Today, Ziggurat Interactive, publisher of multiplatform retro and modern games, is beyond excited to reveal the upcoming relaunch of the highly coveted Super Famicom title Rendering Ranger: R². Slated for digital release on PC (via Steam and GOG), PlayStation 4 & 5, and Nintendo Switch later this year, along with a physical release via Limited Run Games, Rendering Ranger: R² [Rewind] blends the familiar side-scrolling gameplay of Contra with R-Type-style space shooter levels.



The original Rendering Ranger: R² is celebrated for its technical accomplishments and distinctive visual aesthetic. The game pushed the boundaries of the Super Famicom's capabilities, utilizing pre-rendered graphics that were pioneering for its time. Its demanding gameplay and visually intricate design have endeared it to collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts, and the limited initial release elevated its status as a coveted classic, often called “the most expensive SNES game.”


Utilizing Carbon Engine emulation, this re-release of Rendering Ranger: R² [Rewind] will feature:

• The unreleased prototype Targa and the Japan-only release Rendering Ranger: R²
  
• The ability to rewind the game with a press of a button, perfect for especially challenging sequences
  
• The option to save and continue, allowing players to up where they left off
  
• Optional CRT filter for retro look and feel
  

“We at Ziggurat are thrilled to bring such a rare title back to life,” said Kate Woods, Vice President of Ziggurat Interactive. “Rendering Ranger: R² is an incredibly important piece of gaming history. With its relaunch, we hope to bring the game to a broader audience, allowing it to be experienced and enjoyed by new generations of gamers on modern platforms.”

“I’m thrilled to see the last great classic Rainbow Arts game come back to a larger audience after all these years,” enthused Audi Sorlie, Lead Producer on Carbon Engine projects at Limited Run Games. “Fusing gameplay mechanics inspired by Japanese arcade games while employing bombastic action set pieces and technical marvels was what made European game development so exciting for those of us who grew up in the era. Rendering Ranger is the pinnacle of that style of arcade-style action. They used to say “Shoot or Die” back in the day to promote this game, and that ain't no joke; this is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced in 16 bits.”

About Rendering Ranger: R² [Rewind]:

Originally released in 1995 for the Super Famicom, Rendering Ranger: R² is a side-scrolling action title created by Manfred Trenz, the mastermind behind Turrican, The Great Giana Sisters, and Katakis (AKA Denaris).

Published by the renowned German software company Rainbow Arts, Rendering Ranger: R² is known for its combination of run-and-gun and shoot-'em-up gameplay and its impressive pre-rendered graphics in a time when the techniques and tools for creating them were not widely accessible. Initially intended for a Western release under the name Targa, it was ultimately distributed exclusively in Japan, with an estimated sale of only 10,000 copies. As a result, it has become one of the most coveted collectibles in retro gaming.

Rendering Ranger: R² remains a testament to the creativity and technical prowess of its developers, securing its place in video game history as a unique and influential title.

Retro re-release Rendering Ranger™: R² [Rewind] will be bringing its all-out, alliterative action to PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch consoles digitally on March 20, 2025! Review codes will be available soon, click here or reply to this email to request yours.

Ahead of launch, publisher Ziggurat Interactive is offering new screenshots with a closer look at the titular “Rewind” feature, set to make the blisteringly fast levels of this side-scrolling shooter more approachable.



Rendering Ranger™: R² [Rewind] has been lovingly preserved and faithfully emulated with the Limited Run Games Carbon Engine, following the title's original, Japan-only release on Super Famicom in 1995. One new addition players can look forward to is “Rewind” which allows them to wind it back with the press of a button, granting them a do-over.

The game is famed for its lightning fast, Contra-style shooter sections and shmup gameplay as the titular Rendering Ranger, a special forces soldier, defends Earth from an alien invasion, rapidly taking down extraterrestrial enemies that attack from every direction. With the Rewind feature, players can go again, keeping the gameplay challenging while remaining accessible.

Further boosting its nostalgic credentials, Rendering Ranger™: R² [Rewind] also features an optional CRT filter, allowing players to keep to the design as developer Manfred Trenz (creator of the Turrican series) envisioned.