Ra Ra Boom

Recapturing the magic of side-scrolling beat-’em-ups like Streets of Rage or River City Girls, Ra Ra BOOM charges into the fray like a glitter-covered uppercut to the jaw. Picture this: ninja cheerleaders from outer space return to a post-apocalyptic Earth to lay the smackdown on rogue AI armies. Sounds wild? It is, and somehow it works beautifully. Developed by Gylee Games, Ra Ra BOOM is their debut title, and it’s a striking one that confidently blends nostalgic gameplay with modern fla...

Ra Ra Boom is an excellent local co-op game that's perfect for a weekend playthrough with loved ones or friends. It's a wonderful love letter to retro side scrollers with a modern look and feel that represents the best of indie games. While the main campaign is on the shorter side, and ultimately the game feels a little too easy at times, it's still a fun time and well worth checking out.

Ra Ra BOOM is a high-energy, upbeat beat ‘em up game with a vibrant look and ninja cheerleaders that you control through nine different stages.

A side-scrolling beat 'em up in which it's feasible to simply shoot your enemies rather than actually punch and kick them into submission, Ra Ra BOOM stands out in what is inexplicably becoming a crowded genre. It has some issues that bring it down, though, including poor balancing and some technical woes on PS5 Pro.

When it comes to beat ‘em ups, there’s a lot of history, a lot of convention, and a lot of room still to innovate and play around. Ra Ra Boom has looked like an intriguing example of experimentation in that space for a few years now, and I was excited to finally take this comic booky, sci-fi brawler home after a few convention demos. With a lot of heart and cool ideas at the forefront, Ra Ra Boom delivers a memorable romp for a few hours. But, tragically, some fundamental combat snags hold it back from reaching its potential.

The humble scrolling beat ‘em up has been experiencing something of a golden age in recent years, with the indie-scene enjoying a resurgence in the old-school coin-fed darling. We’ve seen modern reimagining’s of arcade classics, beat ‘em ups with roguelite elements, and even attack inputs controlled with a thumb-stick. Now, with Ra Ra BOOM, we’re witnessing a scrolling beat ‘em up combined with a scrolling shoot ‘em up. Oh, and it includes space cheer leaders.

Ra Ra BOOM opens with an entrancing femme anthem, an energetic quartet of robot-smashing heroines, and a mission to save humanity. As interesting as this experience starts, much like the Saturday morning cartoons it’s inspired by, it feels like it’s missing a couple of key episodes.