Wardners

Wardners is a 1991 scrolling shooter arcade game developed and published by Sega. It is the second game in the "Wardner" series, following the original Wardner released in 1987. In Wardners, players control a warrior armed with a sword and a magical orb. The primary objective is to journey through various levels, defeating enemies and bosses to ultimately confront the evil wizard and rescue the princess.

The gameplay mechanics are straightforward for the genre. Players move their character horizontally and vertically, attacking enemies with their sword and a projectile fired from the magical orb. The orb can be powered up by collecting items found throughout the levels, increasing its range and power. Enemies come in various forms, and each level culminates in a boss battle that requires strategic use of attacks and movement to overcome.

Wardners features a distinct visual style with colorful graphics and animated sprites, typical of arcade games from that era. The game also includes a branching path system, allowing players to choose different routes through the game world, which affects the levels they encounter and the bosses they face. This adds replayability to the experience. While initially released in arcades, Wardners was later ported to home consoles, notably the Sega Genesis in North America and Europe under the title "Wardner of the Relics." The game received a mixed reception, praised for its visuals and boss designs but sometimes criticized for its difficulty and repetitive gameplay.