Candy Rangers (PS5) | REVIEW | A Candy Coated On Rails Shooter With a Moral!

Developed and published by JanduSoft, with core development handled by Mechano, Candy Rangers is a vibrant on-rails shooter released for the PS5. The game casts players as guardians of a whimsical world threatened by chaotic monsters known as the Unna, former harmonious beings cursed into destructive forms after exploiting nature's gifts. 

Through a light-hearted campaign, you guide a team of rangers on a mission to restore balance by blasting away these foes across varied environments, with the narrative unfolding via brief cutscenes and unlockable memory snippets that highlight the characters' playful dynamics. At the heart of the experience are the four main protagonists including sisters Candy, Mint, Lemon, and Plum, who are quadruplet rangers each tied to a distinct color and firing style. Candy handles red beams that spread horizontally, ideal for sweeping wide groups, Mint's green shots arc vertically to hit overhead or low threats, Lemon's yellow blasts form diagonal crosses for angled coverage, and Plum's blue fire pierces straight ahead for precise, forward assaults. 

The story in Candy Rangers revolves around their teamwork in combating the Unna, with each sister's unique abilities playing a crucial role in gameplay. Players must switch between them to match enemy colors and positions effectively, emphasizing coordination as the key to progressing through levels and uncovering more about their world. Mechanically, Candy Rangers employs an on-rails system where the four characters auto-walk forward along predetermined paths, freeing players to focus on combat and evasion rather than navigation. 

Targeting during these on rail walkthroughs relies heavily on a color-coded reticle system mapped to the controller's four face buttons (typically triangle, circle, cross, and square), allowing quick selection of the appropriate ranger to fire beams that align with enemy hues and formations for optimal damage and combo building. Complementing this are defensive and mobility tools including a parry mechanic lets you deflect incoming projectiles back at foes with precise timing, adding a layer of reactive strategy. Jumps and double jumps help dodge ground hazards or reach elevated collectibles, while a braking system allows slowing the team's pace to better manage chaotic sections or line up shots, or speeding up to push through timers.

The gameplay unfolds across stage-based levels, starting with introductory practice areas that tutorialize core controls before diving into named and numbered stages set in diverse locales like sunny countrysides or twilight zones. Each level is strictly timed, with success hinging on completing objectives before the clock hits zero, wherein taking hits or colliding with obstacles incurs time penalties that shave off precious seconds, ramping up tension. 

Performance in the game is evaluated via a star rating tied to scores, where maintaining chain combos through consecutive accurate shots multiplies points and extends the timer slightly. Collect-a-thon elements come via scattered coins and tickets (or medallions in some contexts), which players gather by defeating enemies, exploring alternate paths, or nailing platforming segments. These unlock new levels, secret routes, gallery art, and bonus modes for added replay value.

Visually, Candy Rangers sports a cell-shaded design blended with 3D polygonal models, creating a lively, cartoonish world bursting with bright colors that evoke a sugary paradise. The anime aesthetic shines through in character designs resembling Saturday morning heroes, with bold hues dominating enemies, beams, and backdrops to foster an energetic, cheerful vibe. The soundtrack bolsters this with upbeat, bouncy tracks that range from bubbly level tunes to hard-hitting boss anthems, keeping the pace lively and memorable. Sound effects, while functional, lean into whimsical pops and zaps for shots and impacts, though they occasionally get lost amid the visual chaos.

Ultimately, while Candy Rangers has charm in its concept, the execution stumbles in ways that undermine the fun. Enemies often spawn abruptly with scant warning, leaving little room to react before combos break or timers drain. The targeting system feels awkward, as beams can stray and hit unintended targets due to clustered foes or terrain quirks, turning precision into frustration. Worst of all, after the practice stages unveil the mechanics, the game does little to guide players on integrating them in full stages. Leaving you to fumble through trial and error, which saps the rhythm it aims for. Weighing these against its short length and visual appeal, the unfriendly gameplay loop makes it hard to recommend. Skip this one unless you're desperate for a quick, colorful diversion, as the flaws create more aggravation than enjoyment.