Rendering Ranger: R2

Rendering Ranger: R2[lower-alpha 1] is a 1995 side scrolling action video game developed by Rainbow Arts and published by Virgin Interactive for the Super Famicom. It was released only in Japan, and has gone on to be one of the rarest Super Famicom titles in existence.[1] In June 2022, Ziggurat Interactive announced that the game would be ported to Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5, with Limited Run Games set to distribute physical copies for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.[2]

Rendering Ranger: R2
Developer(s)Rainbow Arts
Publisher(s)Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Producer(s)Thomas Brockhage
Designer(s)Manfred Trenz
Artist(s)Jørgen Trolle Ørberg
Stephan Lethaus
Tobias J. Richter
Composer(s)Jesper Olsen
Stefan Kramer
Platform(s)Super Famicom
Release
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay
Top: Run and gun boss fight.
Bottom: Shoot 'em up boss fight.

Players control the titular Rendering Ranger, a special forces soldier tasked with defending the Earth and its remaining inhabitants from a devastating alien invasion.[3] A high score screen is present and there are many different types of laser guns to acquire throughout the post-apocalyptic adventure. The player can choose from three to seven lives. However, there are no continues so practice is essential to winning the game. The player can take five hits before losing a life but pits automatically make him lose a life. Weapons are found in floating orbs, and each color holds a different kind of gun.

Development and release

The game was developed by Manfred Trenz, director of the Turrican series.[4][5] This game was only released in Japan, but is entirely in English. The unreleased PAL/North American version of the game was to be called Targa.[6] According to an interview with Trenz, he stated that the game was originally named as Targa, it featured hand-drawn graphics, and later it was changed to pre-rendered graphics following the success of Donkey Kong Country, hence the name change.[7] By the time the game was finally finished, the only company interested in publishing it was the Japanese branch of Virgin Interactive.[5]

The game was released exclusively in Japan on November 17, 1995.[8] Only 10,000 copies were made for the game.[9] It is a very rare game, and has become a sought-after collector's item.[5] It is considered one of the rarest games for the Super Famicom, alongside such titles as Magical Pop'n.[9] The 2016 mook, Perfect Guide of Nostalgic Super Famicom, listed it as the rarest title released for the system.[10] On 13 January 2022, Ziggurat Interactive announced that they had acquired the rights to the game.[11]

Reception

On release, the game was scored a 22 out of 40 by a panel of four reviewers at Famitsu.[8] Eurogamer writer Tom Massey described it as "Turrican meets Contra", and complained of screen inertia.[5] Nintendo Life gave it a 90/100.[14]

Notes
  1. Japanese: レンダリング・レンジャーR2, Hepburn: Rendaringu Renjā: R2

References
  1. "Collector's Corner: Rendering Ranger: R2". GamesTM. No. 136. Imagine Publishing. June 2013. pp. 138–139.
  2. "Classic side-scrolling action game Rendering Ranger: R2 coming to PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  3. Zverloff, Nick (4 May 2017). "Rendering Ranger: R2". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  4. Rainbow Arts (1995). Rendering Ranger: R2 (Super Famicom). Virgin Interactive Entertainment. Level/area: Staff.
  5. Massey, Tom (25 January 2015). "A guide to gaming's most valuable treasures". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2017-11-12. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  6. Brown, Peter (7 February 2018). "Analogue Super Nt Review: A Blast From The Past - Now you're playing with super power". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2019-01-02. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  7. G., Evan (7 May 2016). "Targa/ Rendering Ranger R2". Snes Central. Archived from the original on 2019-04-05. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  8. "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: レンダリング・レンジャーR2". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 362. ASCII Corporation. 24 November 1995. p. 30. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  9. Kojima, Takayuki (2 April 2019). "1000本以上のスーパーファミコン用ゲーム、ヤフオクで「1480万円」からの出品。コレクターが数十年掛けて集めた"コンプリートパック"". DenfaminicoGamer (in Japanese). Mare Inc. Archived from the original on 2019-04-06. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  10. レンダリング・レンジャーR2. September 2016. p. 50. ISBN 9784866400082. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  11. "Ziggurat acquires over 80 retro titles in deal with Rainbow Arts". 14 January 2022.
  12. Bergeret, Alix (29 September 2014). "Test de Rendering Ranger : R2 sur SNES par jeuxvideo.com". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  13. Ehrle, Oliver (February 1996). "Nintendo Nation: Rendering Ranger". MAN!AC (in German). No. 28. Cybermedia. p. 44.
  14. Lopes, Gonçalo (30 May 2016). "Rendering Ranger: R2 Review (SNES) - Shoot or Die". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
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