Nerdicus NES Review #126: Chip 'N' Dale: Rescue Rangers

Title : Chip 'N' Dale: Rescue Rangers

Publisher : Capcom

Developer : Capcom

Genre : Action Platformer

Players : 1 / 2 Players

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $15-$20

We're going to do this. Get ready. You know what' Im doing. 3..2...1.

Sometimes. Some crimes go slippin through the cracks.

But these two, gumshoes, are pickin up the slack

There's no case too big. No Case too small.

When you need help just call.

CH-CH-CH-CHIP n DALE! RESCUE RANGERS!

This was it folks. This was the game that took over entire weekends when I first started playing it. For some reason, I never bought it, but I probably ended up spending the same amount of money from renting it all the damn time. First of all, I hated Chip N Dale when they were just regular annoying chipmunks in the older Disney Cartoons, but as soon as Rescue Rangers came out, I was hooked. Chip was a bad ass (even though he was too smug), and Dale was a riot in that Hawaiian shirt. And come on, ROBOTIC BULL DOGS AND FAT CAT!? Epic villains. So, of course, when this game rolled around, I needed it.

What made this game even more amazing, was the option to have a 2 player co-op mode available. COME ON! You could actually play CHIP and DALE! No need to pick favorites (dale was my favorite..). Seriously though, what is with Capcom and Disney. It seems like a marriage made in heaven, and that they really could do no wrong. Every time they came out with a game based on a Disney movie or cartoon, they were freaking phenomenal.

Hell, I wasn't embarrassed when I played the Little Mermaid game!! IT WAS GOOD! Bring on the Disney games! Oh, how I wish for more good Disney games in the modern era. Although Epic Mickey isn't half bad...

Anyway, back to Chip N Dale. Grab some Apples. We're after Fat Cat.

Oh...and am I the only one that thought Gadget was hot? Really? Only me..well..I'm a creep then....

The game starts up, and you're greeted by that familiar theme song you're taken back to your childhood. Sitting on the couch, eating a bowl of cocoa puffs, and watching this TV show when it was on Saturday mornings on the Disney Channel or ABC. It's impossible not sing along with it.

Visually, this game is amazing. The graphics are colorful and crisp. The character animations are fluid and the attention to detail is quite frankly pretty damn good for a 1990's NES game. Not to mention, Capcom did an excellent job of making you feel like you were tiny little chipmunks in a big world. Okay, okay, so the robotic bulldogs are bit tiny. But hell, you can't fight giant bulldogs all the time, right?

Oh, and if you're worried about the other Chip N Dales characters, FEAR NOT! They make appearances in this game. The plot is all about rescuing Gadget from Fat Cat, and Monterrey Jack (God, I love that name) will appear in certain levels to break down walls. And who can forget Zipper? That lovable little fly. Well, he shows up to grant you invincibility. Don't know why, but why not!?

Most of the game revolves around fairly simple platforming elements. Jump over gaps, collect items, and lifting up boxes or tomatoes to toss at your foes. It's the simplicity that really makes the game enjoyable, mainly because it is done effectively. Controls are smooth, and the attacks that are available to you come naturally. Nothing seems too hard, and nothing seems too easy,

The game is also incredibly fast paced for a platformer. It's non stop running and jumping and avoiding which really keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's even more fun though when you're playing in co-op mode because you have to look out for one another. Come on, you're brothers (wait, they are brothers, right?).

You'll run into a boss fight every so often, which is pretty much expected in an action platformer. Most of them are villains that you'll recognize from the TV show, and all you have to do is basically avoid their attacks, and throw whatever item is available right at their faces. It's typically a lot easier in co-op mode because you can just gang up on the boss, but it doesn't matter the battles are intense.

The game is highly reminiscent of Duck Tales, and that's not much of a surprise considering that this game was developed right around the same time. OH, CAPCOM. How I love thee.

There's a reason why this game sold so many copies. 1.2 Million to be exact. Gameplay is near perfect. The soundtrack and audio is spot on for a good NES platformer. None of those crappy bleeps and bloops. This is LEGIT. For a NES game anyway. Visually it's one of the the best the NES had to offer.

It's one of those games that remains satisfying even to do this day. Sure, it may not hold up as well as it used to, but for a game that offers the perfect amount of challenge, and the ability to just jump in and play and beat it in an hour or two, it's fantastic.

Disney + Capcom. Can't wait until I encounter your next game.

OH, CHIP N DALE 2!? Can't wait until Thursday......

Final Score (out of 5) :

Until next time. Keep on gaming!