Ranger-X

n/a

NTSC-U/PAL NTSC-J
Ranger-X
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Gau Entertainment
Distributor: Tec Toy (BR), Samsung (KR)
Sound driver: Cube/Noriyuki Iwadare
Peripherals supported: Six Button Control Pad
Genre: Shooting
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code JP 1993-05-28 ¥6,8006,800 G-4097 US 1993 1076 US ▼ (Sega Channel) 1994-06-01 SUBsub EU 1993-08 1076 DE 1993 DM 110110 1076 UK 1993-09 £39.9939.99 1076 AU 199x BR 199x 044510 KR 199x GM8098JG

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.

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
	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 button moves it to the left and the button moves it to the right. If Ranger-X is standing on it, it can be moved with and . If Ranger-X is on the ground, it can be moved using the and buttons (allowing the player to move the Indra separately even without a Six Button Control Pad). Ranger-X can also enter the Indra by standing on it and pressing (and exit with ), which allows him to change his special weapon (using the or buttons). In this mode, the Indra has its own health bar and its weapon changes to automatically target enemies rather than firing straight ahead. If the health bar of the Indra is depleted while Ranger-X is inside it, Ranger-X is also destroyed. The Indra can jump by holding and then releasing .
	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 (and exit with ) in order to change his special weapon, but the Eos does not have its own health bar.

Weapons

	Flame Unit
	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
	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.

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

Also known as

Language	Localised Name	English Translation
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

Source:

In-game credits (opening)

---

• 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

Source:

In-game credits (ending)

Digital manuals

• 

  Mega Drive Mini 2 US manual

• 

  Mega Drive Mini 2 EU manual

• 

  Mega Drive Mini 2 JP manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Ranger-X/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Mega Force (ES) #17: "Septiembre 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Hobby Consolas (ES) #24: "Septiembre 1993" (1993-xx-xx)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source GamesMaster (UK) 82 №7, p58/59

	82
Based on 1 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 50 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 75 Consoles + (FR) 90 Cool Gamer (RU) 50 Computer & Video Games (UK) 93 Dengeki Mega Drive (JP) NTSC-J 71 Digitiser (UK) 90 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 78 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 92 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 68 GameFan (US) NTSC-U 90 Game Power (IT) NTSC 94 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 80 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 50 Hyper (AU) 88 Joypad (FR) PAL 75 MAN!AC (DE) 78 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 63 Mega (UK) PAL 81 Mega Action (UK) NTSC-J 90 Mega Force (FR) 85 MegaTech (UK) PAL 94 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 85 Magazina Igrushek (RU) 40 Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-J 92 Player One (FR) 84 Power Unlimited (NL) 82 Sega Power (UK) PAL 82 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 94 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 90 Sega Force Mega (UK) PAL 85 Sega Mega Drive Review (RU) 74 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 81 Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL 80 Todo Sega (ES) 87 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 76 Video Games (DE) PAL 84

	79
Based on 37 reviews

Ranger-X

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, AU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, KR
Cover
Cart

Technical information

Main article: Ranger-X/Technical information.