As a huge Power Rangers fan, one of the games I was most excited about that would be at PAX West was Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind. Beat-em-ups are one of my favorite game types, especially for multiplayer, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder’s Revenge showed just how well nostalgic franchises can pair with the genre. Digital Eclipse has done an excellent job with this one, as this is the Power Rangers game we should have gotten 30 years ago.
Right off the bat, I noticed how accurate the dialogue and story are to the tone of the original Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. From wonderfully cheesy one-liners to an endlessly optimistic tone, every bit of dialogue feels like it came straight from the show. The story, which sees Power Rangers: Once & Always’ Robo Rita go back in time to team up with the original Rita Repulsa and stop the Power Rangers from coming to be, is a delightful concept that’s perfectly suited to this sort of nostalgic game.
Credit: Digital Eclipse
I was lucky enough to play the game with three of my friends, as multiplayer is certainly the way to go with Rita’s Rewind. Walking through each stage and pounding Putties as a team is an unforgettable experience, truly putting you in the boots of the iconic tokusatsu team. Figuring out who needs to heal, divvying out your special moves at the most efficient moments, and just goofing around as your favorite Rangers together was some of the most fun I had at PAX, and it’ll be an excellent experience to play with everyone you know upon the full release.
“The music and sound effects add that extra dose of energy to everything, cementing this as the ultimate Power Rangers game experience.“
The actual combat feels great, as there’s real “oomph” behind each wallop. Combos are a blast to pull off, especially when coordinating with other people. Whether you’re punching, kicking, throwing, or using extremely cool and flashy super attacks, plowing through Putties, or taking on a boss like Goldar feels like a perfect representation of the iconic television series.
Credit: Digital Eclipse
Speaking of the series, it’s clear that Digital Eclipse has a bottomless love for Power Rangers on the whole. I was told that the first stage is titled as a reference to the first episode, “The Day of the Dumpster,” and there are small collectible easter eggs that reference all sorts of episodes and stories from the show. This sort of reverence goes a long way in a game like this, as it shows how much heart the devs have put into Rita’s Rewind.
The pixel art is stunning too, as each character is gorgeously rendered in sharp detail that conveys so much about their memorable personalities. The music and sound effects add that extra dose of energy to everything, cementing this as the ultimate Power Rangers game experience.
Credit: Digital Eclipse
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is shaping up to be one of the most exciting games of the year. We were assured it’s going to arrive in 2024, so you’ll be able to take on Rita and her gang sooner than later, and I highly recommend you do if you’ve got any affinity for Power Rangers, beat-em-ups, or just sick games in general.
