The Ranger-X, also known as the EX-Ranza, is the titular protagonist of the 1993 Sega Genesis Run-and-Gun shooter Ranger-X (also known as EX-Ranza in Japan). It is an exo-skeleton suit built by Tribe Tech and Tribe Ranger, two tribes that have so far survived an invasion by the Rahuna on the Homeworld. In the Japanese version of the game, it was found from a ruin after its resting place had been destroyed by invading military. It is sent into combat alongside its two Couriers: Ex-Up Indra and Ex-Up Eos.
History[]
Ex-Ranza[]
In a futuristic era, a gift of an alien origin has arrived from outer space on planet Earth, which has been devastated by a global war. It was a device dubbed as "Terminal" created by cosmic intelligence. Humanity wanted to use this Terminal to rebuild ravaged earth, and to that end they set up "Earth Management Bureau". 12 years have passed since then, and the earth was regaining its former lushness.
However, a man appeared and rebelled against EMB. His name is Ozzy Wise, and he sought to use Terminal to create a new world which he dominates. However, only the chosen people who can manipulate mental waves of human brains can communicate with Terminal. That was why Ozzy had Nina Ellis abducted; Nina, although her ability has not yet been fully matured, was still a powerful ESPer girl with psychic waves. Ozzy then had his private army launched an attack on the EMB Headquarter, to which Nina belongs to.
Faced with Ozzy Wise's powerful airborne division, the EMB is quickly overwhelmed and retreated to a barren desert base abandoned during the past global war. Then one day Kane Bryan, a member of the EMB and Nina's childhood friend, discovers the humanoid combat machine "Ex-Ranza" and two support aircrafts in the ruins destroyed by the recent attack by Ozzy's forces. To thwart Ozzy and to save Nina, Kane goes off with Ex-Ranza.
But Ex-Ranza is not alone in its heroic quest. Accompanying the mech would be two mechanical courier units named Ex-Up Indra and Ex-Up Eos.
Ranger-X[]
On an unnamed planet simply known as the Homeworld, a coalition of war-like beings known as the Rahuna have launched an invasion against the Free Galactic Systems Council in order to usurp power over the galactic systems. Numerous Homeworld Tribes are subsequently attacked unexpectedly and subsequently defeated, leading to heavy losses. As the invasion unfolds, only two tribes are so-far spared: Tribe Tech and Tribe Ranger. In order to stop Rahuna's invasion, the two tribes collaborate together by construct a mobile suit known as Ranger-X to destroy strategic targets held by Rahuna across the Homeworld. Accompanying the robotic suit are two Courier support units: Ex-Up Indra and Ex-Up Eos.
Ranger-X travels to a desert located just outside of the Council's destroyed headquarters, where it proceeds to destroy several Rahuna targets scattered across the wasteland, once completed it then travels inside the ruins of the headquarters where it manages to free numerous hostages; one hostage however, the Council's own Princess is captured by Rahuna forces in a prison-like force field and is subsequently kidnapped, forcing Ranger-X to battle a giant mech, which it successfully destroys.
The mobile suit then travels to other Homeworld environments where it continues its mission of destroying Rahuna targets while searching for the Princess. Eventually it locates a Rahuna-occupied factory where after breaching its defenses, it locates the trapped Princess, only for the suit to be transported to an alternate dimension where it must battle the leader of Rahuna: a giant bat-like cyborg, which it subsequently destroys.
With Rahuna's forces eliminated, Ranger-X touches down on a beach. There, the controller exits out of the suit and meets the rescued Princess who also escaped the crumbling factory in one piece.
Weapons[]
Ranger-X / EX-Ranza is armed with a number of weapons and tools to its disposal. The suit has three weapons unlocked by default, as well as a jet pack. Further weapons must be unlocked by obtaining power-ups that are hidden across levels. In order for Ranger-X / EX-Ranza to switch weapons, the suit must stand on one of the two available Couriers. With the exception of the default Pulse Rifle which can be fired indefinitely, all other weapons use a power meter that gradually depletes the longer a weapon is used. This meter can be recharges overtime but very slowly; it however can be refilled by positioning the robotic suit under a bright light source.
A similar meter that indicates the health of Ranger-X / EX-Ranza is also present. It can be recharged by standing over Power Conversion Units at the cost of draining the power meter, or by Mini-Conversion Units, which automaticallt replenishes an amount of health but drains the power meter entirely.
- Pulse Rifle - a standard, rapid-fire rifle that shoots energy bullet in the direction that the suit faces. Unlike other weapons, it does not consume the power meter and thus can be fired indefinitely. One of three weapons available from the start.
- Flame Unit - fires a flamethrower in front of the Ranger-X. The flame's length gradually depletes as the power meter drains. One of three weapons available from the start.
- Seeker Mine - deploys an energy mine that moves along the ground in order to track and destroy nearby enemies. One of three weapons available from the start.
- Seeker Charge - fires two bolts of electricity rapidly that seek out nearby enemies. They have a full 360 range. Some enemies however cannot be targeted by this special weapon.
- Seeker Falcon - launches a mechanical falcon that tracks down nearby enemies and destroys them. Like the Seeker Charge, it is unable to target certain enemies.
- Plasma Blast - fires a burst of fireballs in a large spread. The projectiles are able to eliminate enemy projectiles, making it very effective in open areas with large amounts of enemies.
- Proton Cannon / Proton Storm - the most powerful weapon in the Ranger-X's arsenal, it fires a large proton blast that destroys everything in its path. It covers the entire horizontal length of the field of vision, as well as most of the vertical height, giving the weapon a very large hitbox. Its main drawback however is that once used, it will completely drain the entire power meter.
- Energy Shield - deploys an energy shield around the Ranger-X. In addition to blocking enemy projectiles, it can also deal contact damage to anything that touches it.
Couriers[]
The Couriers are two support units that aid the Ranger-X in battle throughout the entirety of the game. They take the form of a support vehicle that travels alongside the mobile suit in battle, and provide the Ranger-X with the ability to switch special weapons whenever it stands atop of them. Two couriers accompany the suit:
Ex-Up Indra[]
An agile motorbike, the Indra fires a Pulse Rifle similar to that of the Ranger-X whenever the fire button is held. It can move and jump separately from the Ranger-X in order to position itself in the midst of battle. When Ranger-X stands atop Indra, an independent health meter will appear, which when depleted will destroy both Indra and Ranger-X in the process. While Ranger-X is riding Indra, the weapon will change to fire homing energy bullets at nearby enemies.
Ex-Up Eos[]
A large flying craft that replaces Indra on certain levels. Unlike the Indra, Eos cannot be directly controlled, instead it fires its weapon automatically in the form of automatic lasers. It does not have a separate health bar, making it fully invincible in combat.
Other[]
- Jet Pack - an essential tool used by the Ranger-X throughout the game, it allows the mech to hover in mid-air for a limited amount of time. The duration of the jet pack is indicated by a temperature gauge that overheats overtime (indicated by the gauge turning from blue to orange). Once depleted, the Ranger-X will be forced to land in order to allow the gauge to cooldown for a duration of time. When Ranger-X uses the jet pack while crouching, it will launch up vertically at a greater height than normal, making this technique especially useful in vertical sections. There is a platform named Artificial Ground Platform which allows Ranger-X / EX-Ranza to stand temporarily to cool down jet pack. The platform eventually drops on the weight of Ranger-X / Ex-Ranza, so the player must quickly jump off it after recharging jet pack. This platform does not appear in higher difficulty setting.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- During development of the game, Ranger-X was known as Transa Banker.