Rendering Ranger: R² [REWIND] (PS5) | REVIEW | Run 'n Gun Meets Shmup In this Hybrid Retro Release

Retro Ranger: R² [REWIND], a Limited Run release published by Ziggurat Interactive, tries to emulate the nostalgia factor by reviving an old arcade style run 'n gunner and shoot 'em up hybrid. Delivering, in full for the first time within the US,  RRR² (The Super Famicom Release) and TARGA (The Original Japanese Version), alongside modernized gameplay customization options, screen filters, and a rewind function. Through the rewind feature alone the rerelease aims to correct the near impossible difficulty of the original experience. Where it shines in attempting to achieve this it also falters with some bugs, and gameplay issues tied to threat visibility and poor level design from that era of gaming. 

Staying faithful to the original releases while trying to modernize them for the current generation American audience RRR² and TARGA both come complete with the usual bells and whistles, albeit with alternative button mapping based on region. That and unique design differences per each title. You'll find lives/ship stock toggles, a CRT filter, 3 screen size adjustments, 3 border wallpapers, and character/ship color options for both regardless of game choice. 

While both games harbor no story, outright, you are effectively facing a menacing alien robot army as a super soldier of sorts that also pilots a jet fighter. At your disposal are two different weapon setups with upgradeable shot types including the machine gun and bomb blast combo, as well as the laser bullet and lazer beam combo. As you maintain gunfire your alternative mega weapon, be it the bombs or the lazer beam, will fill up in stock allowing for use when in a pinch. Similarly, the ship in the shmup portions of the experience harbor similar shot type changes via color coded powerup capsules, and it's own mega weapons. Like Gradius you can obtain satellites adding to the bullets being shot, and can uniquely alter the ships facing direction. 

In hindsight the Contra-like run 'n gun sections offer frustrating 2D challenges complete with enemies, and hazardous pitfalls waiting to claim your every life, but if you are lucky enough to beat the boss lying in wait at the end of a stage you'll progress to the next stage inline, whether it's a shmup side-scrolling affair or another run 'n gun ordeal. The shmup sections, on the other hand, are the highlight of this two-for-one package deal, and add a mechanics twist in the form of directional change for confronting both sides of incoming enemy threats. 

Regardless of gameplay type you will also be racking up a high score which will land on the local leaderboards per GAME OVER, and the fact that there are no continues means there will be more GAME OVERs than not. For those of you looking for some time saving features you'll additionally find each game has a password word system that will allow you to pick up where you left off if the rewind feature isn't favorable, somewhat negating the brutal no continue policy set by the original developer, Rainbow Arts. It should also be noted that the game has a Museum menu as well with a few original art pieces tied to the original release. Something extra for retro fans.

The Verdict ...

Rendering Ranger: R² [REWIND], and it's tag-along-title TARGA feel like a low budget emulation, and not a truly upgraded port. That being said this is the first time this 1990's game has released in the US, and is a welcome retro challenge at the $9.99 price tag. Keep in mind though this game does still play like a dated experience, and it's challenge can sometimes feel unfair by design due to when it was created. I guess that's why the rewind feature is there though as it allows you to reverse and correct any missteps made long the way at any given point in time. If you fancy giving it a try it is out on all the respective store fronts right now!