Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind review: Rangers in Time

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As a gamer who grew up in the ’90s and spent countless hours in arcades, I can confidently say that Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind has taken me on a thrilling trip down memory lane. This game is like a dream come true for any Power Rangers fan who yearned for an arcade-quality beat ’em up back then. It’s as if Digital Eclipse read my mind and decided to create the Power Rangers game we all wished we had in our youth.

Similar to numerous popular children’s TV shows from the 90s, such as Power Rangers, their superhero-like action was swiftly transformed into video games. While arcade-style brawlers were a common element, few of these games managed to stand out enough to be remembered as classics today. This might be due in part to the fact that the original games weren’t associated with powerful, crowd-pleasing arcade attractions from industry leaders like Konami, Capcom, or Data East. However, imagine if Power Rangers, a property that seems just as suited for beat ’em ups as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, had those golden arcade years that could be reminisced about with the same level of nostalgic excitement found in games like Dotemu’s Shredder’s Revenge?

A throwback to a Power Rangers game we wish we had

Digital Eclipse, a studio recognized for rejuvenating timeless games for contemporary systems and its Gold Master series (and the peculiar Space Jam 2 game), has endeavored to address that question with Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind, a freshly minted game that resonates as an intense homage to something that never truly materialized. In essence, Rita’s Rewind bears such striking resemblances in spirit, aesthetics, and structure (the stage selection screens are remarkably alike but not quite identical) to Shredder’s Revenge that it feels like gazing into a parallel world where Konami’s Turtles in Time was titled “Rangers in Time” instead. At this point, the game’s soundtrack is even mistakenly attributed to Shredder’s Revenge composer Tee Lopes on Wikipedia, and if I hadn’t played the game and checked the credits myself, I might have been convinced.

Digital Eclipse didn’t simply copy others when developing Rita’s Rewind; instead, they drew inspiration from classic Konami coin-op brawlers and modern tributes while also striving to create a unique Power Rangers experience. For instance, the Zords, the animal-themed mechs piloted by the Rangers, have their own stages reminiscent of Space Harrier, and the Megazord appears in distinct boss battles with its own set of rules. On the ground, the fighting with the Rangers is slower and more challenging than many similar games, which gives it a unique rhythm.

There’s a lot to take in, to say the least

Rita’s Rewind offers an intense sensory experience right from the get-go, bursting onto your screen with unbridled energy that surpasses any Power Rangers game I’ve played so far. The pace never slackens, and Sean Bialo’s soundtrack is explosive, reminiscent of a SNES-era Konami toolkit twisted by time-traveling wizards. The game’s vibrant, almost blinding color scheme is softened by a stylish CRT filter that’s automatically activated. During the fast-paced auto-scrolling levels on Zords or motorcycles, the visuals become even more chaotic and over-the-top, which can sometimes make it challenging to play due to the sheer intensity of the screen activity. Despite some issues I encountered with the game, I never found myself getting bored throughout multiple playthroughs spanning approximately three hours.

As a devoted fan, I find the most captivating part of Rita’s Rewind lies in the distinct playstyles that each selectable Ranger offers. For instance, the Yellow Ranger’s combat is trickier because her melee reach is significantly shorter, contrasting sharply with the Pink Ranger whose flying Zord makes certain levels a breeze. The Red Ranger’s sword extends behind him during combos, providing an edge in crowd control, albeit subtly. These distinctions aren’t always straightforward advantages or disadvantages; they simply make each Ranger feel unique, much like how the TMNT games give each hero a slightly different weapon range, but with intricacies that add depth to gameplay.

A little rough around the edges

A slower pace can create moments of annoyance instead of interest, leading to instances where it seems Digital Eclipse may have overlooked some preventable issues in the game’s design. It’s as if the characters move more slowly than expected, but enemies behave like typical brawler opponents. This discrepancy results in certain weaknesses that appear unexpected, such as regular enemies disrupting simple combos or specific enemies grabbing you instantly or striking during knockdown recovery without allowing time for a response.

Initially, I managed to adapt well and handle the game smoothly, but as time progressed, certain challenging aspects emerged, such as difficult enemy inputs and a specific boss fight. These challenges felt less like enjoyable obstacles and more like trying to outsmart the game instead of engaging in fun competition. Additionally, the upward attack and ground pound moves didn’t seem to deliver their promised functionality. The upward attack often left enemies beyond my reach, while the ground pound frequently resulted in me getting hit when I attempted to use it. However, the standard dive kick functioned just fine!

Generally speaking, I often found myself enjoying my playthrough of Rita’s Rewind, with its thrilling battles against putties, monsters, and the quirky bosses from the original series. It was a refreshing dose of nostalgia rather than the constant onslaught I usually feel from video games. Compared to other Power Rangers games throughout the years, this one stands out due to Digital Eclipse’s distinctive style. With some minor improvements and possibly more content down the line, Rita’s Rewind could become a source of pride. And even in its current form, it surpasses that Space Jam game significantly.

On December 10, 2024, you can get your hands on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind for various platforms including PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. The publisher has kindly provided a review code for the PC version.

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2024-12-09 17:27