Released during the peak of Ranger-mania, *Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Fighting Edition* is a surprisingly robust 16-bit fighter developed by the action experts at Natsume. Departing from the side-scrolling beat-’em-up formula of its predecessors, this title focuses exclusively on giant mech and kaiju combat. It utilizes a refined version of the engine later seen in the fan-favorite *Gundam Wing: Endless Duel*, offering fluid movement and satisfying hit detection that rivals genre titans like *Street Fighter II*. The roster is admittedly slim, featuring only eight playable characters initially, but each Zord and villain feels distinct, heavy, and appropriately powerful.
Visually, the game is a masterclass in late-era SNES sprite work. The characters are massive, filling the screen with vibrant colors and intricate detailing that captures the metallic sheen of the Thunder Megazord and the organic menace of Lord Zedd. The "Power" gauge adds a layer of strategy, allowing players to enhance their special moves or unleash a screen-clearing "Super" once fully charged. While the single-player campaign is relatively short, culminating in a grueling encounter against the movie villain Ivan Ooze, the competitive two-player mode remains a hidden gem for fighting game enthusiasts looking for high-quality arcade action on home hardware. It manages to translate the scale of the television show's climactic battles into a mechanical depth that rewards frame-perfect inputs and tactical positioning. It is a rare example of a licensed product that prioritizes gameplay integrity over brand recognition, ensuring that even those without nostalgia for the source material can appreciate the technical polish Natsume poured into every frame of animation.
