The Guardian Legend (ガーディック外伝, Gādikku Gaiden?, Guardic Gaiden) is a hybrid action-adventure/shoot 'em up video game developed by Compile for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It is the sequel to the 1986 MSX game Guardic, and was published and released in Japan by Irem in 1988, in North America by Brøderbund in 1989, and in Europe by Nintendo in 1990.
The game follows a lone protagonist, The Guardian, in her quest to stop an alien-infested space station before it reaches the planet Earth. The Guardian must destroy the space station by activating ten safety devices scattered throughout the station and then engaging its self–destruct sequence. The player, assuming the role of The Guardian, is able to explore the station in a non–linear fashion to find these safety devices and thus save Earth. Different weapons can be acquired during the course of the game to combat the hostile aliens who inhabit the space station.
The Guardian Legend received mixed reviews from magazines such as Electronic Gaming Monthly and Nintendo Power. While it has been praised for its impressive graphics, memorable sound, and responsive controls, it has been criticized for its repetitive gameplay and complicated password system. Though the game received little fanfare upon its initial release, it has since been renowned as a classic example of a multiple-genre game, setting a standard for other games with multiple gameplay elements such as Xexyz, ActRaiser, and Sigma Star Saga to follow. It is also one of the few games on the NES to feature a female as the protagonist.
