We previously reported on the announcement of RRendering Ranger: R² [Rewind], and I must admit that I hadn’t personally heard of Rendering Ranger: R² until that point, which is something of a surprise considering the fact that it was made by Turrican developers Rainbow Arts, but further investigation reveals that Rendering Ranger: R² is one of the most rare Super Famicom games of all time, released only in Japan, and towards the end of the 16-bit machine’s lifespan, back in 1995, so knowing the details of its late and geographically limited release, Rendering Ranger: R²’s obscurity is somewhat more understandable.
But now, some 30 years after its original release, Ziggurat and Limited Run Games have finally given gamers outside of Japan the chance to officially play this super Famicom classic on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. And in this particular case I’m not using the word “classic” lightly.
Rendering Ranger: R² is a run ‘n’ gun game that can definitely hold its own with any of the genre’s best. And considering its vintage, Rendering Ranger: R2 is pleasingly slick to control. Using the left thumb stick to aim your weapon no doubt offers a smoother experience than using the Super Famicom’s D-pad would have been back in the day.
But there’s more than just runnin’ and gunnin’ to contend with in Rendering Ranger: R², you’ll also need pixel-perfect jumping skills to navigate the terrain’s tricky chasms, and in later levels the game even flips into a side-scrolling shoot ‘em up that plays just as well as the run ’n’ gun levels do! It should go without saying for a game of this vintage, but Rendering Ranger: R² is not an easy game! And, as the added “Rewind” in the title suggests, the game now offers a rewind feature that does make it ever so slightly less punishingly difficult!
As well as playing brilliantly, Rendering Ranger: R² is also a gorgeous looking game, up there with the very best that Nintendo’s 16-bit console has to offer, and apparently, we have the success of Dinkey Kong Country to thank for Rendering Ranger: R²’s stunning graphics, as the title was originally intended to have “traditional” pixel art graphics, but these were later upgraded to the pre-rendered graphics we see in the game now. Hence, I suppose, the use of the word “Rendering” in the game’s title. Considering the age of the original game, Rendering Ranger: R²Rendering Ranger: R²’s graphics do a remarkable job of creating a post-apocalyptic world, and it feels like the perfect setting for the game.
I have no doubt that if Rendering Ranger: R² had received a worldwide release back in the day (and perhaps if it had a snappier title), it would be regarded as a classic of the genre now.
Huge thanks are owed to Ziggurat and Limited Run for giving Rendering Ranger: R² the chance to find the worldwide audience and critical acclaim that it very much deserves, albeit 30 years later than it should’ve.
And Rendering Ranger: R² [Rewind] is more than just a bare bones port of the original Super Famicom version of RRendering Ranger: R², as it also includes a plethora of extras, such as the prototype version of the game, titled Targa, which was to have been the title of the game in the West, had it been released, and which retains the originally intended pixel graphics. A “museum” feature is also included, with manual scans, box art scans, and original Rendering Ranger: R² artwork. There’s also a music player, if that’s your sort of thing. It’s certainly a comprehensive package, and one that the game truly deserves.
Needless to say, Rendering Ranger: R² [Rewind] is an absolute must-buy if you enjoy 16-bit run’n’gun games.
The Rendering Ranger: R² game by itself is enough to make Rendering Ranger: R² [Rewind] an essential purchase, and the extras only compound this further. Buy it now from the Nintendo eshop, PlayStation Store, or Steam. You’ll have a blast, we assure you! Sadly, the physical editions of the game from Limited Run Games have now sold out, but, of course, the digital versions remain available!
