Few video game genre have been as played out as the musical rhythm ‘ em up , butMighty Morphin Power Ranger : Rita ’s Rewindshows that the data format still has juice leave in it .
This style of uncomplicated action game has been around since the 24-hour interval when arcade dominated and remained a especially fruitful indie plot corner . Beat ‘ em ups are some of my favorite games to flirt when it involve a quick dose of more or less mindless play fun , and I ’ve appreciate the recent wave of licensed musical rhythm ‘ em ups that we ’ve begin for franchises likeTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesand G.I. Joe .
Unfortunately , many beat ‘ em up games lack originality and feel like they ’re just replaying the swell bang of games likeStreet of passion 2andTMNT : turtle in Time . That ’s why I was agreeably surprised by the creativity on display as I playedRita ’s Rewind . Not only does this biz faithfully emulate the look and feel of classic beat ‘ em ups but Digital Eclipse was willing to insert newfangled mind of its own into the experience .
A retro tribute
Like most licensed rhythm ‘ em ups , Rita ’s Rewindis igniter on patch but all - in on fan service . In this game , a robotic version of Rita Repulsa go back in clock time to team up with her younger self and shoot down the Power Rangers . That do the backdrop for a series of meter ‘ em up levels that span from rooftop to carnivals and more , where the Power Rangers must fight Putty Patrollers and big bads like Goldar .
Growing up , I was n’t allowed to watchMighty Morphin Power forest fire fighter , so my nostalgia for the series is limited . As I played , I noticed lots of little Easter eggs , character cameos , and other small touches that showed me diehard Power Rangers fans exploit on this game . It ’s also a love letter to 16 - bit beat ‘ em up games in introduction . Rita ’s Rewindfeatures some stunning pixel art and is straight off reachable to anyone who has played a plot likeFinal FightorStreets of Ragebefore .
Digital Eclipse ’s allegiance to games likeRita ’s Rewindis encouraging . It certify that the studio apartment has a bass understanding of the retro title it keep and can re - produce that magic trick for something young . It ’s not only a reversion to 16 - bit round ‘ em up , but it gave me regenerate religion that there ’s still a caboodle of space for retro games to explore .
Beat ‘ em ups are some of the simplest games out there . Whether it’sStreets of Rage 4 , Capcom’sunderratedThe Punisher , orRita ’s Rewind , players are , at a basic level , walking to the rightfulness and perforate whatever gets in their way . That simplicity is what draws me to the genre in moments of leisure , but I ’ve been let down play secret plan likeG.I. Joe : Wrath of Cobrabecause I opine the game design dally it too safe . Rita ’s Rewinddoes not have that problem .
While I wish the different Power Rangers played more distinctly from each other , I could at least expect and revel when each young level fling some creative idea toward me . I knew this would be a special beat ‘ em up toward the end of the first level , and the biz rewound time after a time dilator blew up . Something like that obviously would n’t have been possible on SNES or Sega Genesis and is fresh for the beat ‘ em up genre .
Vehicle stages inRita ’s Rewindwhere players verify Zords or other object end up play more likeSpace HarrierorAir Twisterrather than being unfairly difficult side - scrolling levels that throttle role player movement in foiling . That ’s another instance of Digital Eclipse come at a played - out round ‘ em up figure of speech . Then , there are theMegazord fightsthat play a bit likePunch - Outand are nice power stumble come after some especially sturdy Zord or beat ’em up levels .
Rita ’s Rewindsquarely conform to the mold of a retro throwback outfox ‘ em up , feeling like the kind of plot I would ’ve get it on play on my secret plan Boy Advance as a kid , likeJustice League Heroes : The Flash . Despite that , it shows there are still ways to experiment and palpate fresh while working within the restrictive confines of the format . That make it an easy recommendation for fans of Power Rangers or classic colonnade brawlers .
Mighty Morphin ’ Power Rangers : Rita ’s Rewindlaunches for personal computer , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , and Xbox Series X / S on December 10 . The Nintendo Switch reading launch on December 19 .
