Burning Rangers
 
Burning Rangers
 
by Sega
released February 26, 1998
for Sega Saturn

Burning Rangers the second-last in Sega Saturn's North American collection, and once again, it's the perfect game to help Saturn go out with a bang. It's I think the first of it's kind, a game made by Yuji Naka, creator of Sonic the Hedgehog and NiGHTS into dreams--As a matter of fact, Burning Rangers seems to have a bit of each of those games mixed into it.
 
This game is definitely fast-paced and not meant for people with slow reflexes! You'll never know when an explosion is going to hit you until it's too late, unless you've got the ear to listen to the warning sounds before each burst of flame. They've put several maneuvers into this game that, with the help of the jet-pack each character is equipped with, which can help you get out of harms way as fast as possible.
 
You can choose one of two characters to play as, Tillis and Shou Amabane. There are also codes to play as the other three, but there's no difference really. BR is mainly set in big maze territories (Not hard but challenging), and luckily, whenever you get lost, by pressing X or Z you can receive verbal help from your team captain.
 
This game isn't mainly based on music but when there is music it's very good during the gameplay. It is based on sound FX, however, because that's the only way to warn you when there's an explosion coming or when one of your team members speaks. Even though the game really needs Sound FX, they didn't put much work into them, other than the voices. The graphics is one thing this game has a lot of. Very much detail and clean smooth animation to go along with it.
 
There are several tasks you have to complete to finish each mission. You are, of course, a fire fighter in a team of five split up in a certain building or area. Your goal is to distinguish the fires, save innocent victims and defeat the boss that is causing the fire. Just like Sonic the Hedgehog, you have to collect crystals in order to keep your shield up, just like the rings in Sonic.
 
One last thing that makes this game so great, is it's true 3D environments and camera-rotating. Normally it has roughly a Virtual On view, but you can change the angles to whatever you want, and even though it can be complicated at first, it's easy to get used to.
 
-Vampire1
Burning Rangers
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