The Sega Saturn was an oddball console to say the least, but nonetheless, it had some fantastic games. Titles like Panzer Dragoon Saga, Virtua Fighter 2, and Radiant Silver Gun offered exciting visuals and gameplay, just to name a few. For me, though, there’s one Saturn game that’s always stood out above the rest: Guardian Heroes. This absolutely fantastic beat ’em up has long existed as a stellar Saturn standout that made a lasting mark on the genre, even if people don’t really remember it. This oft-forgotten gem just celebrated its 30th anniversary in January, as it was first released in Japan in 1996, later arriving in the United States in April and PAL territories in June that same year. Let’s take a quick look back at Guardian Heroes and see what made this game so special, hopefully rekindling some old memories or encouraging newcomers to give it a shot.
A Blend of Beat ‘Em Up and RPG
During its creation in 1994, developer Treasure wanted Guardian Heroes to feel very RPG-inspired, which can be found in every aspect of the game. Firstly, especially for a beat ’em up, it has a complex story with hefty lore, but one that stays true to its fantasy roots. Four heroes, sent fleeing from their home village, must go on an epic quest to retrieve a fateful sword, leading to a story full of gods, wizards, dark magic, and even robots. Most importantly, though, the player has a direct say in how this story plays out, as the game is full of branching paths, leading to several distinct endings. This “choose your own adventure” style is just as clear in the combat.
Guardian Heroes sticks to the core formula of the 2D beat ’em up genre in its fundamentals, with various characters offering unique moves, allowing you to slay waves of oncoming baddies. However, the RPG elements are deep here, as you earn experience with each passing kill, which you can spend to improve any of your six main attributes. Like in traditional RPGs, these skills improve your character’s health, strength, magic ability, and more, allowing you to shape their build to fit your preferred play style. This fusion of RPG-style progression and a story with multiple outcomes makes Guardian Heroes a very replayable game as well, so it’s always fun to run through again and again with friends.
The Legacy of Guardian Heroes
Upon release, Guardian Heroes was mostly praised, though some critics took issue with the excess of dialogue and 2D visuals, as 3D graphics had become all the rage. Still, it earned its fair share of fans, enough so that Treasure returned to the franchise in 2004 with a Game Boy Advance sequel, Advance Guardian Heroes. In 2011, a remastered version of Guardian Heroes landed on Xbox 360, sparking some renewed interest, but not much.
Absolum (2025, PC)
Unfortunately, in decade since, Treasure has taken a step back from game development and reduced their team, so the chances of a sequel are unlikely. Thankfully, other RPG-style beat ’em ups have risen with clear inspiration from Guardian Heroes, most notably titles like Castle Crashers and the 2025 game, Absolum. For now, Guardian Heroes remains one of the many franchises somewhat lost to time, but that doesn’t have to be so. If you own a modern Xbox, you can still purchase the Guardian Heroes remaster, which I highly recommend. It’s something I still play to this day, especially when friends are over, teleporting me back to my childhood and the intriguing fantasy world of the Sega Saturn’s best beat ’em up.
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