System Played: Nintendo Entertainment System
Year Released: 1991
Year Reviewed: 2013
Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers is a simultaneous 2-player, 2D platform game for the NES from 2D-platform-game-for-the-NES masters, Capcom.
The first thing you hear when you hit the power button is an awesome 8-bit rendition of the cartoon theme tune, the first of many fun, upbeat tracks which fit the tone and pace of the game very well.
The Rescue Rangers’ neighbour (whoever that is?!), has lost her kitten and so they’re going to find it for her (no innuendo here)... but wouldn’t you know it, turns out to be another of old Fat Cats' schemes, and he ends up kidnapping Gadget. And so, game.
As in many a 2D platform game, you spend your time running and jumping around the place, here at quite high speeds. So luckily, the controls are ridiculously responsive, maybe more than in any other game, ever. They’re just perfect.
The levels are all filled with blocks (like so many NES games), but here you can pick them up and lob ‘em at enemies with the B button. Structurally, all the levels are pretty much identical, but new enemy types on each level stop things from getting monotonous. They’re also packed with these black and white token/things, with what looks like a flower on them?! I’ve never been sure what they were supposed to represent, but they’re like your coins in Mario, just scattered around for you to collect 100 of in exchange for a 1-up.
In addition to being your only means of attack, the blocks also contain collectibles (like more tokens), so really you find yourself just constantly tossing everything you see around the screen.
Blocks can be thrown left, right, straight up, or even hidden in, depending on which direction you’re holding the d-pad.
One issue is the hit detection, which seems a bit off sometimes, with you taking damage when you’ll swear you’ve not actually come into contact with the enemy...
Luckily, acorns can be discovered to refill your health gauge (3 hearts = 3 hits) and you’ll occasionally run into Zipper who clears the screen of enemies for you.
The real draw here is the simultaneous 2-player, with both Chip and Dale blazing around the screen at the same time. The fun bit is the fact that you can pick up the other player, same as you do with blocks, and throw them around the place. I guess the intention might have been that you can throw them to collect items otherwise out of reach? but really, it just seems to be there to have fun, screwing over your mate.
Enemies don't die when you throw your buddy at them, but the other player loses health all the same, so multiplayer becomes either a fragile alliance, as both players try to resist the urge to pick their mate up and throw him to his death, or just an all out, crazy, high speed war from the first second (in which case you’re unlikely to ever see level 2).
Bosses wait at the end of most levels but unfortunately they’re all quite easy, and there isn’t a lot of variety to them, all involving throwing a red ball around the place. You then get a quick bonus stage, where you race to the a hidden 1-up ...which for some reason is always hidden in the same place! Also, this kind of lacks challenge on single player, since you’ve got no one to race against!
There are 11 levels in all, and you do get some choice as to the route you take, via an overworld map. You can reach the end in as few as 8 levels if you want, but even with them all, it’s still not the longest game, especially since none of them provide any challenge, compared to say Mega Man or even Ducktales. It’s all very kid friendly ...unless the other player decides to be a jerk ...in which case, YOU should be a jerk first before he has chance!
Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers was always my second favorite NES game as a kid (after MM2) and it’s still pretty great today.
7/10
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