Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

We’re Back!: A Dinosaur’s Story delivers a classic side-scrolling experience that lives up to its cartoon roots. Players assume direct control of Rex, the lovable tyrannosaur, as he bounds through five distinct time-traveling levels. Each stage introduces new hazards—prehistoric pitfalls, futuristic traps, and even dinosaur-eating robots—forcing you to master Rex’s movement and timing to avoid instant defeat.

Rex isn’t alone on this mission. From time to time, Elsa, Woog, Vorb, and Dweeb join the fray, lending their unique abilities to help you overcome tougher enemies or solve environmental puzzles. Elsa’s flight and Woog’s size make for dynamic gameplay shifts, while Vorb and Dweeb offer crowd-control attacks that add strategic variety. Knowing when to summon each friend is half the fun and keeps the action feeling fresh throughout the five stages.

Power-ups are sprinkled generously across levels, replenishing Rex’s health or granting temporary boosts. Whether it’s a health bar extension or a brief invulnerability trinket, these items provide that all-important safety net during harrowing encounters. Skillful players can stockpile power-ups for boss fights, turning near-failing runs into triumphant rescues of Cecilia and Louie.

The game’s pacing strikes a rewarding balance between exploration and combat. Secret alcoves hide extra lives or helpful upgrades, encouraging thorough stage navigation. Meanwhile, well-timed jumps and attacks against Professor Screw Eyes’s minions deliver satisfying feedback, making each successful rescue mission feel earned and memorable.

Graphics

Graphically, We’re Back! takes full advantage of the Super Nintendo’s vibrant palette. Character sprites pop with bright highlights and smooth animation frames—Rex’s stomps visibly shake the ground, and his roaring frame-by-frame flourish brings genuine cartoon flair to the screen. Enemies move with a cartoonish bounce, underscoring the game’s lighthearted tone.

Each time period boasts its own visual identity. The Jurassic jungles teem with lush greenery and creeping vines, while the Wild West stage presents dusty canyons and rickety mine carts that scroll dynamically in the background. A futuristic future level glows neon, complete with rotating platforms and conveyor-belt hazards, showcasing a keen eye for varied level design that feels distinct yet cohesive.

Parallax scrolling and layered backgrounds lend depth to each environment. As Rex ventures deeper, subtle details—like birds flying overhead or machinery whirring in the distance—add life to the world and reward observant players. Though not cutting-edge by today’s standards, these graphical touches make We’re Back! a standout on the SNES library when viewed in the context of its era.

Character portraits and cutscenes are peppered throughout to advance the rescue narrative. While these static images don’t rival animated film sequences, they faithfully capture each dinosaur’s personality. Professor Screw Eyes’s exaggerated sneer injects the perfect dose of cartoon villainy, setting up each chapter with charm and clarity.

Story

Rather than following the film’s exact plot, this adaptation crafts its own time-twisting adventure. Professor Screw Eyes has snatched up Louie and Cecilia, prompting Captain Neweyes and the dinosaur quartet to leap into action. This new storyline cleverly uses time travel as both a gameplay mechanic and narrative device, creating an original premise that keeps players guessing which era comes next.

Between levels, brief dialogue windows recap the stakes: friends in peril, dinosaurs on the march, and a mad scientist to thwart. These short exchanges maintain momentum without bogging down the action, ensuring you remain focused on jumping, chomping, and dodging your way to the final rescue. The sense of urgency ramps up nicely, especially as the dinosaurs venture closer to Screw Eyes’s ominous lair.

Characterizations mirror the film’s warm-hearted tone, even if the plot diverges. Rex’s protective growls, Elsa’s chirpy encouragement, and Captain Neweyes’s stalwart voiceovers all deliver that Saturday-morning cartoon vibe. Cecilia and Louie, though off-screen for much of the game, are given enough backstory to make their rescue feel personal and important.

Ultimately, the time-travel concept allows for inventive set pieces—from dodging T-Rex jaws in prehistoric jungles to outrunning rolling boulders in ancient Rome. This refreshing approach breaks the monotony of linear levels, giving the story broad scope and ensuring each chapter feels like a distinct adventure in the quest to save two beloved children.

Overall Experience

We’re Back!: A Dinosaur’s Story stands out as an engaging platformer that blends nostalgic charm with varied level design. Its approachable controls and generous assist mechanics make it accessible to younger players, while the strategic use of dinosaur pals and secret areas provides enough depth to satisfy seasoned platforming fans. Each playthrough feels like a mini-episode of a beloved cartoon series, complete with colorful locales and whimsical antagonists.

While the game doesn’t stray far from the well-trodden side-scrolling formula, its creative use of time travel and character-driven power-ups elevates it above mere imitation. Progression feels rewarding, and the mixture of lighthearted humor and just-right challenge keeps frustration at bay. Casual gamers will appreciate the forgiving checkpoints, and completionists will delight in uncovering every hidden power-up.

Visually charming and aurally buoyant, the title’s graphics and sound effects work in harmony to craft a cohesive world that’s both playful and immersive. The lack of direct movie cutscenes is noticeable, but the game more than makes up for it with its own delightful reinterpretation of the film’s spirit. Each rescue mission culminates in a satisfying payoff that brings a genuine smile to your face.

For fans of movie tie-in platformers and dinosaur enthusiasts alike, We’re Back!: A Dinosaur’s Story offers a solid, entertaining experience. It may not revolutionize the genre, but its heart, humor, and handful of innovative mechanics ensure that this prehistoric romp remains a memorable stop on any retro-gaming journey.

Retro Replay Score

5.8/10