Forgotten Games: Rendering Ranger R2 - SNESdrunk

A technical marvel, and one of the hardest Super Famicom games...
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[@mcorleonep]

Drunk, I have to admit you are responsible for at least half my add ons on the SNES classic including this one. A crying shame I had to wait over 20 years to play this game. Keep up the good work!

[@SNESdrunk]

Thanks

[@hughjorgen1051]

Totes

[@caleblatreille8224]

+1 on this comment, appreciate yr work so much if ONLY for Front Mission Gun Hazard being one of the best games i've ever played in my life. my SNES Classic and gaming life in general is much improved by your work

[@Ghost_Of_SAS]

So weird that this was Japan-only, since it was made by Rainbow Arts, a German developer.

[@yuvraj01]

Ghost81 the reason why is because no one else wanted to touch the game only the Japanese arm of Virgin interactive, plus probably because the 16 bit systems were on the wane, when this game came out it was all about the PS1 and Saturn

[@Ghost_Of_SAS]

@r771 q3 everywhere it says it's developed by rainbow arts

[@HereForAStorm]

Looks like a PS1 or Saturn game... hella impressive.

[@TheGunmanChannel]

That game so should have been released in the West

[@onelesslonelymemer5863]

Harambe likes you

[@toninhopavan2]

The guys that made this game must have sold their souls to the devil. I cant understand how this runs on snes without low fps. Wonderful game. Fun as hell.

[@marconijunior7522]

The developer said that if you make a good work programming on SNES is possible, in fact SNES is not a "turtle" as some say.

[@greensun1334]

Played though the whole game today, now I'm proud of myself 😅 - indeed, it's tough as nails, even on the "easy" setting (lol)... it's a great game in every aspect, and graphics, sound and gameplay are very good. R2 is clearly one of the most impressive 16bit titles (graphically definitely THE most impressive, it even de-throned the former best looking 16bit games Thunderforce 4 and the Donkey Kong series imo.)

[@Collectible_Andy]

Just when you think you've seen it all... Never knew this game existed and now I can't wait to find it and play it on my sd2snes

[@Old_Man_Jay]

Dood, I love your channel! I have been collecting snes and genesis games for a long ass time. I somehow missed this video but after watching it I now realize I'll have to add this to my collection. Keep it up, man!

[@71dembonesTV]

Great game! Working my way thru it little by little; thankfully it has a password system. The difficulty seems pretty fair for the most part. Absolutely mind-blowing graphics for 16-bit; almost on-par with arcade machines at the time. Mr. Trenz really made other programmers look like kiddies with this one!

[@Rodzilla97]

the difficulty is very fair, great game, and amazing technical achivement

[@thetriggeredone3461]

I like this game but there something about the graphics that bugs me like compared to other 16bit shooter's this game animation for character's and enemies are lacking look at thunder force 4 a game released in 1992 3years before this game and that game everything looks smooth while rendering ranger r2 looks like a cut down version of an arcade game let's face it if the characters were smoothly animated like other games of the same genre the SNES would crumble

[@alaanassar]

I played this game yesterday for the first time ! AMAZING 99 percent of the add ons on my new snes mini are based on your reviews on this channel :D Thanks !! SSSSnnnnes drunk :))))

[@retrosoul8770]

Very strange how certain games that very *clearly push* a system to its technical limits and is clearly an excellent game, doesn't get released world-wide. I just don't understand that. Such is the case with Alien Soldier, *whyy* in the world did we not receive that classic in the states? Easily a Top Five Genesis game! But also this game as well? Their both top of the line 16-bit games (particularly AS never played this but this also looks great). I makes me feel...cheated, feels like we were cheated out of something else that is truly timeless and special, too bad.

[@emueljletgler2962]

You recieved Alien Soldier... in the crappy Sega Channel service.

[@djberryhardkore]

Probably cause it was a late lifespan release and sega had no idea what they were doing with so many consoles on the go

[@Rodzilla97]

do you think it outdoes alien soldier or gunstar heroes graphically? or ties them? my opinion is it barely outshines them in technical terms(it's neo geo quallity). there's just so much action, explosions, going on and 0 slowdown. probably the most technically impressive 16 bit game.

[@SNESdrunk]

"Outdoes" in terms of visuals, yeah. But I'd still rather play Gunstar Heroes.

[@Rodzilla97]

this game does make me believe for sure that snes could run either gunstar or alien soldier with no slowdown(just need a good developer like Trenz). interesting alien soldier and rendering ranger r2 were never released in north america. the best graphic games on both systems, haha

[@PsychomachineryEBM]

Because way "too hard for Americans", remember XD

[@Rodzilla97]

wish this developer would re-due final fight for snes. he could make it 2 players, 5 ememies on screen, no slowdown. Rendering Ranger is the most technically impressive 16 bit game imo

[@inceptional]

It multiple ways it definitely does. In some other ways they get the win. Either way, it slaps the face of anyone who just automatically claims the SNES is "slow" and can't do lots of intense action without slowing down and other such rubbish. And, the most impressive thing of all, it's doing all of this in SlowROM on SNES, which means it's running at around 70% of the SNES full potential--crazy!

[@prophismusic]

All of your videos are great!

[@DesertRainReads]

Dude, DKC3 was a walk in the park. The only challenging levels were the last set of them.

[@lilwyvern4]

Another highlight not mentioned in the review: The soundtrack. Most of it's bombastic orchestral stuff, but check out the stage 7 theme. It's an incredible high-energy techno theme.

[@candmmi]

Limited Run games is selling this game from Aug 5 - Sep 5

[@MachonyLeeoun]

This game is so sick. The game feel is awesome, the graphics and sound are incredible. Even the little things like the L and R buttons aiming up and down diagonally (ala Super Metroid) make it so much better. What a gem!!! Thanks Drunk!

[@Dsims37]

This game is mind blowing!!

[@rileymcphee9429]

I finally got around to playing this. This really should've been released in the west with a Terminator 2 skin. Could've easily been a top 20 game in US.

[@j0nnyism]

SNES has all those great first party Games but genesis had arguably the best beat em ups run and gun and shmup games.

[@LittleBigKid707b]

You aren't lying. Also, Super Nes had better and more rpgs and adventure. Genesis no doubt had the action games on lockdown. Shmups, run n guns and beat em ups, just as you mentioned. Look at it this way, Snes had Square and Genesis had Treasure.

[@inceptional]

Arguably, because I would rather play U.N. Squadron, Super Aleste and Parodius Da! than any Genesis shmup. And I like Contra III more than any Genesis run 'n' gun, regardless of how technically impressive they are. Also, I think Turtles in Time more than stands up against Streets of Rage 2, although, I can't argue with anyone who wants to claim Streets of Rage 2 is the greatest beat 'em up of the 16-bit generation and possibly ever. Lastly, SNES had all those first party games, and it has the best platform games, and the best RPGs, and arguably the best racing games too (I would absolutely rather play F-Zero and Super Mario Kart than any racing game on Genesis). And I'd rather play all of those games with the SNES controller, even the Genesis ones.

[@gabrielloko30000]

Hey folks, the original ROM called Targa it's already avaliabe for download! Check it out the diferences to the final product

[@RyumaXtheXKing]

I think you should've mentioned that they released an earlier version for free as a rom. It's called Targa. Probably also available as a reproduction cart. Still think you need to check out Nightmare Busters. I find that game to be harder than R2. PS: Do you actually enjoy the music in this game? I only really like one song. Would've prefer a Hülsbeck soundtrack.

[@bubblixsky]

That was a great review! I got all the info I needed in record time

[@Konuvis]

Limited Run Games to the rescue!

[@stucazzo2000]

I wonder how this dev was able to pump out all these sprites without slowdown. Same goes for a game like Space Megaforce which was released much earlier in the snes lifespan. If only other devs knew how to get most out of the snes' slow cpu.

[@robertwilson3866]

Guy was an Amiga + C64 coder. Coming from those platforms to the SNES would have been like being in a toy shop. He was used to getting the most of limited platforms. SNES with 128 sprites would have been easy for him. Amiga and C64 both have 8 sprites that need to be multiplexed

[@mynameisbeenice2949]

And Limited Run just announced a re-release on their Carbon Engine.

[@alaanassar]

I made it to stage 8 !! and I could never get past it !!! heardest stage in any game !!!

[@CyrusBluebird]

Almost reminds me of Gunner's Heaven on PlayStation.

[@jasonz7788]

Awesome thanks for the great work Sir

[@TheVileOne]

Never even heard of this one thanks snes drunk!

[@andybungert]

Badass definitely going to find a way to play this

[@GordoFreakmanFail-Life]

Drunk, you forgot mention one important thing, how this game wasn't needs chips or upgrades to remove slowdown, this is only good freakin' programming... Sorry my bad english.

[@inceptional]

Not only that, it runs in SlowROM, which means it's only using around 70% of the SNES full potential. Ponder that for a moment. . . .

[@trisonicbrandtech]

there are a couple of games in this genre on snes worth note you didn't mention. The first would be the SNES version of B.O.B., which is a fun gunner with somewhat explorative levels and satisfying gameplay. It was ported to Genesis, but the SNES one was the original and runs and looks much better. The other I wanted to mention is Realm, a very late SNES release that isn't super special, but but boast some very nice visuals for the SNES, and is ridiculously overlooked (it isn't fantastic, but it's worth an afternoon with IMO).

[@trisonicbrandtech]

Overall though, this genre is better left on a faster console like the Genesis.

[@Ichigo111293]

Nah. All the best ones were on Arcades.

[@cloudsleyfalconbridge]

Doom Troopers was pretty damn good, if I may add to the 'run-n-gun' games' list.

[@AngusBeer]

i heard this game was exclusive to Virgin stores in japan and thats why theres only a few thousand copies out there.

[@inceptional]

An astounding technical feat for SNES. I don't love the actual art style (that kinda pre-rendered look that imo has almost universally dated badly) and would actually rather it had the much more clean and deliberate art style of the Turrican games, but it's still beyond impressive what they are doing here on the SNES on a technical level.

[@inceptional]

It many ways this is technically/graphically and just visually beyond either of the Treasure games on Genesis.

[@texastoast7514]

Great game but yes definitely hard as nails! Found a reproduction cart for $17!

[@rogeriobruce2322]

Amazing

[@AnthonyRiddle]

Thank God for emulation and flash carts

[@J.Crooner]

Difficulty no problem especially if you got the Pro Action Replay 2 to even the harsh unforgiving playing field👍😁💪😎💪😉👌

[@igodreamer7096]

É um jogo lindo com uma jogabilidade insana e muito rápida: você sempre está em movimento. É uma pena, realmente, que o jogo na época nunca tenha sido lançado em outra regiões, apesar do criador ser o mesmo do famoso e saudoso Turrican (outro jogo graficamente lindo, Super Turrican 2 no SNES que o diga). Mas sim, ainda bem que temos os emuladores para nos ajudar nesse quesito. Então, o jogo é bonito, é rápido e cheio de efeitos. Porém a dificuldade é bem pesada, savestates foram o único caminho que eu achei para manter um pouco de sanidade e terminar o jogo sem quebrar o meu controle! xDD

[@Mr_x_19922]

This game is amazing!! even better than Super Turrican, those were the days, why in the hell this didn't came out outside Japan? thank god for emulation

[@roudanskalamir9251]

I don't think the run and gun is lacking at all. You forgot about Super Star Wars and Realm. I also think Cybernator and Metal Warriors belong in that category as well. Mind you I agree it's not as good as the genesis library of run and guns which also has Dinosaurs for Hire, the Vectorman games, the superior version of Demolition Man and the superior Robocop vs Terminator game.

[@inceptional]

It's interesting because people can argue that Hard Corps, Alien Soldier and Gunstar Heroes are better run 'n' gun games than say the Super Star Wars games, and I'd say they are right, but I bet you the Super Star Wars trilogy on SNES got more people excited about playing run 'n' gun on that console than any of those Genesis titles ever did for Genesis, in terms of enticing customers towards one console or the other. But I'd still rather play Contra III than all of them anyway.

[@000jimbojones000]

The lost game of Manfred "Turrican" Trenz. Didnt even know untill today that he made this... Its odd. Its from Rainbow Arts (a german company) All guys in the developer team seem to be german or nordic (norway maybe) and they only sold this in Japan? WTF?

[@Pedro-lg9wz]

Limited run just release this physical for 59.99

[@jlite023]

You forgot timeslip great run and gun

[@oscarzxn4067]

After playing it I don't really agree at all about the game being that hard, it's certainly a challenge but I've seen worse in that sense, only the second to last level I found it particularily tricky, not to mention that it has a password feature unlike Contra or Turrican, so unless you wanna do a 1 continue run the game is perfectly manageable.

[@DarkbluesEXE25]

Super Turrican + Gradius

[@listerofsmeg884]

baffling that this got only a Japanese release. the Turrican games that Manfred Trenze masterminded were MASSIVE in European computer game cicles. A combination of Contra and Turrican would have sold like hot cakes. It's wasn't THAT difficult either, only the superfast final shootem-up section was a bit daft. git good, lol ;)

[@ghosttiee9212]

You’re right about earth worm Jim for the Genesis it’s better for for part 1 it’s better for part 2 snes is alot better because part 2 for the genesis it’s missing backgrounds

[@21stCenturyDigitalBoy]

I have the original. Awesome game! But I dare to say that Alien Soldier is much more difficult than R2.

[@leocorrea5935]

wow!

[@duhmez]

I gotta get this game! Also, if you love runa nd gun on SNES, make sure you check out "REALM"! Realm is so fucking awesome, run and gun, maybe u have not checked it out! Do so, it rocks, and graphics and controls are amazing!

[@JimmyBackbeat]

like: check comment: check. hey dood, since you do uploads as frequently as you do, do you find any time to play any modern games at all besides your steamdrunk episodes? Do you even play games that doesnt make it into the channel? I for one have a hard time playing more than a handful of games each year nowdays. I do enjoy your uploads for sure. You and DariaPlaysRPGs are my two favourite uploaders on the tube.

[@SNESdrunk]

Thanks Jimmy! If I'm playing it, either I'm doing a video about it or I've already done a video about it. I only really play modern games on Steam, right now I'm currently obsessed with Stardew Valley, so there will be a couple videos on that sometime in the coming weeks (gotta stick to the schedule)

[@emueljletgler2962]

Thanks to emulation I finally played this and.... WHY COULDN'T THEY RELEASE IT OUTSIDE OF JAPAN?! Was it too difficult? Then add infinite continues or passwords. BAM! Doable and fun game. Specially the shmup stages.

[@Rodzilla97]

it's not that difficult really, and i suck at shumps (i don't have crazy skill in most any games), i've beaten it with just 1 password used (that's basically a continue) and with enough practice i think i could beat it with no passwords used. also you have a life bar, so no 1 hits deaths, and after a death you spawn right back there with your next life, no starting back at the beginning of a level. it's difficulty is very fair. great game!

[@oggan]

Is it co-op or only single player?

[@riselikethephoenix1]

Is it 2 player?

[@bapao1000]

Rendering Ranger R2 a.k.a Targa

[@robmitchell7570]

You didn't explain why this game was never released west though.

[@Rodzilla97]

i gotta say, it's not that hard of a game with a few continues(passwords earned). i just beat it on easy with a few continues. not bad at all

[@NintendoHodge]

This is on my wants list but man the price is ridiculous.

[@71dembonesTV]

Second on the repro; that's what they are made for! but I would pay close to 100 if I could find an original CIB

[@ja5335]

@@71dembonesTV An original CIB copy can reach $400

[@cristianmaldonado949]

A nice Turrican clone

[@xenobytek9583]

Super Turrican 2 is better. This is far less inspired. The game is low res with that streching to fit all the screen, what means sprites can seem bigger, but short frame to action, thetrick to keep the going with no lag. Not as chaotic as the counterpart on Genesis as you say, not many enemies on screen at time even cause the long range on shots kill thens all quickly.

[@onetwo6039]

The views on this video may go up thanks to LRG.

[@BloodBathCVB]

And yeah x 2 So yeah x 3

[@joaquimneto7607]

The game is really visually amazing! But in terms of music, it's totally forgettable. But it's still a great game! For me it's strange that this game isn't remembered and celebrated as a good 16-bit shooter... why is that?

[@Arthur0ne]

I bought when I was japan I got lucky

[@christophe2201]

Totally overhyped by collectors. Unknown by most players. Famitsu gave a 22/40...

[@AenimaEater]

This game is soooooo expensive :(

[@chaser5616]

This game is expensive because when it first came out,no one want to buy it,who knows that nowadays, game like these are more expensive then when it first came out. :D

[@Sebastian-xy3xk]

$2000 ;-;

[@PsychomachineryEBM]

Solid game, but insanely too hard

[@jonathanfrench6975]

games way to hard enemies soak up to much damage before dying which makes the game way to cheap its to frustrating to get into this one

[@Alianger]

Disagree, it doesn't flow as well (level design wise) as the best in the genre and is overall less inspired than the best turrican games. Honestly it felt tech demo like at times.

[@inceptional]

I don't think it's a great game to play, although not bad, but it is definitely one of thee most all round technically impressive games of the 16-bit generation, across both SNES and Genesis.

[@volkte37]

This game is not very good. If it wasn't so rare and expensive, no one would care.

[@71dembonesTV]

Martin Hinson I disagree. It's definitely not worth the asking price on eBay or whatever but it is a great game that's worth playing. If it ever was a cheap, obscure game it would have already been elevated to "ULTIMATE HIDDEN GEM" status by one of the "gaming celebrities" on KZbin and be expensive as hell anyways

[@Kerannnng]

Meh Contra III is better than this...