Changeable Guardian Estique
Changeable Guardian Estique is a 2024 horizontal-scrolling shooter video game developed by Cat Hui Trading and published by Broke Studio for the Nintendo Entertainment System/Family Computer. The plot follows Estique, a transformable mecha piloted by Mary and Kanon from the planet Petelgeuse, sent to help Earth against the invading Van-De-Raus space pirates. The player can switch between a spaceship and a robot.
Changeable Guardian Estique
- Date
- 2024
- Genre
- horizontally scrolling shooter
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Changeable Guardian Estique is a 2024 horizontal-scrolling shooter video game developed by Cat Hui Trading and published by Broke Studio for the Nintendo Entertainment System/Family Computer. The plot follows Estique, a transformable mecha piloted by Mary and Kanon from the planet Petelgeuse, sent to help Earth against the invading Van-De-Raus space pirates. The player can switch between a spaceship and a robot.
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In this article
The object
The object
Directed by Takayuki Komabayashi, who previously worked at M2 as part of the Sega Genesis Mini and Game Gear Micro teams, before going independent and establishing Cat Hui Trading. Former Compile staffers participated in the game's production, while the soundtrack was composed by Ayako Saso, Sakuoki Kudo, Shinichi Sakamoto, and Shinji Hosoe. Estique received generally favorable reviews from critics, with praise for its graphics, music, gameplay, and near absence of sprite flickering. However, criticism focused on regional differences between the Japanese and English versions, misleading difficulty names, and limited weapon types.
Key facts
Key facts
• Title — Changeable Guardian Estique • Developer — Cat Hui Trading • Publisher — Broke Studio • Director — Takayuki Komabayashi • Producer — Takayuki Komabayashi • Designer — * Kenji Takayama • Takayuki Komabayashi • Programmer — * Satoshi Fujishima • Takayuki Hirono • Artist — * Hiroki Kodama • Kenji Takayama • Writer — Hiroki Kodama • Composer — * Ayako Saso • Sakuoki Kudo • Shinichi Sakamoto • Shinji Hosoe • Platforms — Nintendo Entertainment System/Family Computer, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S • Released — NES/FamicomDecember 16, 2024 Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/SAugust 6, 2026 • Genre — Horizontal-scrolling shooter • Modes — Single-player
Gameplay
Gameplay
• Illustration — The Estique mecha in fighter mode battling against enemies in the fourth stage set in New York City Changeable Guardian Estique is a horizontal-scrolling shooter game. The story takes place in 2413, when the Van-De-Raus space pirates invaded Earth, occupying five financial centers and seizing control of the global economy. A friendly planet, Petelgeuse, decided to help Earth against the space pirates by sending the Estique, a transformable mecha piloted by Mary and Kanon. The player can switch the Estique between two modes: a horizontal spaceship fighter and a vertical robot. Fighter mode enhances its weapons with more powerful attacks. Robot mode has a larger hitbox, but can unleash a barrier that clears the path through bullets and is immune to environmental damage. Each mode determines Estique's health regeneration rate, with robot mode being faster than fighter mode. Health also regenerates if Estique does not take damage for a period of time. The player can collect an item that alternates between Wave (W) and B.I.T. (B). Wave produces a wide, three-directional shot, while B.I.T. forms two orbital barriers that fire at enemies and block enemy shots. Collecting an item replenishes the Estique's special attack reserve by one, or it is used automatically if full. There are six stages in total, each with a boss at the end. The game offers three difficulty levels: Normal, Hard, and God of Game.
Development
Development
Changeable Guardian Estique was developed by Cat Hui Trading, a Japanese video game developer founded by Takayuki Komabayashi in 2021. He previously served as a sales manager at the Akihabara game store Beep Shop, and then joined M2 in 2017, working as part of the Sega Genesis Mini and Game Gear Micro teams, before going independent and establishing his own company. Komabayashi served as the game's director, producer, and planner. Former Compile staffers participated in the production. Takayuki "Jemini" Hirono (of Zanac, The Guardian Legend, Aleste, and Blazing Lazers) was the game's lead programmer. Satoshi "Pac" Fujishima (of Golvellius) assisted Hirono with programming and handled the sound effects. Production designer Hiroki "Daigattai" Kodama (of Power Strike II, and Spriggan Mark 2: Re-Terraform Project) was responsible for the original story concept and various character designs. Artist Kenji "Yamatan" Takayama worked on the stage design and in-game graphics. The music for Changeable Guardian Estique was scored by Ayako Saso (of Ridge Racer), Sakuoki "sdhizumi" Kudo, Shinichi Sakamoto (of Wonder Boy), and Shinji Hosoe. In 2025, SuperSweep released a CD album in Japan containing the game's original soundtrack, as well as bonus tracks.
Release
Release
Changeable Guardian Estique was first unveiled at Digital Games Expo 2023, a Japanese event dedicated to indie and doujin games, where the demo was sold as a ROM image. The game was showcased at other events such as Wonder Festival 2024 Winter, BitSummit Drift 2024, and the Taiwanese indie event G-Eight 2024. It was also playtested at the Hey game center in Akihabara, and a demo was offered at the Kenchan Electronics store. The game was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System/Family Computer (NES/Famicom) on December 16, 2024, by Broke Studio, a French video game publisher founded by Antoine Gohin in 2017. The English and Japanese versions feature different storylines and graphics for the opening and closing sequences. In 2025, AMATA Games announced that Changeable Guardian Estique would be ported and released for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam on August 6, 2026. It will feature both the English and Japanese versions, a score attack variant, and a gallery mode. A physical edition for the Nintendo Switch will be released on November 26, 2026.
Reception
Changeable Guardian Estique received generally favorable reviews. Time Extensions John Szczepaniak lauded the game for its refined gameplay, exquisite visuals, near absence of sprite flickering, and great depth when played on the highest difficulty level, but considered the regional differences between the Famicom and NES versions and the misleading difficulty names to be negative aspects. Thomas Nickel of M! Games considered it a technically spectacular 8-bit shooter, highlighting the near absence of sprite flickering during action, as well as the excellent gameplay and level design. Retro Gamers Andrew Fisher called it a stunning and brilliant game that pushes the NES hardware to its limits, praising its gorgeous graphics and soundtrack. Hardcore Gaming 101s Kurt Kalata stated that the game was a marvel to behold, citing its masterful graphics, as well as the lack of slowdown and minimal flickering, but felt that the different language variations between the English and Japanese versions emulated the worst of the 8-bit era, and that the limited weapon types were its only drawback.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Nickel, Thomas. Extended: M! in Japan: Indie-Report. Cybermedia. 368. 84–85. May 2024.
- 2.Broke Studio. Changeable Guardian Estique. 2024.
- 3.Szczepaniak, John. Zanac, Aleste And Gunhed Devs Join Forces For NES Shmup 'Chouyoku Senki Estique'. Time Extension. Hookshot Media. November 16, 2023.
- 4.Robinson, Sean (Scrobins). Episode 47: Changeable Guardian Estique - A Homebrew Draws Near!. Video Game Sage. September 30, 2024.
- 5.Inamoto, Tetsuya. 令和のFC用シューティング「超翼戦騎エスティーク」完成記念インタビュー。元コンパイルの開発陣など精鋭クリエイターによる'80年代テイスト満載のタイトル. 1–3. December 6, 2024.
- 6.令和の新作FCシューティング「超翼戦騎エスティーク」の店頭予約が近日スタート. January 14, 2025.
- 7.Fisher, Andrew. The Homebrewer's Kit: Estique Excels. Retro Gamer. Future plc. 268. 84–85. January 16, 2025.
- 8.Szczepaniak, John. Mind-Blowing NES Shmup Chouyoku Senki Estique Just Keeps Getting Better. Time Extension. Hookshot Media. December 9, 2024.
- 9.VGMdb. CHANGEABLE GUARDIAN ESTIQUE ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK.
- 10.C. K., Johann. Digital Games Expo 2023: A Glimpse into the World of Japanese Indie Developers. Frontline Gaming Japan. Value Architects. November 12, 2023.
- 11.Inamoto, Tetsuya. 元コンパイルの精鋭スタッフ陣による新作シューティングがFCで開発中!?「超翼戦騎エスティーク」が「ワンフェス2024冬」に出展. February 12, 2024.
- 12.Yanamoto, Shinichi. ファミコン向けの新作シューティング! ロボットと飛行形態を使い分けて巨大なボスに挑む「超翼戦騎エスティーク」. 4Gamer.net. Aetas Inc. July 24, 2024.
- 13.Taku, Inu. 紅白機新作《超翼戰騎 ESTIQUE》登台展出 預計 12 月率先發售實體卡匣. Oneup Network Corporation. December 1, 2024.
- 14.Yashiki, Yuta. シューティング「超翼戦騎エスティーク」体験会が秋葉原「Hey」にて4月27日~実施! 一部サウンドを坂本慎一氏が担当&藤岡建機氏のビジュアル使用アイテム頒布も. April 19, 2024.
- 15.Fisher, Andrew. The Homebrewer's Kit: Let's Get Physical. Retro Gamer. Future plc. 271. 96–97. July 31, 2025.
- 16.Romano, Sal. Robot shoot 'em up Changeable Guardian ESTIQUE coming to PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC in 2026. Gematsu. November 5, 2025.
- 17.Yarwood, Jack. One Of Last Year's Most Impressive NES / Famicom Games Is Coming To Steam & Consoles. Time Extension. Hookshot Media. November 6, 2025.
- 18.Romano, Sal. Changeable Guardian ESTIQUE for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC launches August 6. Gematsu. August 2, 2026.
- 19.Mr. Katoh. ファミコン/NES向け新作STG『超翼戦騎エスティーク』コンソール移植版に「スコアアタック」収録決定!オンラインランキングにも対応. Game*Spark. IID, Inc. January 15, 2026.
- 20.Chihiro. 「超翼戦騎エスティーク」,Switch向けパッケージを11月26日に発売。アートブックやアクスタを同梱した限定版もラインナップ. 4Gamer.net. Aetas Inc. July 24, 2026.
- 21.Szczepaniak, John. Changeable Guardian Estique Review (NES). Time Extension. Hookshot Media. December 9, 2024.
- 22.Nickel, Thomas. Import-Only: Changeable Guardian Estique (NES). Cybermedia. 378. 85. 2025-03-21.
- 23.Fisher, Andrew. The Homebrewer's Kit - Data Burst: Changeable Guardian Estique. Retro Gamer. Future plc. 271. 100. April 10, 2025.
- 24.Kalata, Kurt. Changeable Guardian Estique. Hardcore Gaming 101. November 12, 2025.
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