Guardian Heroes - Gameplay

Gameplay

Guardian Heroes brings a number of things to the side scrolling fighting genre. In addition to a developed story mode, the game includes a versus mode wherein up to six unique players can compete with any of the main characters (and unlockable monsters, bosses, and civilians) in a timed battle or to the death.

The players earn experience points during each scene and between scenes are able to improve and customize their characters with six attributes: Strength (determines physical damage per hit and distance enemies fly when the player hits them), Vitality (increases HP), Intelligence (governs size and strength of spells), Mentality (determines how many MP the player has and how fast MP are recovered), Agility (increases the speed at which characters can do physical and magical attacks) and Luck (modifies damage the player gives and receives, in addition to improving Nicole's selection of spells).

The game's story mode is famous for its multiple paths. The game allows the player to make choices on where they will go and what they do after every level. This allows for multiple endings and different bosses and levels. The player can play through the game many times and change the story dramatically each time. The main game can also be played with a friend. One path even leads to Golden Silver from Gunstar Heroes to be the final Boss. Just as in Gunstar Heroes he uses the power of four gems to aid him in battle.

This game is also remembered for the multiple levels in the battlefield. Initially, the player can only access three planes of battle: a foreplane, a middle plane, and a back plane. These planes can be switched between in set sequence, or at the player's choosing based on which button is pressed. The shoulder buttons of the Saturn controller allows the player to move back and forth in such a manner. Often, evasive actions could be taken by switching a plane. For example, being enveloped by a mob of enemies with little hope of fighting through them without taking extensive damage could be mitigated with a simple plane change.