As a gamer who grew up in the 2000s, I was never one to chase after Power Rangers or their colorful battles against monstrous foes. However, after dipping my toes into Rita’s Revenge, I can confidently say that this game is shaping up to be a fantastic homage to the golden era of beat ’em ups.
I wasn’t raised as a fan of Power Rangers, so I have limited knowledge about the series beyond recognizing it for its humorous monster fights, iconic memes such as the one featuring the eccentric lady emerging from something and laughing hysterically, providing Johnny Young Bosch with his start in the entertainment industry, and the existence of zords. As a result, intricate details from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Rita’s Revenge have eluded me thus far. However, after giving it some time, I can appreciate that Rita’s Revenge is developing into an exceptional beat ’em up game that caters to both die-hard fans and newcomers like myself, who might not even recognize Goldar if he were to physically interact with me.
The setup for Rita’s Rewind is straightforward, even if you’re not familiar with Power Rangers. Essentially, Robo Rita from the future has joined forces with the past’s Rita Repulsa to attack the Power Rangers. This game uses what developers at Digital Eclipse call “arcade logic,” meaning that enemy placement doesn’t always make perfect sense, but it’s a beat ’em up game! If you’re concerned about the storyline fitting neatly into something you might find in your local arcade, then perhaps there are bigger issues to address. However, it’s important to note that while Rita’s Rewind incorporates many elements from the show, including dialogue and references, its primary goal isn’t to retell the story. Instead, it provides a fun gaming experience for Power Rangers fans.
Instead, Rita’s Rewind focuses on encapsulating The Vibe™. If you were a child of the 90s, you’d recall the thrill of feeding coins into arcade legends like Turtles in Time and X-Men with your friends. These games are timeless classics, which is why we still discuss them with reverence today. However, the Power Rangers never received its share of beat ’em up glory, despite being incredibly popular. Rita’s Rewind aims to rectify that situation, but it doesn’t mimic how those games were played. Instead, it emulates how you remember those games playing. This means the gameplay is intuitive and easy to grasp. You already know how to attack enemies; now you have combos at your disposal. You’re also familiar with grabbing and throwing opponents; the new mechanics simply enhance that experience. You’ll find dive kicks, air attacks, and a power meter that builds up by defeating enemies. When fully charged, you can unleash devastating moves from the Damage region of France (or else it just sparkles, and that’s not as satisfying). The entire game is beautifully rendered in pixel art, complete with retro effects like scan lines. It’s nostalgia, but elevated.
Digital Eclipse doesn’t merely focus on repeating popular elements; instead, it offers an exciting twist. After my team (consisting of another journalist, a developer, and Rita’s Rewind) completed one level, we encountered Goldar. He functioned like a typical beat ’em up boss with unique moves to master. However, upon his defeat, Rita posed the question, “What if Goldar was larger?” This transformed our experience into a Space Harrier-like scenario where we piloted our Zords, rushing towards the screen, avoiding obstacles, and firing at hostile spaceships, along with numerous other zany activities. This feature is not a rare occurrence; Digital Eclipse informed me that it comprises a substantial portion of Rita’s Rewind’s gameplay. I can assure you, this aspect is incredibly enjoyable!
After locating him, a new turn of events unfolded. This time, it was a fierce one-on-one fight between the Megazord and Goldar, an intense battle like no other. The scene unfolds from your perspective, placing you in the cockpit of Megazoid, commanding this colossal mecha machine. You dodge explosive attacks and weave through his relentless dashes, aiming to connect blows that will energize your Power Blade. However, get hit, and another member of your team steps in. It was challenging, and it took several attempts, but it was thrilling all the same. Once your Power Blade is fully charged, you press every button on your controller for the final strike. It’s awesome, even if you don’t have nostalgia for the Power Rangers pumping through your system.
During transitions, you’ll find yourself at the Juice Bar, a spot where you can engage with other characters and enjoy three distinct arcade games uniquely crafted for this game by Digital Eclipse. These aren’t just Power Ranger-themed games; they were created out of curiosity about what games the Power Rangers might play during their downtime. It’s these small details that make the experience more immersive.
Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind isn’t merely a tribute to Power Rangers; it’s also a nostalgic nod to the ’90s, celebrating shows like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and X-Men that were popular back then, as well as the games from that period. Although Power Rangers didn’t have its own beat ’em up game, Rita’s Rewind serves as a heartfelt apology for that omission and is exactly the kind of game I’d love to play with friends on a relaxed Sunday afternoon, accompanied by pizza and beer. If you’re a fan of beat ’em up games, this isn’t a bad spot to find yourself in.
This preview is based on a behind-closed-doors demo shown by the developer at New York Comic Con.
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2024-10-24 17:57