Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie SEGA Genesis Review

The 90s were the Power Rangers' throne.  They had children engulfed into the phenomenon, parents enjoyed it, and they taught important life values such as friendship, teamwork, and self-defense.  So, how do you get higher when you're on top of that genre?  It's rather easy: Make a movie.  They did just that and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie came out in the summer of 1995.  Of course with a movie are movie based video games, and MMPR: The Movie was no exception with four titles, each one different from one another.  Is the power on in this game, or does Ivan Ooze make this game terrible like the Brady Bunch reunion (ha, movie reference)?  Let's power up for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie for the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive.

The main story of the game is actually based around the movie and a couple of sagas from the second season of the show.  This is actually a good thing, because if it's called a movie game, then some, if not all, of the movie's story should be incorporated.  Banpresto did a great job by using three stages for the movie's story and another three stages to give background about our rangers in flashback with the show story's.  In between stages, the story is told through image stills, and that really helps the story get to the point faster.  To explain the entire story of the game the best way possible, I suggest watching the movie and the sagas "White Light," "Ninja Encounter," and "Power Transfer."

The SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive version is a beat em' up side scroller.  Each stage is different in environment and you're not gonna fight a wide variety of enemies.  Your standard goons would be the Oozemen and the Putties.  In a couple of stages, you'll deal with a mini boss that have really predictable patterns.  You can choose from any of the six rangers in the game, and in the flashback stages, you can play as the original red, black, and yellow ranger.  This is good and they're staying very accurate to the stories.

There is a time limit on each stage, but it doesn't mean much other than a time bonus at the end of each stage.  You should start worry when the time limit is below 30 and when it hits 0.  When it goes below 30, you will slowly lose health and when it hit 0 and you're still fighting, your health will start to drain faster.  This will make some levels a bit more difficult.  The rangers' movesets are highly effective with dealing with goons and bosses.  The rangers have a standard punch kick combo, a knock back attack that's effective when surrounded, and a variety of jump attacks.  The rangers can also charge up their attack to unleash a powerful attack with their corresponding weapons.  There will be some stages where the Megazords will be used, and there isn't much variety between them.  The only zord that is different move wise is the Falconzord.  Its dash attack is highly effective, but a lot of its moves are very short distance.  If you want more difficulty in the zord matches, then use the Falconzord.

The game is rather easy and can be completed in about a hour.  It only gets difficult when the time limit is dropping and during the Ivan Ooze zord battles.  Other than that, it's easy.  2 player mode makes the game easier.  Power coins drop during the stages and they benefit by giving more points, life energy, or an extra credit.  The graphics are superb for the Genesis, and everything looks like what they're suppose to be.  The only hiccup I saw was that the black ranger was a recolor of the red ranger (look very closely at the two).  The music in this game are songs from the show, and they sound really great on the Genesis.  It definitely makes you feel like you're playing a Power Rangers game.  My favorite songs from the game are 5-4-1, White Ranger Tiger Power, and Fight.  Definitely look up the music on YouTube whenever you get a chance.

This game is as close to the movie as it can possibly get.  Not only does it incorporate the movie's story, but it also incorporate the multiple sagas of season two and it does it very well.  The music is especially good, and the graphics are phenomenal for a Genesis/Mega Drive game. In the end, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie for the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive gets a score of 10 out of 10.  Buy this game!  I got it for $4.99 at Classic Game Junkie, and it was definitely worth the price.  Always remember:

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie © 20th Century Fox, Saban Entertainment, and Toei Company
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie game © Banpresto & SEGA
All photos were from Moby Games
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