Here at AMIGA POWER, we don't tend to start off our reviews by copying out the game's plot, because a) everyone else does it, and b) game plots are an irrelevance. But Guardian's is actually quite good. So here goes.
It's the future. A long, long time into the future, when the universe has reached the limit of its post Big Bang expansion and begun to contract again. In fact, it's contracted so much that it's now no more than a few light years in diameter, and its surviving inhabitants are squabbling over what's left.
You're a Guardian, and your job is to protect the remains of the human race from marauding aliens. Should you fail, humanity will be destroyed. But, of course, even if you succeed, everyone will be killed before too long anyway. Which means that ultimately you're fighting for the sheer heck of it, which is just the way games should be,
(The AMIGA POWER calculator reveals that, were the universe really to be "no more than a few light years in diameter", its density would be so great that it would collapse in on itself within a few picoseconds. But Guardian is a pretty fast-moving game, so that's okay).
Guardian's been compared to Starwing on the SNES, a game which it superficially resembles. The ships are similar, the first level colours are identical, and you fly about in a similar manner.
But apart from that, forget about Starwing. And think instead about a 3D version of Defender, which is what Guardian actually is. ('Defender', 'Guardian'. See?) Instead of trying to kidnap people, the aliens bomb buildings on the ground, and there are power-ups and things. And you can't hyperspace. But apart from that, this is a 3D version of Defender, encompassing all Defender's speed and intensity along with some terrific graphics and the overpowering sense of urgency that the plot adds.
Causing terrible damage to your cities
FLIPPING
A typical game of Guardian will proceed as follows:
"Nya ha." (As you cunningly position yourself opposite the alien mothership as the game begins, wait impatiently for it to release a group of Dronoids - all of which need to be killed to complete a level - and then unleash one of your limited stock of smart bombs, destroying them all in a purple flash and a shower of polygons).
"Waargh..." (As, while doing so, you fail to notice a pair of enemy fighters - Saracens, as we've dubbed them - lining up behind you, and unleashing a tirade of sharply-angular laser fire.)
"Phew." (As you stab at the accelerator and soar away, banking sharply to avoid a tree...)
"Gnuk" (...Only to career straight into a building - not a smart move, as you're supposed to be protecting these, and the fewer remain at the end of the level, the fewer bonus points you'll get.)
"Tsk." (When you glance at your scanner, and spot a group of Dronoids in the distance, no doubt causing terrible damage to your cities.)
"Now then..." (As you close in on their position, your finger hovering above the fire button.)
"Gagh." (When, just as they come into view, a trio of Shadows flits across your path, giving you no option to peel off your attack and pursue them.)
"Pow." (As the first goes down.)
"Pow." (As the second goes down.)
"Yip." (As you narrowly scrape past a large office block. But then...)
"Yes." (...As the final Shadow, hot on your tail, isn't so fortunate, clips the building with his wing and tumbles down to earth.)
"Grr." (As you turn to face the Dronoids again with renewed determination.)
"Dakka dakka dakka." (As your photon bolts tear into them, and shards of alien tumble to earth. And finally....)
"Hurrah." (When, with the last Dronoid destroyed, "Level 00.3 Complete" appears on the screen and your ship turns and points skywards, the victory music playing in the background.)
It really is that exciting. And all that was without even considering that 'flip' control, inherited from Defender, which is perhaps the greatest single feature of any Amiga game ever.
Death seems certain
HECK
Picture the scene. You're zooming along the ground at top speed, weaving in and out of trees and closing in on the last Dronoid on the level. Suddenly you're aware of laser bolts zipping past your ear. You bank sharply, but the bandits are hard on your tail, matching your speed pixel for pixel. Lasers are tearing into your shields, and there's a group of buildings ahead block your path. Death seems certain.
But! With a swift stab at the green button, your ship performs a neat half-somersault and roll, and ends up facing in the opposite direction, still skidding backwards. You hammer the fire button and watch as one, two, three enemy ships erupt into a cloud of polygons. Twisting your lip in satisfaction you blip the accelerator to prevent your ship from sliding backwards into the buildings, and soar off in pursuit of your primary target. Even after the hundredth time, it's still great.
The graphics, meanwhile, are spot-on - not as intricate as Starwing', but perhaps a little smoother-moving. They seem to make use of that special chip in the CD32, too, for the horizon and things, which presumably makes an A1200 version unlikely (although Acid claim to be looking into the possibility).
The sound effects are fine, largely drowned out by the rock soundtrack (a little 1970s disco music would have made all the difference.) In fact, the only possible flaw we could find in Guardian is that the power-ups are ludicrously difficult to pick up - you've got to fly directly through the middle of them - which is a shame as it really spices things up once you've got a homing missile or dual laser.
SHOOTER
For the ultimate proof of Guardian's greatness, look to the AMIGA POWER Guardian High Score competition. We've wasted hours trying to out-do-each other and knock our most deadly foes off the bottom of the high score table, something we wouldn't normally bother with.
We've even been playing in the take-it-in-turns two-player mode, for heaven's sake. It seems fairly sake to suggest that, if you've got a CD32, you buy a copy of Guardian. And if you haven't, this could be the game to push you over the precipice. No. Down the slippery slope. No. Er. The CD32's equivalent of Sonic. Or whatever.