The Might Morphing Power Rangers debuted in 1993 and have been making a huge impact for the past 30 years. This show of students turned cosmic warriors battling aliens and beasts has become an unforgettable mainstay in the grand scheme of pop culture. In the golden age, the Power Rangers received a movie, video games, comics, toys, and even underwear. There have been many iterations since then but when fans think of Power Rangers, they think of the original with that unforgettable tune.
Now, decades later, a brand new game is in the works called Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind. This particular installment promises to be not just an excellent side-scrolling beat 'em up but a celebration of Power Rangers and what they have meant on the grand stage of pop culture. After playing it at PAX West, I can safely say this is shaping up to be a special game, one that might be game-of-the-year material.
It's Morphin' Time
My demo put us in the first two stages of the game. Already, from the very start, there is a lot of love on-screen with every single detail. For a brief moment, the Rangers appear without their power armor, and they appear as a pixelated version of the cast from the main series! Zordon, Rita, and Alpha also make appearances in the demo as well, all done faithfully to the source material. Little details, such as attack moves and powers, as the rangers don their armor, also demonstrate how heartfelt the team feels to power Rangers. I couldn't help but be both impressed and humbled that the team went out of their way to get the visual details right.
Another added detail is the game's CRT filter. Some games attempt to display a CRT filter to emulate playing on an old box CRT TV. For some reason, the team nailed that specific aesthetic. Some games put lines through the screen and call it a day but this particular filter, coupled with the gameplay, reminded me of playing the Power Rangers game for the SNES back in the early 90s. It works.
Teamwork makes dreams work
The first level had us in the desert. There was an army of putty patrollers looking for a fight. I and my fellow con attendees put up a fight and it was a grand spectacle! The putty soldiers were downed and felled but they were no pushover, even with that "woobooloo" sound they make. The putty went out of their way to punch, kick, surround, and fight dirty to beat the Rangers. They threw objects, such as bombs, and made it imperative to surround each ranger.
The game followed the traditional beat 'em up rules. One button for light attacks and another for heavy, with one button being special powers. Each ranger has a different power but seemingly, the same movesets with their martial arts. Still, each power, such as using the Red Rangers Red fire special, are incredibly satisfying. After making their way through the desert, the rangers entered the city. Here, new enemies appeared, and a boss fight.
Make My Monsters Grow
This moment felt pulled directly from the show. False food advertisements adorn the rooftops as avian warriors try and knock the rangers from the rooftops of the city. It's a classic moment felt right from the show and it is here where I was hitting my stride with the demo. Eventually, we made it to Goldarr, Rita's most dedicated henchman. He was a difficult boss, between flying and sending fire into the ground. It required the teamwork of all of us but we managed to take him down. Suddenly, Rita' appeared used her power, and made Goldarr grow. This meant that it was time for a Megazord battle, but at that moment, the demo came to an end.
There is much to be seen with Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind. A big aspect of the story is the fact that Rita's experimentation with time sends the rangers throughout all of Season One. The game puts players right into the most important parts of the season, as well as their fights and battles. This should be a big treat for those who grew up with the original.
Power Rangers are go
The demo was only a teaser of what was to come, and we are frankly looking at a beat 'em up that is GOTY material. The attention to detail and crunchy fighting greatly respect the source material and provide a super-powered gameplay experience. While we have to see how the Megazord fighting sections play out, one thing is for sure: This year, it's morphin' time.
Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind launches in 2024.
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