Rendering Ranger: R2

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|image1 = SFC Rendering Ranger - R2 (Run and gun).png

|image2 = SFC Rendering Ranger - R2 (Shoot 'em up).png

|caption2 = Top: Run and gun boss fight.
Bottom: Shoot 'em up boss fight.

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Players control the titular Rendering Ranger, a special forces soldier tasked with defending the Earth and its remaining inhabitants from a devastating alien invasion.{{cite web|last=Zverloff|first=Nick|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/rendering-ranger-r2-%E3%83%AC%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B0%E3%83%BB%E3%83%AC%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%BC-r2-super-famicom-1995/|title=Rendering Ranger: R2|publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101|date=4 May 2017|access-date=2020-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227013311/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/rendering-ranger-r2-%E3%83%AC%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B0%E3%83%BB%E3%83%AC%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%BC-r2-super-famicom-1995/|archive-date=27 December 2019|url-status=live}} 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.

The game was developed by Manfred Trenz, director of the Turrican series.{{cite video game|title=Rendering Ranger: R2|developer=Rainbow Arts|publisher=Virgin Interactive Entertainment|date=1995|platform=Super Famicom|level=Staff}}{{cite web|last=Massey|first=Tom|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-02-super-bank-breakers|title=A guide to gaming's most valuable treasures|work=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|date=25 January 2015|access-date=2020-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112185519/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-02-super-bank-breakers|archive-date=2017-11-12|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Peter|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/analogue-super-nt-review-a-blast-from-the-past/1100-6456626/|title=Analogue Super Nt Review: A Blast From The Past - Now you're playing with super power|work=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=7 February 2018|access-date=2020-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102234440/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/analogue-super-nt-review-a-blast-from-the-past/1100-6456626/|archive-date=2019-01-02|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|last=G.|first=Evan|url=http://snescentral.com/article.php?id=0156|title=Targa/ Rendering Ranger R2|publisher=Snes Central|date=7 May 2016|access-date=2020-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405232141/http://snescentral.com/article.php?id=0156|archive-date=2019-04-05|url-status=live}} By the time the game was finally finished, the only company interested in publishing it was the Japanese branch of Virgin Interactive.

The game was released exclusively in Japan on November 17, 1995. Only 10,000 copies were made for the game.{{cite web|last=Kojima|first=Takayuki|url=https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/190402g|title=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"|work=DenfaminicoGamer|publisher=Mare Inc.|date=2 April 2019|access-date=2020-07-21|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406021938/https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/190402g|archive-date=2019-04-06|url-status=live}} It is a very rare game, and has become a sought-after collector's item. It is considered one of the rarest games for the Super Famicom, alongside such titles as Magical Pop'n. The 2016 mook, Perfect Guide of Nostalgic Super Famicom, listed it as the rarest title released for the system.{{cite book|title=レンダリング・レンジャーR2|work=Perfect Guide of Nostalgic Super Famicom|volume=2|series=Perfect Guide|publisher=Magazine Box|date=September 2016|page=50|language=ja|isbn=9784866400082}} On 13 January 2022, Ziggurat Interactive announced that they had acquired the rights to the game for a worldwide release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-01-14-ziggurat-acquires-over-80-retro-titles-with-deal-from-rainbow-arts|title = Ziggurat acquires over 80 retro titles in deal with Rainbow Arts| date=14 January 2022 }}

{{Video game reviews

|Fam = 22/40{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/4913/reviews/|title=NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: レンダリング・レンジャーR2|magazine=Famitsu|issue=362|publisher=ASCII Corporation|date=24 November 1995|page=30|access-date=2020-07-21|lang=ja}}

|JXV = 17/20{{cite web|last=Bergeret|first=Alix|url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00019943-rendering-ranger-r2-test.htm|title=Test de Rendering Ranger : R2 sur SNES par jeuxvideo.com|work=Jeuxvideo.com|publisher=Webedia|date=29 September 2014|access-date=2020-07-21|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907062810/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00019943-rendering-ranger-r2-test.htm|archive-date=7 September 2016|url-status=live}}

|MG = 75%{{cite magazine|last=Ehrle|first=Oliver|url=https://archive.org/stream/MANiAC.N028.1996.02#page/n43/mode/1up|title=Nintendo Nation: Rendering Ranger|magazine={{ill|M! Games|lt=MAN!AC|de|M! Games}}|issue=28|publisher=Cybermedia|date=February 1996|page=44|lang=de}}

|NLife = {{Rating|9|10}}{{cite web|last=Lopes|first=Gonçalo|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/snes/rendering_ranger_r2|title=Rendering Ranger: R2 Review (SNES) - Shoot or Die|work=Nintendo Life|publisher=Nlife Media|date=30 May 2016|access-date=2020-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229061304/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/snes/rendering_ranger_r2|archive-date=29 December 2019|url-status=live}}

}}

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

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/snes/571379-rendering-ranger-r2 Rendering Ranger: R2] at GameFAQs
• [https://www.giantbomb.com/rendering-ranger-r2/3030-8261/ Rendering Ranger: R2] at Giant Bomb
• [https://www.mobygames.com/game/rendering-ranger-r Rendering Ranger: R2] at MobyGames

{{Portal bar|1990s|Japan|Video games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rendering Ranger: R2}}

Category:1995 video games

Category:Action games

Category:Fictional soldiers

Category:Japan-exclusive video games

Category:Rainbow Arts games

Category:Run and gun games

Category:Science fiction video games

Category:Side-scrolling video games

Category:Single-player video games

Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System games

Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System-only games

Category:Video games about alien invasions

Category:Video games developed in Germany

Category:Virgin Interactive games

Category:Ziggurat Interactive games

Category:Video games with pre-rendered 3D graphics