As a child of the ’90s, I can confidently say that Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind has me absolutely thrilled! Growing up, I was glued to my TV every time the Power Rangers were on, and now, here we are with an arcade-style brawler that harkens back to those glory days. The visuals are a delightful throwback to the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis era, but with modern gameplay mechanics that make it feel fresh and exciting.
Back in the late ’80s, I was totally immersed in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles phenomenon that swept across pop culture. Arcades were no exception, as they featured some of the best beat ’em up games based on the series. Fast forward to the mid-’90s, and it was the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ turn to dominate pop culture. Unfortunately for us arcade enthusiasts, the beat ’em up genre had fallen out of favor by then. However, the Power Rangers series seemed tailor-made for that genre, but it never got its due.
The narrative of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind resumes, drawing inspiration from Netflix’s recent special Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always. In this continuation, Robo Rita—Rita Repulsa’s ultimate form—devises a strategy to defeat the Power Rangers and conquer the world. This plan involves traveling back in time 30 years to collaborate with her younger self. This arrangement establishes a fight sequence reminiscent of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ first season.
It’s quite intriguing, this game appears as if it was plucked directly from the time of the first Power Rangers season. Digital Eclipse has skillfully crafted a brawler that carries an atmosphere reminiscent of the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis gaming era. The visual aesthetics, with its character sprites and art style, give off the impression that it’s a relic from a time capsule.
Absolutely, Rita’s Rewind is contemporary when it matters most. The game includes a five-player cooperative mode that allows for drop-in, drop-out play, both locally and online. This number of players remains constant even after the Green Ranger is unlocked at the end of the campaign. What stands out, though, is the blend of traditional beat ’em up mechanics with innovative level design in the game’s structure. Each Ranger can deliver powerful ground punches and kicks, rise to strike airborne enemies, and perform dive kicks for added force. Additionally, players can accumulate a meter to launch massive screen-wide attacks. In co-op mode, partners can assist each other as they did in the original series, tossing enemies to their comrades for a well-timed finish.
Goldar demonstrates the mechanics of boss battles on solid ground. By striking the ground with his sword, Rita’s top lieutenant can generate bursts of magma around himself. He also summons the Putty Patrol for assistance. After Goldar is vanquished, the demo concludes with 1993 Rita dropping her wand to cause Goldar to grow.
To put it another way, while Rita’s Rewind demonstrated a traditional brawler style, the demo didn’t highlight the unique elements that distinguish this game from others in its genre. In the full game, there will be Zord sections where each player controls their Dinozord separately. This results in Megazord sequences, where all players join forces and share control, transforming the boss fight into something similar to Punch-Out. Additionally, players will have opportunities to engage in other vehicle sequences that move the action off the ground, such as a chase sequence where the Rangers pursue Crabby Cabby on their motorcycles.
The upcoming game “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind” seems promising, shaping up to be an engaging “What if?” tale. It caters well to loyal series viewers with familiar faces popping up from later seasons challenging the Rangers, and classic characters appearing as collectibles. The sneak peek I got provided a strong dose of nostalgia, and I’m eager to see how everything ties together to create something completely new. “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind” is scheduled for release on PC and consoles this fall.
This preview is based on an early demo played on the PAX West 2024 show floor. The final product is subject to change.
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2024-08-31 17:27