Blazing Rangers (NES) Review | Nintendo Life

Games are not short of NES-like experiences these days; 8-bit style block pixel-filled titles, beeping music, and some controllable characters for you to grab from the left side of the screen to the right. These games tend to haunt the past from a comfortable distance, the harsh technical constraints of almost 40 years ago being something to be reckoned with for style reasons rather than being tied down. Blazing Rangers is different.

Karu_gamo’s Blazing Rangers, perhaps best known for his work on the Protect me gentleman series, it is not simply NES-like, is a brand new NES game created for use with original Nintendo hardware or an equivalent compatible with cartridges of your choice.

New-retro physical releases like this are hard to hit; if something feels even a little out of place, the whole package slides from happy nostalgia to awkward imitation. Fortunately, the Blazing Rangers Famicom edition we tested stands up to even a collector’s level of scrutiny, with the box and cart looking and feeling as well built and professionally produced as any authentic copy of Kirby’s Adventure or Salamander. The included manual is thick, detailed, and in full color, so you take the time not only to go over all the game tricks you need to know, but it even includes a short comic book and some fancy illustrations.

The game design is more like the single-screen arcade titles of decades past, games with simple but hilariously skilled game loops that repeat over and over again in more challenging variations of themselves until the final sequence is played. short. One person can play alone or a friend can team up for fun cooperatively (impressively, not only do both characters have their own strengths and weaknesses, but they also look different from each other), with each level’s goal of rescuing all of the characters. children trapped inside and then safely take them back to the exit.

To make things tough, stages often place these unfortunate kids behind closed doors or near roaring bonfires and dangerous exploding barrels, and on top of that, the huge bonus points you get for bringing in more than one at a time. (ideally everybody of them at once) is always tempting … even if your already vulnerable firefighter slows down significantly when carrying more than one person at a time.

How difficult or easy all of this is also depends on whether you leaned for the nostalgic game titled A or B. Game A is a challenging but manageable race through all thirty-two stages of the game, while Game B is a lot. harder, with a drastically shorter timer that only resets if you successfully rescue kids (or die trying), and you’ll want to follow the timer it looks as healthy as possible because when it hits zero the screen turns a red intimidating and fires grow fiercer and spread faster than ever.

As a Blazing Ranger, you’re at least well prepared for all the heat-based problems that come your way, thanks to a handy length of hose and a squirt gun capable of pushing flames back in eight directions. Like all good retro titles, the difference between these two teams is subtle but significant. The hose launches an infinite stream of water, but is limited by its length (although the 5m extensions spread across each level will help with this), it is heavy to carry, and cannot be taken over fences either. Flash fires and even mischievous monsters can rip it out of your hands as well, forcing you to decide on the spot whether to go ahead regardless or risk coming back to get it back.

The squirt gun has a shorter range, limited supplies (but rechargeable), and needs to be pumped periodically with a frenzied hammering of the ‘B’ button, but it also has the distinct advantage of always being with you no matter where you are or how bad it is. put the fire on. Running to collect one of the randomly generated power-ups that appear from time to time can help too, from the long-awaited but always welcome 1UP to the coveted sprinkler that rains random drops of water on the floor below.

Still, no matter how well you suppress the stage, you’re always fighting a losing battle, as stages tend to start out as fiery hells and then rapidly deteriorate, often causing you to choose a dangerous route through the worst flames. on the spur. of the moment than working through the stage in a safe and methodical manner. The brick walls will eventually glow red hot before crumbling, which could create a shorter route to a survivor than planned – doors can burn, and fire-breathing monsters will keep popping up no matter what you do. It’s amazing how dynamically the tiers fall apart, especially considering the hardware. No matter how carefully you play or how familiar you are with each level, you will never be in complete control of your environment, and one of the great joys of the game is turning on your dusty old console and knowing for a fact each Blazing Rangers game will unfold as you go. least a little different than above.

Hidden diamonds in each stage also increase longevity, their location is revealed by a brief flash when the level begins (and even then only if you collected a magnifying glass on the previous map). Winding these often tricky spots with your hose becomes a puzzle in its own right, as it can often only be reached by lengthening the hose beyond its standard limits and carefully planning your route. However, the extra points earned from each diamond make it worth it, and there is even a secret ending waiting for you if you manage to collect each one.

conclusion

Blazing Rangers is more than just another ’80s-style fad destined to pre-order and then sit on shelves never to be played; it really feels like a brand new game that is just on the NES and not another round. from “Remembering Retro Things: NES Edition.” Its goal is to be more than a shy reprise of a popular modern trend or another retro-friendly, safe bet. It’s simple enough that anyone can learn the basics in just a few rounds of play, but it also has the depth and scoring potential to make it worth going back to again and again, the constant pressure, and slight randomness built into it. game design that forces you to think on your feet even if you’ve beaten a level dozens of times before, and an unlockable “Extreme” mode guaranteed to challenge even the toughest Rangers. If you have the necessary skills and hardware, Blazing Rangers is a true 8-bit blast.