Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), Nintendo Switch
Genre: 3D action platformer, 2000s, throwback, Goemon successor

Most people know developer Good-Feel as the folks who gave us Kirby’s Epic Yarn for the Nintendo Wii and those Yoshi platformers with the yarn and sequins as aesthetics. What many folks do not realize is that before all that, the company’s founder Etsunobu Ebisu was the mastermind behind one of Japan’s hidden gaming treasures: the Ganbare Goemon series. Essentially 2D and 3D platformer titles set in feudal Japan, you play as a ninja who has to fight evil monsters and mystics in hectic action-adventure format, with a little bit of JRPG, puzzles, and mecha fights thrown in for good measure.

Why is this history lesson relevant? Because Bakeru is that series’ successor and the company’s attempt at a throwback. Since they can’t get the name back from Konami, they might as well start anew with a 3D platformer with a new gimmick while staying true to glorifying and romanticizing Japan in its medieval prime. And it’s one that gives this new title a bit of an oomph.

Have Drumsticks, Will Travel

The premise for this throwback 3D platformer is simple: you play as a pompadour-sporting tanuki kid named Bakeru who has to stop an evil oracle from ruining all of Japan. So off he goes with his pal Sun of the Issun clan to travel cross-country through Japan’s 47 prefectures in a fantasy Edo-slash-modern hybrid era and fight his way through the oracle’s hordes and possessed denizens using his taiko bachi sticks and drums. Wait, what?

Bakeru literally drums his opponents to death, as you input the left and right bumpers (Xbox controls) to attack with the left and right bachi sticks respectively. While you can just stick to hitting enemies with either stick, the fun comes when you alternate between the bumper attack buttons. Hitting enemies with a left-and-right rhythm will speed you up, give you some invincibility, and lets you dash up-close automatically to the closest target and wail on them. If you time your hits right, you can automatically kill enemies in sequence without needing to manually move Bakeru; that’s a pretty neat mechanic especially when you somehow lost momentum in your movement and need to go back up to speed. Some bosses do require you to master this simple technique as they can get pretty mobile and require a lot of chasing.

Holding down LB and RB and letting go unleashed a ground pound attack that also uncovers hidden secrets buried in the ground. Not only that, he can also dodge oncoming attacks and parry them with his taiko drum (ala Right Trigger). The game throws a good number of curveballs at you with its variety of enemies from kendo-wielding goons to ghost-possessed grunts who toss double the projectiles without warning at you. Parrying will help reflect these obstacles back to them, so it’s important that you get the hang of combat. Luckily, the controls are very tight and responsive enough to allow you to perform simple feats of combat without issues.

Bakeru can also shapeshift into different attack forms granted by bosses he defeats on his Japan tour. These open up his arsenal, ranging from an armoured form with E.Honda style giant hand slaps that work well against close crowds, to a pair of fishing rods that let you pelt enemies from a far distance, pelting enemies mid-distance like a yo-yo. One transformation lets you shrink down to the size of an ant; while you’re defenseless, you are fast and can squeeze through small doors and openings.

These transformations take up Henge energy which can be amassed from defeated foes and destructible props. The game’s pretty generous with these rainbow power-ups, so that you’re encouraged to go all-out with these transformations without much punishment. In fact, the game throws a lot of big-bodied enemies at you so you’ll need to deal with them quick with your transformations. Of course, if you fancy a big challenge, you could go through an entire stage without transforming, but you would be missing the point of Bakeru’s design: to have fun in Good-Feel’s vision of a utopia Japan that’s halfway in the middle ages but advanced enough to feature steampunk elements.

It’s not just combat you have to get acclimatized with; you also have a sprawling 47 prefectures to explore, with each of them having you destroy three evil purple lanterns before you can bang the literal goalpost to complete the stage. Bakeru will have to go through some platforming, door-opening, and even do some races and rail-shooting segments using his dog vehicle buddy. Midway in the game, you also get a flying tea kettle as a mothership which also transforms into a mecha to fight some of Bakeru’s bigger bosses. The variety and mish-mash work here and don’t feel schizophrenic because of the many levels you get to play in, each with their own themes and designs. Be it a tall Edo-era castle to scale or a beach area with a chillax vibe, to even street areas with rickshaw drivers trying to veer you off course, Bakeru’s levels delight and excite, but also ease you in before introducing you to new level gimmicks.

The only major issue? Bakeru’s stages feel less like hardcore challenges and more like sightseeing. Much like the holiday vibe of the game, Bakeru and his tiny pal Sun can take their time strolling through the stage with not much of a time limit to burden them. Even with some racing bits and gauntlets, these challenges will not tax you hard. Some bosses do require more than one playthrough to get the hang of their patterns, but nothing in the way that will frustrate you. The game’s checkpoint system is generous, and you can amass money in the game to buy upgrades that increase your health or support items you can trigger on the fly. If you’ve at least played one 3D platformer even for 20 minutes, you’ll get into Bakeru real quick. That said, the game’s 8 to 10 hour runtime is satisfying, with replayability in the form of collectibles in each of the prefectures that will bump up your playtime.

Beating Your Own Drum

With a bunch of neat levels and charismatic themes, as well as fun boss battles that require you to parry like a champ, right down to the smooth and tight controls, Bakeru is a fun 3D throwback ride for those who yearn for a 2000s-esque style challenge and colourful ride through a fantastical & cheery-looking Japan. Some levels do feel a bit samey and can get pretty easy half the time, but Bakeru doesn’t wear out its welcome with padding and will entertain you hours on end with its bright demeanour and tribute to Japan. Overall, a weab’s delight.

Pros

• Fun vibe and aesthetics, giving much love to Japan & its culture.
• Great controls.
• Combat is simple, fast, and frenetic, with transformations to liven things up.
• Level variety & boss fights adds more energy to your playthrough.

Cons

• Levels can get repetitive.
• Can get easy half the time.

Final Score: 80/100

Review copy provided by publisher.