RANGER-X walkthrough

 RANGER-X

1 Player

Action/Shooting

Overall Object: To restore order to the failed Homeworld 

society and defend it from the evil forces of the Rahuna 

coalition.

There are four different ending credit sequences, 

depending on which of the four difficulty levels you 

choose (Easy, Normal, Hard, and Heavy)!

CONTROLS

(Standard/Type A)

D-Pad: Controls Ranger-X and Ex-Up vehicles 

(3 Button Standard) A B C

Ranger-X Shoot Towards Left Shoot Special Weapon

Shoot Towards Right

To control the Ex-Up Indra without the 6 Button 

Controller, you have to crouch Ranger-X down onto a 

surface area and push diagonally down-left to move it 

left and diagonally down-right to move it right.

(w/6 Button Options) X Y Z

Ex-Up Indra Move Cycle Left Shoot Special Weapon Move 

Cycle Right

Tactical Information

SPECIAL WEAPONS CHART

Weapon Type Description Location

Flame Unit long range flame thrower/low to medium damage 

capacity equipped with from the start

Seeker Mines ground-based traveling mines (straight 

line)/medium damage capacity equipped with from the 

start

Seeker Charge lightning-like stream of energy that 

locks on to on screen enemies/light to medium damage 

capacity Stage 2 (in the cavern area directly above 

the Power Conversion Unit)

Seeker Falcon flying assault scout, seeks out most 

enemies and attacks until they are destroyed/ medium to 

high damage capacity Stage 3 (a little after where the 

2nd Rahuna Artillery unit is placed on the forest floor)

Proton Storm highly destructive beam of force, must 

be fully charged to use/extreme damage capacity Stage 4 

(3 windows underneath Rahuna Wall Artillery unit #4 /must 

shoot out the window to reveal it) 

Plasma Blast balls of plasma energy /high damage 

capacity Stage 5 (below the first gap-like opening in 

Homeworld Capital City)

note: all Special Weapons need light/solar power to 

regenerate their energy 

On Screen Information

The yellow indicator on the far left is the Shield Gauge 

for Ranger-X and the Ex-Up Indra.

The box to the right of it shows the Special Weapon Type 

currently equipped.

The meter to the right of that is the Special Weapon 

Power Gauge.

The 3/4 Circle on the far right is the Temperature Meter 

(indicates Jump Jet temperature level).

The box in the topmost center is the Scanner (Cybernetic 

Automated Target Tracker; CATT for short, this keeps 

track of remaining enemy units and their proximity to 

Ranger-X).

As a stage's main boss appears, the Boss Damage Gauge 

appears in the upper right-hand corner. 

Courier Specifications

Ex-Up Indra (Cyber Cycle)

The Cyber Cycle Ex-Up Indra is Ranger-X's secondary mode 

of transportation. It has its own Shield Gauge, 

stationary Jump Jets, and also serves as Ranger-X's 

Special Weapons carrier.

You can pilot the Ex-Up Indra and use it as a mobile 

weapons platform, or ride atop it. To pilot Indra, you 

have to get directly on top of it, and push down to 

convert the Ranger-X mecha and Cyber Cycle into one 

assault unit.

From this configuration, you can utilize the following 

functions: auto-targeting pulse rifle and weapon select.  

The pulse rifle is standard firepower for the Indra that 

locks onto the nearest enemy unit until it is destroyed. 

Weapon select changes the Special Weapon Unit that 

Ranger-X is carrying.

To activate the Jump Jets, the combined Ranger-X/Ex-Up 

unit must be stationary. Push down until the unit is in a 

crouch-like position, then let go. When in the air, push 

left or right to direct the unit.

The important thing to remember is that the Ex-Up Cyber 

Cycle only takes damage when it is combined with Ranger-

X. Conserve Ranger-X's shields by utilizing Indra for 

travel.

Otherwise, the Ex-Up can be left behind and you can 

utilize Ranger-X's Jump Jets for movement. The Ex-Up 

tracks your position and will almost always be there for 

you.

Ex-Up EOS (Platform Carrier)

The EOS is available for Stages 3 and 4 of your mission. 

It has limited movement control. Push left or right 

repeatedly to direct it. Standard features are a heavy-

duty laser 

(w/ targeting computer) and weapon selection 

capabilities. The EOS provides excellent air cover for 

ground assaults.

Power Conversion Units

Smuggled throughout the mission's stages, these units 

(blue in color) restore Shield Energy to Ranger-X or the 

Ex-Up Indra unit. The tradeoff is that it converts 

Special Weapon energy into Shield Energy. Step into the 

center of the unit to activate it. Use when necessary. 

Mini Conversion Unit

Smaller, single-use only versions of the Power Conversion 

Unit. Walk over the unit to convert weapon energy into 

shield energy. Make sure you have a lot of Weapon Energy 

to convert as the unit is only good for one use.

A.G. (Artificial Ground) Platform

Found throughout Stage 3, these platforms have been 

placed in areas where there is no ground to land on. 

Primarily used to cool down your Jump Jet thruster packs, 

the A.G.'s are unable to hold Ranger-X's weight for more 

than a second, but give more than enough time to cool 

down.

Tribe Strategy

Some rules to live by:

1. Never rush into things.

2. Think before you move.

3. Make sure that you have the proper weapons equipped.

4. Shoot everything.

5. If all else fails, break the rules.

If you rush headlong into the heat of battle, you might 

not make it out alive. You live or die by the weapons you 

carry. Use them wisely. Take out all on screen enemies 

before moving on, merely for the fact that you don't want 

too many enemies moving around using you for target 

practice. And remember: rules were meant to be broken. 

Improvisation works a lot better.

Mission Walkthrough

Stage 1: Siege At Council Hall

Mission Objectives: Eliminate Rahuna force's artillery, 

then move in to help with Council evacuation. 

Targets: Rahuna Artillery Platforms (6)

Recommended Special Weapon: Seeker Mines

Head right, eliminating all forms of opposition. Use the 

two Power Conversion Units when necessary (one is at the 

start towards the far left, the other appears at the 

midway point after target #3). The Indra should be used 

as your main form of attack, as its pulse rifle locks on 

to most enemies. Use Seeker Mines to destroy targets 

ahead of you (they traverse the terrain and can eliminate 

most enemies before they can reach you). You'll proceed 

to the Council Hall automatically after you destroy the 

last target...

Council Hall

When you reach the Hall, a Council member is taken 

captive! And the Rahuna have sent out one of their really 

big guns!

(Boss) Rahuna Commander: Rahuna Assault Mecha Arachnid

Weaknesses: Front Missile Launching Bay, "Eye" Area, 

Legs, and Pilot's Cockpit on top of Head Area

Main Weapons: Ground Laser, Heat Seeking Missiles, Laser 

Shots, and Missile Clusters (cross-like, breaks up into a 

group of four missiles if you shoot it, or if they're 

close to you)

Recommended Special Weapon: Flame Unit

Tactics: Use the Ranger-X/Ex-Up combination. Using pulse 

rifle fire, you automatically seek out the enemy's weak 

spots. Otherwise, concentrate on the weaknesses in the 

order specified above using a combination of standard 

firepower and your special weaponry.

Unfortunately, the pilot's cockpit ejects and the Rahuna 

commander makes his escape with the hostage.

Stage 2: Homeworld Subterranean Caverns

Mission Objectives: Eliminate Rahuna mining forces 

underneath Homeworld's surface

Targets: Rahuna Rock Digging Machines (Diggers) (5)

Recommended Special Weapon: Varies

Mission Notes:  When shot, the Diggers release a burst of 

fireballs and also disperse a spread of rocks (depending 

on how much Earth terrain the Diggers cover).

Throughout the caverns, the Rahuna have set up miniature 

energy generators that power up most of their offensive 

weapons and barriers. Take these out to make the mission 

easier.

Since your Special Weapons need light to regenerate 

energy, look for a few rocky outcroppings on the cavern 

ceilings. By shooting these, you can let light in.

The caverns are infested by parasites. Certain areas 

contain hatchling egg structures (you can use these to 

walk on), and boulders. Shooting some of these may 

release a parasite. The parasites' only weakness is 

light.

To start off, head right and then up to destroy the 

energy generator (this cuts off power to the gun turret 

below it). Head all the way down and then to the left. 

Take out the Digger.

Head right, carefully passing over the acid filled lake. 

Take out the energy generator on the ceiling. Head a 

little bit  back to the left and then go all the way up 

through the opening. Take out the tank towards the right. 

Collect the Special Weapon Seeker Charge. Below that is 

the only Power Conversion Unit that the Tribes have 

managed to sneak in for you. Use it if you have to.

Head back down. Go right. Take out the ceiling turret and 

tank. Continue right and destroy the energy generator. 

Avoid the falling boulders (because they'll hurt you). 

Head straight up (past the point where the boulders and 

barrier were). There are Diggers to the left and to the 

right.

Before taking them on, you should head all the way to the 

top and take out the rocky outcropping on the ceiling. 

Head all the way left. Destroy another rocky outcropping 

to let light in. Shoot out the parasite nest so that you 

can reach the energy generator and destroy it.

Head back down and take out the Diggers on the left and 

on the right. Remember to recharge your Shields and 

Special Weapon energy if you have to.

In the same cavern area, head all the way up and then go 

to the right. Take out the tanks in the acid-filled pit. 

Head all the way to the far right and destroy the two 

energy generators there.

Head back left and then go all the way down. Head right, 

carefully passing over the acid lake. Take out the group 

of four gun turrets on the ceiling, and if you can, the 

lone gun turret right after it. Continue right, taking 

out the Cavern Walker units (you can bump them by pushing 

up against them). Fly up to the ceiling and take out the 

two rocky outcroppings. Head right and destroy some of 

the nest area so you can take out the Digger (be careful 

of the parasites and the boulders).

Head back left to where the lone gun turret was. Fly all 

the way up and take the immediate right and go down. 

Crouch down and destroy the energy generator (don't down 

fall into the acid pit when the barrier breaks!). Head 

all the way up and then go to the right. Be careful of 

the multiple Walkers on the hatchling egg platforms. The 

last Digger is all the way to the right. Watch out with 

this one though, as it has the biggest rock dispersal 

spread.

You now have entry into the Underground Corridor.

Underground Launch Bay Corridor

Mission Objectives: Take out Rahuna Hovercraft Drones and 

Rahuna Assault Mecha Centipede Walker

Targets: Rahuna Hovercraft Drones (6) and Centipede mecha 

(1)

Recommended Special Weapon: Seeker Charge 

Move through the area slowly. As you progress,  Drones 

come out of the hangars. Take out each Drone as it 

appears, one at a time, before proceeding (if you try to 

speed through, it's very possible to have all six of the 

Drones onscreen, attacking you all at once-very 

dangerous). When you destroy the last Drone, watch out, 

because the Centipede comes out quickly!

(Boss) Hangar Commander: Rahuna Assault Mecha Centipede 

Walker

Weakness: Red Eye area

Main Weapons: Varies (depends on the phase; see Tactics 

below)

Recommended Special Weapon: Varies

Tactics: Concentrate on using the Ex-Up Indra as a mobile 

platform (ride on top of it). Try not to fly a lot as the 

Centipede concentrates on mainly air attacks. The 

Centipede has four phases of attacks, each one changing 

when you destroy the previous section of it.

1st Phase: Slowly edge back towards the left. The 

Centipede attacks with Cluster Bombs that explode into a 

spread of missiles. Look for an opening as the missiles 

drop down. Aim for the Red Eye area. When you destroy 

this section...

2nd Phase: Carefully chase the Centipede towards the 

right. This time it throws Warp Grenades at you, but 

these can be shot at (in fact, when you chase it, you 

rarely suffer any hits because your constant shooting 

eliminates the Grenades). Shoot at the eye rapidly until 

the section is destroyed.

3rd Phase: Discontinue use of the mobile platform method 

NOW! Probably the deadliest of the sections, the Red Eye 

now shoots out beams of deadly force through its Wave 

Motion Gun. Luckily, you can duck each blast, and then 

shoot at the Red Eye area as it recharges for another 

shot. You can also defeat this section by attaining 

higher ground (look for a platform) and by using your 

Seeker Charge. When this section is destroyed...

Final Phase: You should now attempt to attain higher 

ground and stay on a platform. This time, the final 

section charges left and right very quickly, attempting 

to crush anything in its path. Avoid getting in its way 

and drop Seeker Mines onto its Red Eye area to finish it 

off.

Stage 3: Battle at Homeworld's Mother Forest 

Mission Objectives: Eliminate Rahuna forces in 

Homeworld's Mother Forest 

Targets: Dropship Artillery Platforms (10)

Recommended Special Weapon: Seeker Mines, then later on, 

the Seeker Falcon assault scout unit

(note: there are no Power Conversion units in this area 

at all! But, the Homeworld Mother Forest's red apples 

have been known to refill the energy of anything. Just 

shoot them out of the trees and catch them before they 

fall to the ground.)

Head right, eliminating the enemies that come your way. 

Utilize the Seeker Mines to destroy anything in your 

path. After you destroy the second Artillery Platform, 

you should come across the Special Weapon Seeker Falcon. 

After collecting it, continue to destroy all of the 

remaining Artillery Platforms to move on.

Homeworld's Mother Forest Lake

As you fly to the right, the peace and tranquility of the 

lake is destroyed by the arrival of an Edgezone bio-

weapon...

(Boss) Lake Menace: biologically engineered Mother Brain 

(looks like a giant brain with a large eye at the front 

and two pulsating appendages that shoot out at you) 

Weakness: Eye

Main Weapon: ESPer Charges, Eyeblasts

Recommended Special Weapon: Flame Unit, and then Seeker 

Charge

Tactics:  You can only damage the creature when its eye 

is fully open. Wait until the eye opens completely, and 

then shoot at it. The tradeoff is that when its eye 

opens, its appendages seek you out and track you. When 

you shoot at the eye, it closes. Thus, the appendages 

stay at the spot where they were last shooting at. After 

you damage the creature for half of its life-force, it 

sinks back into the lake and its form changes 

drastically.

In this new form, the Mother Brain is smaller, and is 

surrounded by biological defense orbs.The orbs can only 

damage you when they are in the foreground (they scale in 

and out of the background). Concentrate your attacks on 

the eye until you destroy it.

Stage 4: High-Rise Assault

Mission Objectives: Eliminate main enemy forces and 

scale the Rahuna-ridden high-rise until you make it to 

the top.

Targets: Rahuna Wall Artillery units (7)

Recommended Special Weapon: Seeker Falcon

The Ex-Up EOS Platform Carrier stays at the base of the 

high-rise. Make your way up the building by using Ranger-

X's Jump Jets. Cool the Jump Jets down as necessary by 

landing on the ledges of the high-rise or by using the 

Artificial Ground (A.G.) Platforms. You can find the 

Special Weapon Proton Storm three windows underneath the 

fourth Wall Artillery unit. Shoot the window to make it 

appear. Destroy all the Artillery and make your way to 

the top.

High-Rise Rooftop

The Rahuna have armed the rooftop with Pulse Rifle Gun 

Turrets! Destroy them before taking on the Reactor Core 

(there are four Gun Turrets altogether, two on the left 

and two on the right side of the rooftop). Once you take 

these out, destroy the Core Shielding Unit at the center 

of the rooftop and take on the Core!

(Boss) High-Rise Power Source: Reactor Core

Weakness: Energy Pack (looks rectangular in shape, like a 

battery of sorts)

Main Weapon: Reactor Core Defense Orb

Recommended Special Weapon: Flame Unit or Proton Storm

Tactics:  Crouch down and carefully shoot only at the 

rotating Energy Pack. Don't shoot at the Orb that rotates 

with it or else it will launch out towards you. 

Stage 5: Homeworld Capital City

Mission Objective: Repel enemy forces from the city 

Targets: Rahuna Gunships (8)

Recommended Special Weapon: Seeker Falcon

Warning: the Rahuna have taken over a capital city and 

set it up for an enemy assault. As this is a night 

mission, stealth will be the key for your success. You 

should try to avoid, if possible, the various 

searchlights that can indicate your presence to the 

enemy. To make your mission easier, also attempt taking 

out the alarm units (small video monitor-like objects). 

Lastly, spy cameras have shown a weakness with the enemy 

Gunships: they track targets too slowly.

Head right. Drop down into the gap before the first 

searchlight. Pick up the Special Weapon Plasma Blast. Go 

back all the way up and continue right past the 

searchlights until you reach the Gunship. Destroy it.

Continue right past three searchlights. Drop down the 

center opening to use a mini Power Conversion unit. Head 

back up and go right. You'll be in an open area with 

catwalks and platforms. Eliminate the three Gunships in 

this area.

Head all the way up and to the far right until you reach 

a seemingly dead-end (you can drop down a few levels to 

find a mini Power Conversion unit). Go back a little to 

the left and drop all the way down. Head right, up, 

right, down, all the way right, and then all the way up. 

You can go all the way left from here to find another 

mini Power Conversion unit. Head right and destroy the 

Gunship.

Head to the far right (up ahead, a few levels downward is 

a mini Power Conversion unit). Destroy the last two 

Gunships to continue.

Capital City Subterranean Transport Tube

Underneath the city, the Rahuna have taken control of one 

of the city's famed Transport Tubes. Your opponent looks 

very familiar...

(Boss) Rahuna Commander: Crossfire Conversion Mecha

Weakness: Pilot's Cockpit

Main Weapons:  Square Wave Fireball

Recommended Special Weapons: Proton Storm, Flame Unit, 

Seeker Fire, and Plasma Blast.

Tactics: When you first start off, you'll notice that 

your opponent is the same pilot form Stage 1, the Rahuna 

Commander. Shoot out at the center cockpit before he can 

link up with the Crossfire Mecha. When he combines with 

the Crossfire mecha, watch out! The Square Wave Fireball 

shoots out from gun turrets above and below. It travels 

in a straight line along the surface or ceiling , and 

when it has you in its trajectory, makes a perfect right 

angle turn towards you! Try leading the Fireball, then 

quickly move out of its new path as it tries to hit you. 

Your main target is the cockpit.

Unfortunately, as you destroy the Crossfire, the Rahuna 

Commander makes his escape again. But now, you have him 

in your sights...

Stage 6: Capital City Underground Factory

Mission Objectives: Penetrate Rahuna defense grid. Hunt 

down and eliminate the Rahuna Commander.

Targets: Rahuna Arachnid Plasma Turrets (11) and an 

unknown unit (1) 

Recommended Special Weapons: Varies 

Mission Notes:  Your targets are the Arachnid Plasma 

Turrets. Twelve of these units occupy the factory. The 

only way to take them out completely is to destroy all 

four of their legs, as the legs are the only known 

weakness. The Arachnids track you with a red, laser-scope 

sight.  If you get caught in the beam, the Arachnids will 

begin firing upon you with plasma blasts (your own 

Special Weapon Plasma Blast is a good defense against 

that).

Throughout the factory are Proton Barriers that inflict 

serious damage to those caught in their field. Most of 

the barriers are supported by an energy generator. 

Destroy the generators if you can, in order to shut the 

Proton Barriers off.

Also, be on the lookout for Anti-Gravity Generators. 

These can force you into positions that you don't want to 

be in.

Lastly, remember that the Ex-Up Indra only takes damage 

if you're seated inside it.

Go right, past the four shield carrying troopers (walk or 

run into them to knock their shields out). Continue right 

past the Proton Barriers (remember to take out their 

generators). When you reach the area with the floating 

mines and large Proton Barrier fields at the top and 

bottom, begin to ride atop the Ex-Up. Wait for the mines 

to move out of your path (they alternate moving up and 

down), then ride through. Continue right. Destroy the 

three Arachnids. 

Head right. In the upper area is a Proton Barrier energy 

generator. Destroy that before moving on. Otherwise, the 

Anti-Gravity Generators after it will push you into the 

Proton Barrier field. Take out the three Arachnids.

Continue right, keeping low. Take out the energy 

generator. Head right. In the upper area is another 

energy generator. Take it out to clear the way to the 

column of three Arachnids. Take them out.

Proceed right. Destroy the energy generator. Watch out 

for the Anti-Gravity generator that forces you to the 

left. Go up and towards the right through the Anti-

Gravity fields. Get the mini Power Conversion unit.

By now, the Rahuna Commander will constantly start 

attacking you from the background. Avoid his shots as 

best as you can.

Head right and destroy the energy generators (be careful 

though, as these Proton fields hold Homing Laser Mines 

that track you after you destroy them). Go all the way to 

the right until you reach another area that has Proton 

Barriers at the top and bottom. Ride Indra like you did 

before to pass through. Head right and take out the last 

two Arachnids when you reach them.

To bring the Ex-Up Indra into the last room, have it face 

left and ride atop it towards the far right. This way, it 

won't constantly bounce on the Proton Barrier block. 

Crouch down into the combined Ranger-X/Ex-Up Indra unit. 

Push down to activate the stationary Jump Jets. Guide the 

combined unit to the right.

(Boss) Rahuna Commander: Gunstar Missile Craft

Weakness: Overhead Gun Turret, Red Targeting Sensor

Main Weapons: Proton Missiles, Gun Turret, Target Bubbles 

(guided from an outside source, these yellow bubbles 

attempt to lock onto Ranger-X

Recommended Special Weapon: Proton Storm, Flame Unit, and 

Plasma Blast

Tactics: Concentrate on taking out the Overhead Gun 

Turret on top of the ship (this lowers the amount of 

attacks by the Gunstar). Dodge the missiles that launch 

out from underneath the ship. Rapidly shoot at the Red 

Targeting Sensor to finish off the Gunstar. But not the 

Commander...

You'll have to chase the Rahuna Commander's Cockpit down 

into the heart of the planet.

Spin around the Cockpit as you spiral downward towards 

the final confrontation. The Commander can still attack 

you though, so be careful. When you reach the bottom, you 

see the hostage that was taken from the Council Hall. And 

you witness a deadly transformation...

Final Boss: Rahuna Commander Bio-Creature

Weakness: Forehead area

Main Weapons: Laser shots, Defense Drones, Seeker Eagles, 

Proton Wave, Cluster Bombs, Pulse Bits

Recommended Special Weapons: Proton Storm, Flame Unit, 

and Plasma Blast

Tactics: It's recommended that you study each of the 

attacks until you find a pattern; in most cases it will 

be somewhat of an up-down movement pattern. Also, most of 

the offensive weapons can be shot at and destroyed. 

Concentrate all firepower on the forehead area of this 

massive monstrosity to destroy it. As you weaken it, its 

offensive attacks change. You can also shoot at it from 

behind (coming in contact with the lower body area won't 

damage you). Remember to utilize the Ex-Up Indra wisely.

Lay waste to this last assault from the Rahuna and 

restore harmony to Homeworld...