Sometimes, you just want something comforting and familiar. That’s as true for video games as it is for mac n’ cheese and chicken soup. But when you’re an accomplished game developer like Final Fantasy Tactics remake director Kazutoyo Maehiro, you love the deep cuts as much as the tried-and-true classics.
“I actually do play a lot of classic games. And so if you ever come to my living room, I have plenty of old-school classics. I definitely do love the Wizardry series. Even to this day, it’s still a game that definitely holds up,” Maehiro told Polygon as part of a conversation about The Ivalice Chronicles, due out Sept. 30.
He was grasping to remember the English name for one of his favorite NES/Famicom games, chatting with his translator and a colleague from Square Enix. My Japanese isn’t exactly great, but my memories of being a kid in the ‘90s are still pretty sharp, so I caught the words “Capcom” and “Chip n’ Dale” in their exchange.
“Oh! You mean Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers?” I asked.
He smiled a mile wide. “Yeah! That’s a game that I very, very much love, even to this day still,” Maehiro said. “First and foremost, the music is really great. It’s so light and fine, so playing through it, you always feel this sense of excitement that comes out from that.”
Now, you may giggle at Maehiro’s longstanding love for Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers, as I did, but there’s no disputing that the soundtrack is full of chiptune earworms. Lest we forget, this is an early ‘90s Capcom game. Composer Harumi Fujita also worked on Mega Man 3, an absolute masterclass in 8-bit bangers. Here’s a little taste of Rescue Rangers:
Inspired by the Disney animated series of the same name, this 1990 platformer features single-player and co-op modes. Like Super Mario Bros. 2, you can pick up objects like crates, acorns, and balls to throw at enemies. Each stage has its own distinctive theming — backyard, casino, factory — and there’s a huge variety of enemies inspired by the TV show. It’s hailed by some as an underrated NES gem and sold 1.2 million copies worldwide. But don’t take my word for it: let Maehiro cook.
“Another strength of the game is just how easily playable it is. And then of course there’s also two playable characters, Chip and Dale. The way that it’s been created feels very complete,” he explains. “And so when I was a kid, actually, me and my younger brother would sometimes play together, and he would be Chip and I would be Dale. Even now as an adult, I might play the game myself or play with my wife.”
Guys, find yourself a partner who wants to play Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers with you. Until then, keep your fingers crossed this Capcom platformer makes its way to Nintendo Switch Online eventually.