Mighty Morphin Vitality Rangers: The Chronicles of Rita’s Reset

Being from the UK, the name ‘Rita’ did not really resonate well with us in Power Rangers. It conjures images of Rita from the local chip shop, who might ask if you want salt and vinegar with that; or perhaps Rita from down the street, who could be a rebellious teen sporting too much makeup. That said, Rita, the witch-like villain of the Power Rangers squad, certainly doesn’t operate out of the chip shop. Although she does have a flair for dramatic makeup…

Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is a brand-new side-scrolling beat ’em up from Digital Eclipse, a developer more recognized for their retro remakes and compilations like Atari 50 and the recent Tetris Forever. Based on the original ’90s version of the show — a collaboration between American and Japanese creators that blended Japan’s Super Sentai action scenes with US footage — Power Rangers is a natural fit for the revitalization of 2D beat-’em-ups.

And it exceeds expectations. Rita’s Rewind is a well-crafted adventure that faithfully adheres to both the source material and a genuine arcade aesthetic. In terms of capturing the essence of the TV series, it hits the mark perfectly, featuring excellent presentation, brisk narrative interludes, and impressive camera movements across parallax-constructed landscapes. Musically, it’s quite catchy, reimagining various recognizable themes in countless creative ways, and there are CRT filter options available for that much-desired retro ambiance.

Whether battling against swarms of surrounding putty patrollers with a flurry of acrobatic maneuvers or unleashing a signature special move, the essence of the show’s high-energy combat sequences has been expertly mastered. Explosions, flames, shattering debris, and igniting effects all contribute to the chaotic humor: witty one-liners, clever fourth-wall-breaking jokes, and a Saturday morning cartoon charm that can awaken the inner child even in the most jaded adult. The narrative itself draws inspiration from the show’s origins, featuring Rita constructing a time device that sends her back to 1993. The original cast is then thrust into a time paradox where two Ritas are simultaneously causing chaos in their timeline.

The banter among team members and familiar NPCs is prevalent, and while some catchphrases may be a tad repetitive (“I’m just going to catch up!”), there’s no denying the enjoyment from the various references. The affection for the material is palpable, and, much like Tribute Games’ TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, this feels like a product crafted by dedicated fans.

When it comes to combat, your skillset is quite varied. You can jump, dash, dodge and attack, double-jump, and come down from the skies with either a diagonal kick or a vertical slam. Your punch combo sequence is agile, allowing you to swiftly swing it back and forth mid-air, enabling you to hit enemies approaching from behind before refocusing on your target.

This dynamic works well, especially as the screen becomes excitingly crowded while you continuously dash. You can also jump and juggle enemies off the screen edges, which is especially enjoyable when you manage to catch several foes at once, boosting your combo count significantly. However, the most crucial mechanic is the dodge roll, which is essential for navigating specific boss patterns, tricky enemies, and incoming projectiles.

With all these elements combined, the stage is set for some versatile yet not overly complex brawls. Throughout the levels, you’ll find power-ups that temporarily enhance your ranger’s abilities and grant invincibility, and each character has a gauge-driven signature special move that can dramatically clear the screen when needed.

It’s a fairly challenging game, featuring a variety of bosses with intricate attack patterns to maneuver around. It’s both longer and tougher than Shredder’s Revenge on default settings, demanding quick reflexes and well-timed dodges to overcome its challenges, which is all the more rewarding.

If that were all there was to it, Power Rangers would be a solid arcade-style tribute to the ’90s show. However, by stage three, the gameplay shifts dramatically. The traditional 2D side-scrolling format is unexpectedly swapped for a vibrant pseudo-3D segment where the Rangers, seated in their merged Megazord, charge into the fray firing weapons and missiles with explosive effects. Here, you’ll need to jump over obstacles, evade lasers, and then engage in a Megazord fistfight against Goldar, dodging his fireballs.

For those who cherish 2D gaming, it is nothing short of impressive. Drawing inspiration from Sega’s Scale Technology, reminiscent of classics like After Burner, Out Run and Rail Chase, the overall execution is fantastic. And it’s not just a one-off, either, making appearances throughout the adventure in the form of thrilling theme park roller coasters and chaotic motorcycle chases along war-torn highways.

The variety doesn’t exactly stop there. Along your journey, there are various obstacles to break, some useful for knocking foes out of the way while others reveal power-ups and various character cameos from the show – and specific collectible items will surely please dedicated fans. The time-warp feature is aptly named, as Rita’s minions continuously deploy vortex machines that must be destroyed quickly. Failing to do so results in a 10-second action rewind, forcing you to restart the task — fortunately, any damage dealt to the machine carries over.

Throughout the campaign, you’ll collect scattered coins, and between stages, pressing the ‘X’ button will take you to the Juice Bar hangout where you can chat with NPCs for a bit of humorous dialogue. There are three arcade machines labeled ‘Out of Order’ nearby, but finding hidden arcade parts in different stages will restore them. Each machine offers a retro arcade minigame to play, and this is where those co