Guardians / Denjin Makai II

Guardians (also known as Denjin Makai II) is a scrolling beat 'em up developed by Winkysoft and published by Banpresto, released in 1995 for arcade systems. It continues the tradition of cooperative brawlers where players face off against a relentless onslaught of opponents.

In Guardians, you select one of four distinct characters, each boasting unique basic attack combos and a powerful special move. You navigate across diverse environments from left to right, confronting waves of varied enemy types, from street thugs to robotic adversaries. Standard attacks involve punches and kicks, but you can also jump to attack or grab enemies to throw them. Unleashing a special move consumes a portion of your health, making it a tactical decision to reserve these devastating attacks for large groups of foes or particularly resilient opponents.

Guardians supports two players working together, turning the progression through its stages into a cooperative effort. Throughout the game, you can find items like food to restore your health, which is essential as enemy assaults can quickly deplete your life bar. Each character in Guardians brings a different feel to the combat, from Dash's quick strikes to Gunther's heavier blows. The progression through the stages typically culminates in a boss fight, requiring players to learn enemy patterns and use their character's abilities effectively to succeed.

The variety of enemy designs and the distinct visual style of each stage in Guardians provide a consistent backdrop for the action. Players must master their chosen character's moveset and manage their health carefully to overcome the challenges presented.