Ranger-X
From Sega Retro
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Ranger-X | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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System(s): Sega Mega Drive | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Sega | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: Gau Entertainment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributor: Tec Toy (BR) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sound driver: Cube/Noriyuki Iwadare | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Peripherals supported: Six Button Control Pad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: Shooting[1][2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of players: 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ranger-X, known in Japan as Ex-Ranza (エクスランザー), is a Sega Mega Drive action run-and-gun game developed by Gau Entertainment and published by Sega. First released in Japan in May 1993, it was localized and brought to the United States and Europe the following year. Sometime later, the game was also brought to Australia, Brazil, and Korea.
Contents
Story
The Rahuna, a coalition of warrior beings from the fringe worlds, have invaded the Free Galactic Systems Council on the Homeworld. It is believed that they want to usurp the Council's peaceful rule over the galactic systems. The Homeworld Tribes were caught unprepared by the attack and have suffered heavy casualties. Tribe Tech and Tribe Ranger, two tribes on the far side of the Homeworld thus far spared by the assault, are sending their Ranger-X armored exo-skeleton suit and Courier support units on a series of missions to destroy strategic Rahuna targets throughout the Homeworld.
Gameplay
The game is a side-scrolling action shooter where the player controls Ranger-X, a robot fighter equipped with a jet pack and an assortment of weapons. Each stage presents a special type of target in a wireframe 3D introduction sequence, and Ranger-X must find and destroy all of these targets in the mission before facing a boss. A radar at the top of the screen shows when an objective target is nearby as well as showing the number of remaining targets.
Ranger-X moves with and
and crouches with
. Walking in a different direction does not change the direction that Ranger-X is facing. The jet pack allows for short periods of flight by pressing the
button. The duration of the flight is limited by the jet pack's temperature (shown in a gauge in the corner of the screen). Upon overheating, the player must land and wait for cool down. Ranger-X can attain a vertical boost by engaging the jet pack from a crouching position, which can be used to achieve greater flight time on steep vertical sections.
Ranger-X is equipped with a standard pulse rifle, which is fired to the left by pressing and to the right by pressing
. These buttons can also be tapped to change the direction that Ranger-X is facing. The player has access to various special weapons, including a flamethrower and homing attacks, which are fired with the
or
buttons. Unlike the pulse rifle, the special weapons drain a power bar, which can only be recharged when Ranger-X is in a bright light source. This special arsenal can be increased by collecting power-ups scattered across the stages. Weapons can be used in the air or while crouching.
Ranger-X has a health bar that is reduced by enemy fire. Ranger-X is destroyed and the game ends if the health bar is depleted, but the player can choose to continue the game if there are continues remaining. The player is awarded an extra continue for every 200,000 points earned.
Couriers
On each stage, Ranger-X is accompanied by a support vehicle, called a Courier.
Ex-Up Indra | |
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The Ex-Up Indra is an agile motorbike. It is equipped with a similar pulse rifle to Ranger-X and can move and fire independently of Ranger-X. The ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Ex-Up Eos | |
On some stages, Ranger-X is provided with the Ex-Up Eos instead, which is a flying craft. Unlike the Indra, the player cannot directly control the Eos. Instead, it follows Ranger-X throughout the mission and provides air support by automatically firing lasers at enemy targets. Ranger-X can similarly enter the Eos by standing on it and pressing ![]() ![]() |
Weapons
Flame Unit | |
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A jet of flame that shoots out in front of Ranger-X. The length of the flame is dependent on the amount of power remaining. | |
Seeker Mine | |
A mine that drops on the ground and ripples out in a straight line to find enemies. Dissipates after a few seconds. | |
Seeker Charge | |
Two bolts of electricity that emanate out and trace around Ranger-X until they find and affix to a target. Some enemies cannot be found by the Seeker Charge. | |
Seeker Falcon | |
A mechanical falcon that automatically seeks out and destroys nearby enemies. Some enemies cannot be found by the Seeker Falcon. | |
Plasma Blast | |
A burst of fireballs. Effective at intercepting enemy fire because of its tall area of effect. | |
Proton Storm | |
A very wide blast that destroys everything in a large area. Covers most of the screen vertically and more than the horizontal width of the screen. Costs the entire power bar to fire each time. | |
Energy Shield | |
Surrounds Ranger-X in a protective energy shield that also damages any enemies it directly contacts. |
Objects
Power Conversion Unit | |
---|---|
Quickly replenishes health by draining special weapon power. Can be used by Ranger-X or by the Ex-Up Indra. | |
Mini-Conversion Unit | |
Instantly exchanges special weapon power for health. Smaller and one-time use. Can be used by Ranger-X or by the Ex-Up Indra. | |
Artificial Ground Platform | |
A platform on which to temporarily stand to cool Ranger-X's thrusters. The platform drops on the weight of Ranger-X, so the player must quickly move off it after recharging the thrusters. Absent in higher difficulties. |
Stages
Desert | |
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The | Flame Unit and Seeker Mine weapons are initially available.|
Cavern | |
The | Seeker Charge weapon is hidden in this stage.|
Jungle | |
The | Seeker Falcon weapon is hidden in this stage.|
Tower | |
The | Proton Storm weapon is hidden in this stage.|
City at Night | |
The | Plasma Blast weapon is hidden in this stage.|
Factory | |
The | Energy Shield weapon is hidden in this stage.|
Biotech Monster | |
History
Development
During development, Ranger-X was known as Transa Banker.[8]
Versions
Unlike the NTSC-J version, the NTSC-U and PAL versions use a slightly different color palette when played on the highest difficulty setting.
Localised names
Language | Localised Name | English Translation |
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English | Ranger-X | Ranger-X |
English (US) | Ranger-X | Ranger-X |
Japanese | エクスランザー | Ex-Ranza |
Production credits
- Game Design and Program: T.Toyota
- Graphics and Game Design: T.Yamamoto
- Graphics: Ree.Senfhu
- Visual Program: Bugtarou
- Music Composer: Y.Hiraiwa
- Sound Operator: N.Iwadare
- Producer: I.Mizoguchi
- Main Program (Team Leader): Toshio Toyota
- Main Graphics (G‑Master): Toshio Yamamoto
- Graphics (G‑Fighter): Ree Senfhu
- 3‑D Program (Helper): Bugtarou
- Music Composer: Yoshinobu Hiraiwa
- Sound Operator (Sound Effects): Noriyuki Iwadare
- Sound Driver (Z‑80 Side): Shibuya-Dougen
- Producer: Isao Mizoguchi
- Special Thanks: Yoshihisa Shimizu, Gow Tougetu
Digital manuals
Magazine articles
- Main article: Ranger-X/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
also published in:
- Hobby Consolas (ES) #24: "Septiembre 1993" (1993-xx-xx)[11]
Physical scans
80 | |
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Based on 36 reviews |
Technical information
- Main article: Ranger-X/Technical information.
References
- ↑ File:RangerX MD JP Box.jpg
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Sega Power, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-01), page 74
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mega, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 53
- ↑ Sega Pro, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-09), page 34
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mean Machines Sega, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-05-25), page 94
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 MAN!AC, "11/93" (DE; 1993-xx-xx), page 32
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 70
- ↑ File:Ranger-X MD opening credits.pdf
- ↑ File:Ranger-X MD ending credits.pdf
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 2
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 184
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "June 1993" (JP; 1993-05-08), page 23
- ↑ Consoles +, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 140
- ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 79
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 64
- ↑ Dengeki Mega Drive, "June 1993" (JP; 1993-05-xx), page 31
- ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1993-10-08)
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 40
- ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 82
- ↑ Famitsu, "1993-06-04" (JP; 1993-05-21), page 39
- ↑ GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 10: September 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 15
- ↑ Game Power, "Settembre 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 75
- ↑ GamePro, "September 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 42
- ↑ Hippon Super, "July 1993" (JP; 1993-06-04), page 45
- ↑ Hyper, "December 1993" (AU; 1993-xx-xx), page 49
- ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 158
- ↑ Mega Action, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-15), page 16
- ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-11-10), page 88
- ↑ MegaTech, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-19), page 56
- ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 41
- ↑ Magazina Igrushek, "1/1996" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 62
- ↑ Player One, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 112
- ↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 1, Januari 1994" (NL; 1993-12-29), page 30
- ↑ Sega Pro, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-08), page 38
- ↑ Sega Zone, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-22), page 28
- ↑ Sega Force Mega, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 52
- ↑ Sega Mega Drive Review, "2" (RU; 1996-01-03), page 107
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
- ↑ Sonic the Comic, "September 4th 1993" (UK; 1993-09-04), page 11
- ↑ Todo Sega, "Julio 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 44
- ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 22
- ↑ Video Games, "12/93" (DE; 1993-11-22), page 112
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