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Cover art for The Guardian Legend

176 · The Guardian Legend

June 25, 2021 · 1 hr 15 min
Apple PodcastsSpotify

In the far future, Earth is a peaceful place with very few worries. To ensure it stays that way, a top secret project was authorized: the creation of the guardian suit. It's a suit of flight armor that allows the guardian to survive any environment. It's a good thing too, because a giant space station is spotted on a collision course with Earth.

SHOW NOTES

The Guardian Legend Longplay

Compile Shmups

Zanac episode

JENOVA

Guardic

Super Star Force

Sigma Star Saga

Show notes

  • Long ago, in a distant Galaxy, an alien race sent a huge world - Naju - hurtling toward Earth, loaded with a cargo of mysterious lifeforms
  • NES Longplay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImwZBSo8Rvo
  • Introductions
    • Long ago in a distant galaxy...Star Wars
    • The Guardian Legend sounds like an RPG
  • Overview
    • In this Action SHMUP, you control a humanoid robot known as the Guardian, in a quest to destroy a large alien-infested world named Naju before it reaches the planet Earth.
  • Gameplay
    • Humanoid Form
      • a top-down exploration mode - Zelda-like
        • Non-Linear
      • Exploration of areas, should it have been more guided?
      • Hints via text
      • activate Naju's ten safety devices
        • map that details these coordinates in a grid-like form can be viewed on the pause subscree
      • So many subweapons
      • Power Chips
        • Used as currency to purchase upgrades for the Guardian
        • Used to fire secondary weapons
      • The game doesn’t play as smoothly as we are describing
    • Ship Form
      • It’s so FAST. Screen real estate is limited.
      • Replenishing Life Meter
    • Corridor Rush
      • TGL in password screen, play just the SHMUP
  • Development
    • Made by legendary SHMUP developer COMPILE
      • Zanac
      • Puyo Puyo
    • Published by Broderbund
      • Haven’t seen them since 87 when they hit all at once with Spelunker, Raid on Bungeling Bay, Lode Runner, and Deadly Towers
  • Sequels and Spinoffs
    • Japanese cover of Guardian Legend has a JENOVA like figure on the box
    • This is a sequel to the 1986 MSX game Guardic
    • Apparently if you’re looking for more of this I’ve seen Super Star Force (Famicom only) and Sigma Star Saga (GBA) recommended
  • EGL
  • Next week - Legacy of the Wizard
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