The Power Rangers franchise is in an odd spot right now. Effects of the rights exchange from Haim Saban to Hasbro are being felt keenly, with new TV seasons struggling to pull in as much interest as older ones, or even the continuing Super Sentai franchise that Power Rangers is based on. At the same time, love for Power Rangers’ past is still alive, and being reinforced through projects like Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind. It’s fitting that Rita’s Rewind is so focused on the series’ heyday, as a less visually-polished version wouldn’t look out of place back then.
Beat-’em-ups and fighting games were part of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ mid-90’s era, but much like how Battle for the Grid was a new fighter for a new age, Rita’s Rewind is unmistakably modern, and more committed to the genre than its predecessors. Featuring the original Rita Repulsa teaming up with Robo Rita from the 2023 Netflix anniversary film Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, this side-scrolling action game sees the original Power Rangers team fighting through remixed highlights of their original adventures. The result is an afternoon romp that may be small, but is chock-full of fun.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind Is Relentlessly Charming
First and foremost, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is a love letter to MMPR. Vibrant hand-drawn pixel art brings to mind Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, although Rita’s Rewind was developed by TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection‘s Digital Eclipse instead of Tribute Games. It’s actually surprising that the game boots with one of its VCR filters on, as the visuals are clean enough to look better without it. The rest of the presentation is also a treat, with a rocking soundtrack that takes some cues from the iconic MMPR score, and new voice acting, including recognizable X-Men ‘97 voices, that recaptures the original Rangers.
Speaking of which, players fill the color-coded shoes of the original Power Rangers in Rita’s Rewind. Like the aforementioned Shredder’s Revenge, there are six player slots for offline friends to bring the whole team into play, though online play will only support two players until promised updates add more. Also, only five slots are available until the Green Ranger, Tommy Oliver, is unlocked after completing an initial playthrough. It’s unfortunate that the full Mighty Morphin Power Rangers squad can’t unite at first, but Rita’s Rewind is admittedly in need of reasons for repeat runs beyond simple collectibles and a speedrun mode.
First and foremost,
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind
is a love letter to
MMPR
.
Multiplayer is the largest incentive to play Rita’s Rewind again, especially since the player count changes the experience. Solo, MMPR: Rita’s Rewind is a back-to-basics brawler with frequent gameplay shifts to keep things interesting. Lone players can enjoy a curated experience while mastering the different gameplay styles, though they can’t quite offset the small regular moveset. In a group, combat turns into a hectic mess with movement all over the screen, but that’s why it’s fun. Rita’s Rewind keeps the chaos flowing through its genre shifts, even turning the Megazord Punch-Out fights into an artificial “pass the controller” affair that keeps everyone involved. Despite the occasional unclear hitbox and stiff-feeling movement, it’s a blast, even during downtime.
The iconic Angel Grove Youth Center returns as the hub between levels to provide just that, and brings with it a double helping of MMPR fanservice. With the Rangers assuming their civilian identities, Bulk and Skull hamming it up in the background, and even playable arcade cabinets with simple quarter muncher games, this hub embodies the love that went into the rest of the genre smorgasbord that is Rita’s Rewind. References to early seasons, fandom in-jokes, and even Power Rangers production trivia are scattered across every stage, and it would take almost as long as a full playthrough to point every Easter Egg out.
Despite Spanning Ages, MMPR: Rita’s Rewind Has No Time To Spare
That task is unfortunately more plausible than it sounds, as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is only 2–3 hours long, which is short even for a $34.99 USD game, but bordering on excessive for a classic arcade beat-’em-up. Plenty of shooting galleries, driving minigames, Dinozord segments, and full-on Megazord battles break up all of MMPR: Rita’s Rewind‘s Putty Patrol punching, and boss fights show some of Power Rangers’ most iconic monsters in their best light, but it will be up to individual players if that’s enough to justify the price.
Another divisive area will likely be the base mechanics. Rita’s Rewind is a perfectly serviceable modern beat-’em-up, but chasing the recent 2D brawler trend means this game won’t turn genre fans’ heads. It avoids the Scott Pilgrim game’s issues by keeping common enemy AI reasonable and letting players get creative with the combat tools they’ve got, especially in multiplayer, but the lack of Shredder’s Revenge and Scott Pilgrim‘s character progression and deeper play speaks to Digital Eclipse’s inexperience with this genre. The worst part of normal gameplay, however, is how similar the Rangers are outside each one’s devastating ultimate attack, though at least their shared moveset feels good.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is a small, but well-rounded package that Power Rangers fans should adore, and unfamiliar friends can enjoy alongside them. Rita’s Rewind would have been a hit in late 90s arcades, and its competence and love for the source material means it should find an audience today alongside the Once & Always special it sprang from. Even if its competitors do what it does better, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is still a rollicking good time that no one will regret experiencing.
Reviewed on PC
- Released
- December 10, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Digital Eclipse
- Publisher(s)
- Digital Eclipse
- Local Co-Op Support
- Yes
- Faithful Power Rangers fanservice
- Great music and visuals
- Multiplayer is a blast
- Short for a AA game, long for a beat-’em-up
- Regular combat is shallow
- Launch online multiplayer capped at 2
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind releases on December 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Game Rant was provided with a PC code for this review.