Guardian Force

From Sega Retro

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  • ST-V
  • Sega Saturn
    NTSC-J

GuardianForce title.png

GuardianForce Saturn JP SSTitle.png

Guardian Force
System(s): Sega Titan Video, Sega Saturn
Publisher: Success
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Saturn
SCSP (1 track)
Genre: Shooting[1][2]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Arcade (Sega Titan Video)
JP		 ¥? ?






















Sega Saturn
JP 		¥5,8005,800 T-9905G
Sega Rating: All Ages

Guardian Force (ガーディアン フォース) is a shoot-'em-up game released for the Sega Saturn by Success in 1998. It was later brought to Sega Titan Video arcade hardware.

Story

The Guardians have assembled their tanks to crush the invading Hammerbolt Empire.

Gameplay

The game is an overhead shoot-'em-up with forced scrolling in multiple directions. Players control tanks with turrets that can be rotated in any direction. The game supports two-player simultaneous play.

The tank is moved in any direction using the D-Pad. It fires its weapons with B (which can be held for continuous fire). It has a main gun that always fires in the direction that the screen is scrolling and a turret cannon that can be rotated by the player in 45-degree increments. The turret rotates clockwise with C and counterclockwise with A. The turret weapon has a special attack fired with A+C.

There are five different weapons that can be equipped on the rotating turret by collecting differently colored weapon power-ups, which affect both its standard and special attacks. The turret gun is upgraded by collecting crystals, which fills a meter at the bottom of the screen. The weapon gains a level, up to 10, when the meter fills, which increases its firepower. The player can also augment the main gun with missiles by collecting an item.

The game uses a medal chaining system for bonus points. Destroying an enemy sometimes drops a medal, which awards a certain amount of bonus points. Medals bounce around the screen before settling in place and eventually disappearing. If the player picks up the medal, the next medal is a higher value and awards more points, and so on. If the player misses a medal, the next medal starts over at the base value. Additionally, mid-bosses and bosses have timers and award bonus points if they are destroyed before time runs out. Bosses have specific parts that award 50,000 bonus points if they are destroyed.

The tank is destroyed in a single hit from an enemy, costing the player a life. It loses a weapon level when it is destroyed, but it drops crystals that the player can collect to power it back up. The player gains an extra life for every 2,000,000 points earned. The game ends if the player runs out of lives. It can be continued if the player has credits remaining, but the score resets.

There are four selectable difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, Hard, and Very Hard). The Saturn version allows the controls to be remapped, including changing the turret rotation to the shoulder buttons or assigning the special weapon to a single button press.

Items

Guardian Force, Items.png
 Crystal
Increases the weapon meter. When the meter fills, the turret gun gains a level, up to 10. Awards 1,000 points if the weapon is already at the maximum level.
Guardian Force, Items.png
Guardian Force, Items.png
 Weapon
Changes the weapon for the tanks rotatable turret. Cycles through the different colors for each weapon and back to its original color before eventually turning black. Collecting the color for the already equipped weapon awards 5,000 points; collecting the item when it is black awards 10,000 points.
Guardian Force, Items.png
Guardian Force, Items.png
 Medal
Awards bonus points, depending on the level. The value of the medals dropped by enemies increases as long as the player collects every medal without missing one.
Guardian Force, Items.png
 M
Equips missiles, which are fired along with the tank's main cannon.
Guardian Force, Items.png
 H
Equips homing missiles, which are fired along with the tank's main cannon. These are weaker than the standard missiles but seek targets.
Guardian Force, Items.png
 S
Gives the player an extra use of the special weapon.

Weapons

Guardian Force, Weapons, Red.png

Guardian Force, Special Weapons, Red.png

  • Guardian Force, Weapons, Red.png

  • Guardian Force, Special Weapons, Red.png

Tusk (Red)
The initially equipped weapon. A wide burst of fireballs. The special attack is a frontal barrage.

Guardian Force, Weapons, Yellow.png

Guardian Force, Special Weapons, Yellow.png

  • Guardian Force, Weapons, Yellow.png

  • Guardian Force, Special Weapons, Yellow.png

Feeler (Yellow)
A lancing laser, which does continuous damage in a line, including when it is rotated. The special attack is a flurry of homing lasers.

Guardian Force, Weapons, Green.png

Guardian Force, Special Weapons, Green.png

  • Guardian Force, Weapons, Green.png

  • Guardian Force, Special Weapons, Green.png

Fang (Green)
A spinning saw blade that extends from the tank like a yo-yo before retracting. The special attack is a large circular blast.

Guardian Force, Weapons, Purple.png

Guardian Force, Special Weapons, Purple.png

  • Guardian Force, Weapons, Purple.png

  • Guardian Force, Special Weapons, Purple.png

Horn (Purple)
A timed explosive that detonates in a spiral after hitting an enemy. The special attack is strands of bubbles that fly around the screen.

Guardian Force, Weapons, Blue.png

Guardian Force, Special Weapons, Blue.png

  • Guardian Force, Weapons, Blue.png

  • Guardian Force, Special Weapons, Blue.png

Beak (Blue)
A salvo of missiles. The special attack is a frontal barrage.

Stages

Guardian Force, Practice Stage 1.png

Guardian Force, Practice Stage 2.png

Guardian Force, Practice Stage 3.png

Guardian Force, Practice Stage 4.png

  • Guardian Force, Practice Stage 1.png

  • Guardian Force, Practice Stage 2.png

  • Guardian Force, Practice Stage 3.png

  • Guardian Force, Practice Stage 4.png

Practice

Guardian Force, Stage 1-1.png

Guardian Force, Stage 1-2.png

Guardian Force, Stage 1-3.png

Guardian Force, Stage 1-4.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 1-1.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 1-2.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 1-3.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 1-4.png

Stage-A

Guardian Force, Stage 2-1.png

Guardian Force, Stage 2-2.png

Guardian Force, Stage 2-3.png

Guardian Force, Stage 2-4.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 2-1.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 2-2.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 2-3.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 2-4.png

Stage-B

Guardian Force, Stage 3-1.png

Guardian Force, Stage 3-2.png

Guardian Force, Stage 3-3.png

Guardian Force, Stage 3-4.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 3-1.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 3-2.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 3-3.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 3-4.png

Stage-C

Guardian Force, Stage 4-1.png

Guardian Force, Stage 4-2.png

Guardian Force, Stage 4-3.png

Guardian Force, Stage 4-4.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 4-1.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 4-2.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 4-3.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 4-4.png

Stage-D

Guardian Force, Stage 5-1.png

Guardian Force, Stage 5-2.png

Guardian Force, Stage 5-3.png

Guardian Force, Stage 5-4.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 5-1.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 5-2.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 5-3.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 5-4.png

Stage-E

Guardian Force, Stage 6-1.png

Guardian Force, Stage 6-2.png

Guardian Force, Stage 6-3.png

Guardian Force, Stage 6-4.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 6-1.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 6-2.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 6-3.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 6-4.png

Stage-F

Guardian Force, Stage 7-1.png

Guardian Force, Stage 7-2.png

Guardian Force, Stage 7-3.png

Guardian Force, Stage 7-4.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 7-1.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 7-2.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 7-3.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 7-4.png

Stage-G

Guardian Force, Stage 8-1.png

Guardian Force, Stage 8-2.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 8-1.png

  • Guardian Force, Stage 8-2.png

Final Mission
The second boss is only played if players destroy the first boss before the 30-second timer expires. There are two different endings depending on whether the second boss is fought.

History

Legacy

In 2021, Guardian Force was released along with Cotton 2 and Cotton Boomerang as part of the Cotton Guardian Force Saturn Tribute compilation for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 by City Connection.[3] These versions include added features such as rapid-fire and online rankings. The collection was given a limited physical release by Strictly Limited Games.[4]

Production credits

  • Planner: Kazutoshi Yashiki
  • Director: Kazutoshi Yashiki, Taku Ishigouka
  • Main Graphic Designer: Kazutoshi Yashiki, Taku Ishigouoka, Yūsuke Nemoto, Takeshi Takahashi
  • System Programmer: Masaru Hatsuyama
  • Main Programmer: Yūichi Horiguchi
  • Graphic Designer: Tōru Kagawa, Michi Yoshikuni
  • Programmer: Masato Taniguchi, Yūichirō Satō, Yukio Ushigome, Tomohide Ōshiro
  • Sound: Kenichi Hirata, Misako Tago
  • 3D Adviser: Mizuho Sasa
  • Title Graphic: Yūsuke Nemoto, Takeshi Takahashi
  • Special Thanks: Liu Xiangdong, Chie Akama, Yumiko Tachibana, Hiromi Hirata
  • Producer: Takato Yoshinari
Source:
In-game credits
Guardian Force Saturn credits.pdf
[5]


Magazine articles

Main article: Guardian Force/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Titan Video version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Arcade (Sega Titan Video)
 N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Guardian Force

Sega Titan Video, JP
GuardianForce STV JP Cart.jpg
Cart

Saturn version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR) NTSC-J
84
[6]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
58
[7]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
60
[8]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
70
[9]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
70
[10]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
78
[11]
Sega Saturn
 70
Based on
6 reviews

Guardian Force

Saturn, JP
GuardianForce Saturn JP Box Back.jpgGuardianForce Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
GuardianForce Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
GuardianForce Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc

Technical information

Main article: Guardian Force/Technical information.

References

  1. ↑ File:GuardianForce Saturn JP Box Back.jpg
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/segasaturn/software_l.html#tab04 (Wayback Machine: 2019-12-07 02:59)
  3. ↑ https://www.segasaturnshiro.com/2021/04/27/cotton-guardian-force-saturn-tribute-to-be-released-on-switch-and-ps4-this-year/ (Wayback Machine: 2021-04-28 01:23)
  4. ↑ https://www.gematsu.com/2021/04/cotton-guardian-force-saturn-tribute-announced-for-ps4-switch (Wayback Machine: 2023-11-08 23:15)
  5. ↑ File:Guardian Force Saturn credits.pdf
  6. ↑ Consoles +, "Octobre 1998" (FR; 1998-xx-xx), page 127
  7. ↑ Famitsu, "1998-08-14" (JP; 1998-07-31), page 1
  8. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1998 No. 15" (JP; 1998-07-24), page 141
  9. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1998 No. 19" (JP; 1998-10-02), page 118
  10. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1998-23 (1998-08-07,14)" (JP; 1998-07-24), page 208
  11. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 13


Guardian Force

GuardianForce title.png

Main page | Magazine articles | Reception | Technical information


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