History VideoGame / GuardianHeroes

A magically super-charged BeatEmUp for the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn by Creator/{{Treasure}}. A group of adventurers find a powerful magic sword, but unfortunately, TheEmpire has been looking for that very weapon. A red-armored girl bursts into their room just as Imperial soldiers start streaming in. They fight their way out of the town to a nearby graveyard, only to be confronted by [[SchizoTech a robot]]. In the middle of a difficult fight, suddenly a massive armored skeleton, the sword's original owner, arises from his grave to claim it.

''Guardian Heroes'' is, in a word, frantic. Lots of different characters, both allies and enemies, with nearly all of them available in the game's Versus Mode, with full six-player support. The gameplay is mostly two-dimensional, with the action spread across three planes, giving plenty of space for some massively large magic attacks (Treasure had experimented with this with ''Yu Yu Hakusho: Makyou Toitsusen'' for the [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Sega Mega Drive]]). Of the heroes, each has a wide variety of attacks, plus magic spells which as their levels increase, gets bigger and more destructive. Through the game, you're followed by the aforementioned Undead Hero, who can be given different commands such as protecting you, staying his sword, attacking of his own initiative, or just going berserk and burning everything before obliterating whatever's left with a SphereOfDestruction. Depending on your choices during the course of the game, you could liberate the kingdom, storm the gates of Hell, storm the gates of ''Heaven'', or face down a robotic army led by Golden Silver, the final boss of ''VideoGame/GunstarHeroes''.

A sequel, ''Advance Guardian Heroes'' was released, [[SuperTitle64Advance as the name suggests]], on the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, which ties the game even closer with ''Gunstar Heroes''. In this game, the villains from the previous game have returned centuries later, ready to try again to take over the world. A young soldier allows himself to be possessed by the spirit that inhabited the Undead Hero to fight them again.

After roughly 15 years, Treasure announced in May 2011 that they would be re-releasing the original ''Guardian Heroes'' on UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} via UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade, as ''Guardian Heroes HD''. As the name implies, the game was updated with HD graphics, new artwork, new A.I., re-designed gameplay mechanics, a re-translated script, new voice-acting, online co-op, and a new 12-player online mode, although the option to play it like the original Saturn version is also available. It arrived on October 12, 2011, and at the low price of $4.99.

For games with similar gameplay to ''Guardian Heroes'', ''VideoGame/PanzerBandit'', ''VideoGame/CodeOfPrincess'' (a SpiritualSuccessor for the UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS, UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, and Steam), and ''VideoGame/PhantomBreaker''[='=]s retro-styled brawler spin-off, ''Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds''.

* ShoutOut: In the HD re-release of the game, Zur puts his own spin on the famous UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis [[TakeThat commercial]] before fighting you in Stage 25.

[-[[caption-width-right:326:Our heroes, rushing into battle.[[labelnote:Who?]]Clockwise from the left: Serena Corsair; Nicole Neil; Randy M. Green and his familiar, Nando; Ginjirou Ibushi; Samuel Han; and the Undead Hero.[[/labelnote]]]]-]

* NonStandardGameOver: Fail to reflect the final boss' DesperationAttack in ''Advance Guardian Heroes'' and watch the [[EarthShatteringKaboom Earth explode]].

* AncientConspiracy: [[spoiler:Heaven]] in ''Advance Guardian Heroes'', working for eons in order to create the Ultimate Warrior. Not [[Wrestling/UltimateWarrior that one]], mind you.

* DifficultySpike: Depending on the path you take, the later stages of the game can go from manageable to chaotically difficult when you have six or more foes bum-rushing you.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: There are tons of [=NPCs=] in the game thanks to the branching mission structure, and everyone you interact with can be played with in the Versus Mode battle arena. Yes, even the villagers who die in one hit and have a two-frame ScratchDamage attack.

* CounterAttack: In the original version of ''Guardian Heroes'', if a player is being attacked from behind, pressing the Strong Attack will cause the player to counter from both sides. In the Remix Mode of the HD version, if players have at least 60 MP, they can blow away their attackers and other near-by enemies by pressing the Strong Attack while holding the Guard button. In ''Advance Guardian Heroes'', blocking at the right time to stun and counter enemies is an important combat mechanic. Its climax even revolves around it, with the hero reflecting a giant fireball the instant [[labelnote:*]]Under 00:00:11.[[/labelnote]] before it hits Earth.

%%* CompetitiveBalance:

* DifficultySpike: Depending on the path you take, the later stages of the game can go from manageable to chaotically difficulty when you have six or more foes bum-rushing you.
* DealWithTheDevil: If you die in the sequel, an mysterious figure appears and offers you immortality in exchange for your soul. Agree, and you turn invincible for a period of time depending on the difficulty mode. Once the time runs out (which doesn't happen in Super Easy), you're killed. Using it at any point will automatically net you the bad ending, though, and even if you manage to beat a stage, you won't be able to level up.
* GameplayAllyImmortality: The Undead Hero in the first game's Story Mode can get hit by enemies but he can't die since he's already dead. According the developers, the reason behind this gameplay design decision was to balance the difficulty as players could end up fighting against a huge number of enemies that would be impossible to deal with alone. Randy's familiar Nando is also immortal when players play as him in Story Mode.

** The Undead Rogue is a head-swap of the Undead Hero except has an arm missing.

* HoistbyHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler:Heaven, and by extension, Demon]] in ''Advance Guardian Heroes''. First was their plan to make Ultimate Warriors as servants--[[spoiler:[[PhlebotinumRebel they never expected it to be strong enough to defeat them]] ]]. Second, when the final boss tries [[EarthShatteringKaboom destroying the Earth with a fireball]]--[[PlayingTennisWithTheBoss it gets reflected]] [[NiceJobFixingItVillain back at him]].

* KarmaMeter: The game features one that decides whether or not you'll get the "light" or "dark" version of certain endings. Beating up bad guys, allowing fleeing enemies to escape, and not harming the civilians can increase your karma, while attacking bystanders, fleeing enemies, continuously attack a defeated enemy, and destroying inanimate objects (e.g. a barrel of produce, crates, a chandelier) will lower it.

* MultipleEndings: Thanks to the branching paths the first game offers, it has no less than five possible ending, with a few of that having a "light" or "dark' version depending on your karma meter.

* RoadCone, ThirdOptionAdaptation: The story in the sequel assumes an ending to the first adventure that could not have taken place in the actual game -- but still significantly resembles ''one'' of the original endings, except for how it turned out.

A magically super-charged BeatEmUp for the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn by Creator/{{Treasure}}. A group of adventurers find a powerful magic sword, but unfortunately, so TheEmpire has been looking for that very weapon. A red-armored girl bursts into their room just as Imperial soldiers start streaming in. They fight their way out of the town to a nearby graveyard, only to be confronted by [[SchizoTech a robot]]. In the middle of a difficult fight, suddenly a massive armored skeleton, the sword's original owner, arises from his grave to claim it.

For games with similar gameplay to ''Guardian Heroes'', ''VideoGame/PanzerBandit'', ''VideoGame/CodeOfPrincess'' (a SpiritualSuccessor for the UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS and Steam), and ''VideoGame/PhantomBreaker''[='=]s retro-styled brawler spin-off, ''Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds''.

* EverythingIsBetterWithPrincesses: Lucia and [[spoiler:Serena]].

''Guardian Heroes'' is, in a word, frantic. Lots of different characters, both allies and enemies, with nearly all of them available in the game's Versus Mode, with full six-player support. The gameplay is mostly two-dimensional, with the action spread across three planes, giving plenty of space for some massively large magic attacks. Of the heroes, each has a wide variety of attacks, plus magic spells which as their levels increase, gets bigger and more destructive. Through the game, you're followed by the aforementioned Undead Hero, who can be given different commands such as protecting you, staying his sword, attacking of his own initiative, or just going berserk and burning everything before obliterating whatever's left with a SphereOfDestruction. Depending on your choices during the course of the game, you could liberate the kingdom, storm the gates of Hell, storm the gates of ''Heaven'', or face down a robotic army led by Golden Silver, the final boss of ''VideoGame/GunstarHeroes''.

For games with similar gameplay to ''Guardian Heroes'', compare and contrast to ''VideoGame/PanzerBandit'', ''VideoGame/CodeOfPrincess'' (a SpiritualSuccessor for the UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS and Steam), and ''VideoGame/PhantomBreaker''[='=]s retro-styled brawler spin-off, ''Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds''.

** The game has four difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, Hard, and [[HarderThanHard Super Hard]]. Super Hard truly lives up to its name.

* CounterAttack: In the original version of ''Guardian Heroes'', if a player is being attacked from behind, pressing the Strong Attack will cause the player to counter from both sides. In the Remix Mode of the HD version, if players have at least 60 MP, they can blow away their attackers and other near-by enemies by pressing the Strong Attack while holding the Guard button. In ''Advance Guardian Heroes'', blocking at the right time to stun and counter enemies is an important combat mechanic of the sequel. Its climax even revolves around it, with the hero reflecting a giant fireball the instant [[labelnote:*]]About 00:00:10 or less.[[/labelnote]] before it hits Earth.

* DealWithTheDevil: If you die in the sequel, an mysterious figure appears and offers you immortality in exchange for your soul. Agree, and you turn invincible for the next 6 minutes before you're killed, allowing you to power through to the next checkpoint. Using it at any point will automatically net you the bad ending, though.

For games with similar gameplay to ''Guardian Heroes'', compare and contrast to ''VideoGame/PanzerBandit'', ''VideoGame/CodeOfPrincess'' (a SpiritualSuccessor for the Nintendo3DS and Steam), and ''VideoGame/PhantomBreaker''[='=]s retro-styled brawler spin-off, ''Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds''.

* GoneHorriblyRight: [[spoiler: Heaven's]] plan to make Ultimate Warriors worked a little too well, what with [[spoiler:making the Undead Warrior a vessel strong enough to defeat Demon]] in ''Advance Guardian Heroes''.

* HoistbyHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler:Heaven, and by extension, Demon]] in ''Advance Guardian Heroes''. First was their plan to make Ultimate Warriors as servants--[[spoiler: [[PhlebotinumRebel they never expected it to be strong enough to defeat them]] ]]. Second, when the final boss tries [[EarthShatteringKaboom destroying the Earth with a fireball]]--[[PlayingTennisWithTheBoss it gets reflected]] [[NiceJobFixingItVillain back at him]].

After roughly 15 years, Treasure announced in May 2011 that they would be re-releasing the original ''Guardian Heroes'' on UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}} via XboxLiveArcade, as ''Guardian Heroes HD''. As the name implies, the game was updated with HD graphics, new artwork, new A.I., re-designed gameplay mechanics, a re-translated script, new voice-acting, online co-op, and a new 12-player online mode, although the option to play it like the original Saturn version is also available. It arrived on October 12, 2011, and at the low price of $4.99.

* {{Badass}}: A vast number of the characters, but especially Han, Ginjirou, and Valgar.