Magic. On its own, it activates the menu to determine which spell to cast (with the d-pad for selection, A button for cancelling selection, and any other button for casting). It can also be used with certain joystick commands to quickly cast a certain spell.
L - Back Plane (shifts back one plane)
R - Forward Plane (shifts forward one plane)

While the system is similar to fighting games in terms of jumping and crouching, players can turn left/right at-will and, in order to guard, must hold the Guard button.

Along with a Story Mode (which can be played in two-player co-operative play), the game includes a Versus Mode for up to six players (human or CPU-controlled, with multitap support).

Special Controls

Tapping upward while in mid-air performs a double jump.
Tapping forward/backward performs a dash in either direction.
Tapping the Guard button performs a dodge.
Pressing Guard and Weak Attack together performs a quick backstep.
Pressing Fierce Attack while getting hit from behind performs an invincible counterattack.
Pressing Weak/Fierce on the ground while holding forwards performs a longer-ranged attack.
Pressing Fierce Attack in mid-air while holding downwards performs a diving attack.
When knocked down by an attack, hitting either Guard, Weak Attack, or Fierce Attack makes a quick recovery (attacking or not, depending on the button).
When stunned by a magical attack, tapping Guard, Weak Attack, or Fierce Attack speeds up recovery.

Stat Points

Throughout the game, players earn experience points and level-up, with each level giving the player several bonus stat points for use in six different stats:

Undead Warrior

One key mechanic of the game's Story Mode is a companion character known as the "Undead Warrior" (or "Undead Hero" in some versions). Once he is resurrected, he accompanies and assists the heroes in combat.

Using the X button, each player can call up a Commands menu on their character (stylized as a thought bubble) to command the knight to either Attack, Defend, Follow, Hold, or Berserk.

Playable Characters

Story Mode

Han

A former member of the Royal Knights's Blue Team, Samuel Han is the group's warrior and excels in both resilience and dealing powerful physical strikes.

He starts with high STR. and VIT. stats and wields fire-based attacks. Taking a certain story path with him can grant him a new sword with a large stat boost.

Special Moves (Ground)

Han Dynamite (qcf + B/C)
Han Special (tap B)
Han Final (d,d + B/C)
Han Maximum (d,d + B/C when mid-air)
Han Miracle (tap B when mid-air)
Han Hyper / Han Victory (B/C when throwing)

Magic

Han Burnings (qcf + Z)

Randy

An apprentice who travels with a small furry companion (Nando), Randy M. Green is the group's sorcerer and excels in a large variety of magical abilities.

He starts with high INT. and MEN. stats and can control multiple elements. He can also activate Nando using his B+C attack.

Special Moves

Dancing Wind Staff (d,d + B/C)
Wall of Wind Staff (qcf + B)
Hellstaff Combination (tap B)
Triple Skull Stomp (d,u + B/C, can be done mid-air)
E-Max (B+C)

Magic

Super Magic Fireball (qcf + Z)
Super Magic Firewall (d,u + Z)
Super Magic Thunderbolt (fdp + Z)
Super Magic Ice World (d,d + Z)
Super Magic Tornado (f,b,d,u + Z)
Super Magic Fire Blaster (hcb, f + Z)

Ginjirou

In search for the legendary sword "Muramasa", Ginjirou Ibushi (known in the manual as Ginjiro Ibushi) is the group's ninja and excels in his mobility and combination attacks.

He starts with high MEN. and AGI. stats and can control multiple elements and wields thunder-based attacks.

Special Moves

Reverse Mirage Sowrd (d,d + B/C)
Vacuum Human Top (qcf + B/C)
Shadowless Dash (f,f,f,f)
Mirage Sky Dance (d,u + B/C)
Mirage Spin Surprise Attack (f,f + B/C in mid-air)
Reverse Thunder Kick, Shadowless Kick (d,d + C, B while mid-air)

Magic

Firespell (qcf + Z)
Thunder Palm (hcf + Z)
Thunderspell (d,u + Z)
Thunder Transformation (d,d + Z)

Nicole

Mischevious but optimistic, Nicole Neil (known in the manual as Nicole Neale) is the group's cleric and possesses specialized magical abilities (including healing and protective magic) which may have random effects and chances for success.

She starts with a high LUC. stat, which also determines the effectiveness of her spells.

Special Moves

That Hurts! (qcf + C)
Holy Turn (d,d + B/C)
I'm Mad Now! (B+C)
Smiley Staff (tap C, can be done mid-air)
Rocket Jump (d,u + B/C, can be done mid-air)

Magic

Fire (qcf + Z)
Barrier (d,d + Z)
Healing (d,u + Z)
Smiley (fdp + Z)

Serena

A former commander of the Royal Knights' Red Team who defects and aids the heroes, Serena Corsair (known in the manual as Serena Corsaire) is the group's versatile fighter and is unlockable for play once the Story Mode is completed for the first time.

She starts off with completely-even stats and has no real strengths or weaknesses, possessing a wide range of attacks and spells.

Special Moves

Sonic Boom (qcf + B/C)
Moon Slicer (d,u + B/C)
Justice Blade (d,d + B/C)
Surprise Roll (tap B while mid-air)
Somersault Kick (ub + C)
Surprise Kick (d,d + B/C while mid-air)
Counter Nemesis (B+C)

Magic

Phoenix Arrow (qcf + Z)
Thor Hammer (d,u + Z)
Byakko Fang (d,d + Z)
Valkyrie Javelin (hcb, f + Z)
Angel Breath (f,b,d,u + Z)

Versus Mode

Initially, players only start with the four main Story Mode characters above (along with the Undead Hero). By defeating enemies (or hurting civilians) in the Normal or Hard difficulties of Story Mode, players can unlock these characters for use in Versus Mode. Some characters can only be unlocked through certain means, such as Sarena from completing Story Mode and "Hero's Sword Han" for taking Han through a certain story path. There are a total of 45 playable characters in this mode.

Each character has their own unique stats and movesets, with several low-ranking characters having weak stats, less chances to defend (with some not being able to guard themselves at all), and little-to-no attacks and abilities.

Samuel Han
Randy M. Green
Nando
Ginjirou Ibushi
Nicole Neil
Serena Corsair
Undead Hero
Hero's Sword Han
Kanon G. Grey
Valgar Reinhart
Katrina
Gash Deadeye
Zur Pa Iyah
Super Zur
Proto Silver
Golden Silver
Royal Soldier
Royal Knight
Royal Magician
Royal Fallen Priest (Banisher)
Robot
Village God
Skeleton
Zombie
Resistance
Wolf
Goblin
Mid
Roper
Gargoyle
Cyclops
Giant
Civilian (Female)
Civilian (Child)
Civilian (Elderly)
Civilian (Weak)
Civilian (Fat)
Macho Goro
Gambo Shinayuma
Godats
Undead
Xenovia
Great Earth Spirits
Sky Warrior
Sky Spirits

Story

The Guardian Heroes are a group of adventurers whose acquirement of a certain mythical sword makes them targets of the royal knights. After being warned of an impending ambush by an enigmatic knight named Serena, and fending off the first attack by the kingdom's military, the Guardian Heroes next course of action is decided by the player through the game's branching routes system. While there a variety of paths to follow, they all eventually lead to Kanon, the sorceror who secretly controls the kingdom.

Kanon reveals some startling revelations about the history of their world, and once again the player must decide the Guardian Heroes' fate. Their choices eventually lead to either a confrontation with the Celestial beings who played a significant hand in human history, their Subteranean rivals, stopping the mechanical army created by Kanon, a surprise threat from a scheming opportunist or a last battle in the Heavens with a major rival.