<s>
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2D	O
side-scrolling	B-Application
beat	I-Application
'	I-Application
em	I-Application
up	I-Application
video	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
vein	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fight	I-Application
or	O
Golden	B-Application
Axe	I-Application
,	O
but	O
with	O
RPG	O
elements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Treasure	O
and	O
released	O
in	O
1996	B-Application
for	O
the	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
video	B-Device
game	I-Device
console	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2004	O
for	O
the	O
Game	B-Device
Boy	I-Device
Advance	I-Device
entitled	O
Advance	B-Device
Guardian	I-Device
Heroes	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
considered	O
a	O
cult	O
classic	O
of	O
the	O
beat	B-Application
'	I-Application
em	I-Application
up	I-Application
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
players	O
earn	O
experience	O
points	O
during	O
each	O
scene	O
,	O
and	O
between	O
scenes	O
are	O
able	O
to	O
improve	O
and	O
customize	O
their	O
characters	O
with	O
six	O
attributes	O
:	O
Strength	O
(	O
determines	O
physical	O
damage	O
per	O
hit	O
and	O
distance	O
enemies	O
fly	O
when	O
the	O
character	O
hits	O
them	O
)	O
,	O
Vitality	O
(	O
determines	O
HP	O
)	O
,	O
Intelligence	O
(	O
governs	O
size	O
and	O
strength	O
of	O
the	O
character	O
's	O
spells	B-Application
)	O
,	O
Mental	O
Protection	O
(	O
determines	O
MP	B-Application
and	O
how	O
effectively	O
the	O
character	O
can	O
resist	O
magic	O
attacks	O
)	O
,	O
Agility	O
(	O
determines	O
how	O
fast	O
the	O
character	O
moves	O
and	O
executes	O
physical	O
and	O
magical	O
attacks	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Luck	O
(	O
modifies	O
damage	O
the	O
character	O
gives	O
and	O
receives	O
,	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
improving	O
Nicole	O
's	O
selection	O
of	O
spells	B-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
vicious	O
battle	O
was	O
waged	O
between	O
the	O
Earth	O
and	O
Sky	O
Spirits	O
(	O
renamed	O
the	O
Earthblood	O
and	O
the	O
Skyborn	O
in	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
Remix	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
characters	O
in	O
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
are	O
:	O
</s>
<s>
Randy	O
M	O
.	O
Green	O
:	O
Randy	O
is	O
a	O
sorcerer	O
who	O
travels	O
with	O
Nando	O
,	O
a	O
rabbit-like	O
familiar	O
who	O
fights	O
alongside	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
is	O
a	O
magic/speed	O
character	O
who	O
can	O
use	O
wind	O
,	O
ice	O
,	O
fire	O
,	O
and	O
lightning	O
powers	O
,	O
and	O
his	O
physical	O
attacks	O
are	O
fast	O
and	O
focused	O
on	O
MP	B-Application
recovery	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ginjiro	O
Ibushi	O
:	O
Ginjiro	O
is	O
a	O
ninja	B-Application
who	O
is	O
searching	O
for	O
Muramasa	O
,	O
a	O
sword	O
so	O
powerful	O
it	O
acquired	O
a	O
soul	O
of	O
its	O
own	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
is	O
a	O
fast	O
and	O
strong	O
character	O
with	O
balanced	O
attacks	O
that	O
are	O
focused	O
on	O
long	O
jumps	O
and	O
fast	O
attacks	O
for	O
MP	B-Application
recovery	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
has	O
some	O
offensive	O
magic	O
spells	B-Application
,	O
but	O
most	O
of	O
them	O
are	O
random	O
and	O
not	O
very	O
strong	O
-	O
her	O
main	O
purpose	O
is	O
to	O
heal	O
wounds	O
and	O
block	O
attacks	O
with	O
her	O
magic	O
force	O
field	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Undead	O
Warrior	O
:	O
The	O
original	O
owner	O
of	O
the	O
legendary	O
sword	O
rises	O
from	O
his	O
grave	O
and	O
accompanies	O
the	O
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
on	O
their	O
quest	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
started	O
in	O
June	O
1994	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
former	O
Treasure	O
designer	O
Tetsuhiko	O
"	O
Han	O
"	O
Kikuchi	O
,	O
Fill-in-Cafe	O
'	O
s	O
Mad	B-Application
Stalker	I-Application
:	I-Application
Full	I-Application
Metal	I-Application
Force	I-Application
and	O
Capcom	O
's	O
Alien	O
VS	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
asked	O
why	O
Treasure	O
chose	O
to	O
develop	O
a	O
2D	O
sprite-based	O
game	O
when	O
video	O
game	O
sales	O
were	O
increasingly	O
dominated	O
by	O
3D	O
games	O
,	O
and	O
when	O
nearly	O
every	O
other	O
Saturn	B-Device
developer	O
was	O
concentrating	O
strictly	O
on	O
3D	O
games	O
,	O
a	O
Treasure	O
representative	O
commented	O
,	O
"	O
Treasure	O
has	O
built	O
up	O
a	O
tremendous	O
knowledge	O
of	O
2D	O
sprite	O
know	O
how	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
XBLA	B-Device
release	O
,	O
Tetsuhiko	O
Kikuchi	O
returned	O
to	O
create	O
new	O
artwork	O
and	O
assisted	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
preparing	O
for	O
the	O
project	O
,	O
Treasure	O
discovered	O
all	O
the	O
source	O
code	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
version	O
was	O
stored	O
on	O
DAT	O
cassettes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
remastered	O
version	O
of	O
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
for	O
Xbox	B-Device
Live	I-Device
Arcade	I-Device
was	O
released	O
on	O
October	O
12	O
,	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
features	O
both	O
original	O
and	O
"	O
remix	O
"	O
graphics	O
modes	O
and	O
runs	O
in	O
high	O
definition	O
with	O
a	O
remade	O
user	B-Application
interface	I-Application
in	O
both	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
remix	O
mode	O
applies	O
an	O
hqx-like	O
upscaling	B-Algorithm
filter	O
along	O
with	O
a	O
pencil-shade	O
effect	O
to	O
the	O
sprites	O
,	O
implements	O
true	O
alpha	B-Algorithm
blending	I-Algorithm
,	O
applies	O
bilinear	O
filtering	O
to	O
the	O
backgrounds	O
and	O
features	O
redrawn	O
spell	B-Application
effects	O
and	O
character	O
portraits	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
of	O
these	O
changes	O
,	O
like	O
the	O
new	O
attacking	O
and	O
dodging	O
controls	O
,	O
air	O
dashing	O
,	O
and	O
air	O
recoveries	O
,	O
were	O
modeled	O
after	O
Treasure	O
's	O
own	O
Bleach	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Blade	I-Application
of	I-Application
Fate	I-Application
,	O
a	O
fighting	O
game	O
that	O
likewise	O
features	O
elements	O
of	O
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
XBLA	B-Device
release	O
also	O
features	O
online	O
play	O
for	O
the	O
multiplayer	O
modes	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
expanded	O
competitive	O
mode	O
that	O
allows	O
for	O
12	O
players	O
instead	O
of	O
six	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
version	O
was	O
made	O
backwards	O
compatible	O
with	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
on	O
November	O
6	O
,	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rad	O
Automatic	O
of	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
Magazine	O
also	O
praised	O
the	O
multiple	O
paths	O
through	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
expressed	O
the	O
most	O
enthusiasm	O
about	O
the	O
high	O
difficulty	O
and	O
the	O
three	O
layers	O
on	O
which	O
the	O
action	O
takes	O
place	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
concluded	O
,	O
"	O
Innovative	O
,	O
challenging	O
,	O
exciting	O
and	O
tough	O
,	O
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
is	O
a	O
classic	O
in	O
every	O
way.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
this	O
,	O
the	O
reviewer	O
gave	O
the	O
game	O
a	O
strong	O
recommendation	O
,	O
describing	O
it	O
as	O
the	O
true	O
successor	O
to	O
the	O
Streets	B-Application
of	I-Application
Rage	I-Application
and	O
Golden	B-Application
Axe	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
elaborated	O
that	O
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
retains	O
all	O
the	O
fun	O
of	O
Streets	B-Application
of	I-Application
Rage	I-Application
's	O
beat	B-Application
'	I-Application
em	I-Application
up	I-Application
action	O
and	O
enhances	O
it	O
with	O
new	O
additions	O
like	O
multihit	O
combos	O
,	O
linking	O
moves	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
branching	O
storyline	O
with	O
multiple	O
endings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
reviewer	O
for	O
Next	O
Generation	O
had	O
a	O
more	O
mixed	O
reaction	O
than	O
other	O
critics	O
,	O
commenting	O
that	O
"	O
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
may	O
be	O
the	O
pinnacle	O
of	O
the	O
[	O
side-scrolling	O
beat-	B-Application
'	I-Application
em-up	I-Application
]	O
genre	O
,	O
but	O
even	O
the	O
best	O
is	O
still	O
a	O
bit	O
on	O
the	O
mindless	O
side.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
remarked	O
that	O
while	O
the	O
graphics	O
,	O
lack	O
of	O
slowdown	O
,	O
and	O
six-player	O
versus	O
mode	O
would	O
thrill	O
die	O
hard	O
beat-	B-Application
'	I-Application
em-up	I-Application
fans	O
,	O
the	O
average	O
gamer	O
would	O
find	O
the	O
game	O
fun	O
but	O
repetitive	O
and	O
lacking	O
in	O
originality.Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthly	O
awarded	O
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
Side-Scrolling	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
,	O
explaining	O
that	O
,	O
"	O
The	O
different	O
characters	O
,	O
the	O
numerous	O
special	O
and	O
magical	O
attacks	O
,	O
the	O
branching	O
story	O
lines	O
,	O
the	O
Versus	O
Mode	O
and	O
the	O
anime	O
style	O
all	O
combined	O
to	O
make	O
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
,	O
most	O
memorable	O
games	O
of	O
'	O
96.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
following	O
year	O
EGM	O
ranked	O
it	O
number	O
66	O
on	O
their	O
"	O
100	O
Best	O
Games	O
of	O
All	O
Time	O
"	O
,	O
saying	O
it	O
had	O
surpassed	O
the	O
founding	O
games	O
of	O
the	O
beat	B-Application
'	I-Application
em	I-Application
up	I-Application
genre	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
staff	O
writer	O
Levi	O
Buchanan	O
ranked	O
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
third	O
in	O
his	O
list	O
of	O
the	O
top	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GamesRadar	O
ranked	O
it	O
as	O
the	O
5th	O
best	O
Saturn	B-Device
game	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
"	O
Treasure	O
's	O
original	O
1996	B-Application
release	O
remains	O
a	O
wonderful	O
co-op	O
beat-	B-Application
'	I-Application
em-up	I-Application
experience	O
with	O
impressive	O
presentation	O
and	O
exciting	O
combat	O
"	O
It	O
was	O
ranked	O
as	O
the	O
4th	O
top	O
beat	B-Application
'	I-Application
em	I-Application
up	I-Application
video	O
game	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
by	O
Heavy.com	O
in	O
2013	O
,	O
The	O
Top	O
25	O
Beat	B-Application
'	I-Application
Em	I-Application
Up	I-Application
Video	O
Games	O
–	O
Part	O
3	O
|	O
HEAVY	O
while	O
ScrewAttack	O
voted	O
it	O
as	O
the	O
5th	O
best	O
beat	B-Application
'	I-Application
em	I-Application
up	I-Application
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2023	O
,	O
Time	O
Extension	O
included	O
the	O
game	O
on	O
their	O
top	O
25	O
"	O
Best	O
Beat	B-Application
'	I-Application
Em	I-Application
Ups	I-Application
of	O
All	O
Time	O
"	O
list	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Princess	B-Application
Crown	I-Application
Code	B-Application
of	I-Application
Princess	I-Application
-	O
a	O
side-scrolling	O
action	B-Application
RPG	I-Application
with	O
similar	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
