Has anyone had a better 2024 than Digital Eclipse? Along with producing stellar Gold Master Series games like Tetris Forever, the company also did two amazing add-ons for Atari 50. Not to mention its impeccable work on Volgarr the Viking II and Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition. I swear, those guys don’t sleep. And if you need further proof of this lack of slumber, take Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind.
This beat-em-up is a letter of love to the classic beat-em-ups of old. You guide the Rangers as they take on Rita Repulsa, the devastatingly powerful queen that’s awoken from her slumber. Along the way, they’ll punch, shoot and morph their way to greatness, across 15 stages of retro bliss.
There are moments where the combat doesn’t quite connect as smoothly as it should; and there could’ve been some form of crossplay. But those are minor complaints in the face of one of the most entertaining Power Rangers games in years. If you’re a fan, you’ll immediately take hold of this gem. And if you’re not, don’t be too shocked if you transform into one.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind Is Old-School Style, All the Way
Right off the bat, you can see Digital Eclipse’s love for Power Rangers material. The opening cinemas are vintage SNES-style, complete with zoom-ins and smooth parallax scrolling. But then you realize it’s actually based on the classic show, rather than the new-fangled attempt we saw in the 2017 film. (Good deal, really – I didn’t need any Krispy Kreme references.)
The story unfolds smoothly, with the Rangers facing off against Repulsa’s lieutenants before facing off with the big queen herself. You’ll get a quick debriefing and then set out to beat up all sorts of thugs, using your swift Ranger techniques. Punches and kicks get delivered, along with sweet-looking super techniques to clear the screen on occasion. It’s classic beat-em-up formula dialed in to 11.
That said, the combat feels a very slight bit off. There are times that grabs don’t quite connect, leaving you susceptible to incoming attacks. Your jump kick is also off in some places, sending you flying to the mat. But these moments are few and far between in comparison to the entertaining butt-kicking that awaits. Plus the ability to dodge certain attacks with a quick flip is a nice touch.
Along with the beat-em-up stages, Rita’s Rewind also scores with the Super Scaler-type stages. In these, you’ll engage in 3D shooter sequences akin to Burning Force. Enemies will throw projectiles to dodge, and you’ll have to shoot rocks and enemies along the way. Sometimes certain missions require you to drain a boss’ energy or destroy a convoy. It’s all handled very well, though later stages do get quite tough. Better get those shooting skills in.
Finally, we need to talk about the Juice Bar. You can visit this between stages and use purchased coins to play retro games. These provide a nice little break during the game, though you’ll need to find parts to repair them. It’s no big deal, however.
The game has local multiplayer in spades, and it’s absolutely a lot of fun working alongside others. That said, I do wish the game launched with some kind of crossplay. Fortunately, Digital Eclipse is working on a solution, though a time frame isn’t in place just yet. (Soon!)
Overall, Rita’s Rewind is a pleasant surprise in the genre. The combat works very well most of the time, and the 3D shooter stages are breezy and enjoyable. And I really like that Juice Bar. Makes me want one in every game, really. (Well, in the Turtles universe it’d be more of a Pizza Bar, but that works too.)
Powering Forward With a Grand Presentation
To go along with the fisticuffs, Rita’s Rewind also comes with a solid presentation, amongst Digital Eclipse’s best work.
I already talked about the 16-bit retro style in the paragraph above. It’s hammered home nicely throughout the game. The stage design is a good deal of fun (especially the 3D stages), and the animations are sharp. Plus there are nice touches here and there, including references to other heroes and cameos that hit the spot. The cinematic sequences are a lot of fun as well, calling back to the classic TV series. What a fun explosion of Power Ranger goodness.
On top of that, the audio is also great. The in-game music rocks, calling back to the older days of gaming. And the sound effects, with lots of thuds and enemy noises, fits the bill. Plus, the voice acting is really good, with just the right amount of cheesy. Plus good ol’ Dan Amrich gets his chance to shine as a Power Ranger. We’ve arrived, people!
This is easily one of Digital Eclipse’s best-looking efforts. Hopefully they keep rising up from here.
Ay-Yi-Yi, It’s a Classic!
Though it needs a touch-up in combat and the addition of crossplay, I can’t complain too much about Rita’s Rewind. It’s one of the best Mighty Morphin Power Rangers games in years, and a thrill to play. The beat-em-up action works well for the most part, and is even better with local multiplayer. We’re also fans of the retro-style presentation, which explodes on the screen like an Ivan Ooze bomb. And there’s so much to do within its little world.
Rita’s Rewind caps off an incredible year by Digital Eclipse, and sets the stage for an even better one in 2025. For now, though, Mike and the team should definitely get a nap in. Zordon commands it so.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Digital Eclipse for the review code! Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is available now for Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC/Steam!
Want more beat-em-up goodness? Check out our reviews of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate!
