As a gamer who’s had more than his fair share of time spent navigating virtual worlds, I can confidently say that BAKERU has easily made its way onto my list of favorites. Having missed out on Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon back in the day, this game feels like a long-lost friend I’ve finally reconnected with.
Regardless of how many hours we dedicate to gaming, there will always be titles we’ve never experienced. Whether it’s a widely popular game or a niche favorite cherished by a passionate group, we all have moments of regret about games that slipped through our fingers. One game I believe I would have enjoyed greatly if given the chance is Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon on the Nintendo 64. During my prime years of 3D platforming, I somehow overlooked this well-adored title, which has left me feeling a tinge of sadness ever since. However, thanks to BAKERU’s heavy inspiration from it, I can now imagine myself as part of the exclusive Goemon club.
In the realm of BAKERU, our protagonist is Bakeru, a compassionate young Tanuki tribe member. When Oracle Saitaro seizes control of Japan, it’s only the Tanuki clan who remain free from his mind-controlling festivals. With the mystical powers of his drum, Bakeru is the sole hope for maintaining harmony in this enchanting reimagination of the actual world country. His journey will lead you across 47 Japanese prefectures, and may even impart a few insights about Japan’s rich culture along the way.
Each phase within BAKERU offers its own miniature universe, teeming with adversaries, coins, and trinkets. Typically, the antagonists steal the spotlight, as combats tend to outshine jumping experiences. Our hero wields drumsticks as his weapon of choice, and with a separate shoulder button for each hand gripping a stick, you’ll be rhythmically conquering challenges, one strike at a time.
The way your attacks work in BAKERU is very clever and entirely based on the drum theme. By mashing alternate attack buttons you’ll quickly and effectively bash enemies in a long combo, but if you’d rather maximise damage you can time both hands together for a more potent bonk. Charging both hands together will lead to a massive explosive drum blast, and as you progress through the game you’ll unlock more exciting attacks on top of this. I never got bored of drumming my way through various water balloon enemies, and it’s entirety thanks to this novel combat.
It isn’t all violent whacking you’ll be doing in BAKERU though, you’ll also be exploring the delightful themed worlds looking for collectables. Simple running and jumping is pretty much all you’ll need for this, but the bits and bobs you’ll find are so damn charming. Little souvenirs based on the location of the stage give you an idea of what the real equivalent locations are well known for, but these are nothing compared to the turd facts you get. Each stage has five hidden poo characters to find who will tell you something interesting (like the difference between whales and dolphins or a fact about local delicacies) and I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated a collectable more.
In BAKERU, the diversity of its stages is truly astounding. You’ve got everything from volcanoes inhabited by Oni to cruise ships, spread across more than fifty levels. The boss battles are a standout feature due to their wide array of attacks and well-balanced difficulty. Overcoming them often grants you access to their Henge form.
In the universe of BAKERU, Henge are unique power transformations that bestow an array of captivating skills upon you. The initial ability you acquire provides a hover jump and shrinks you sufficiently to navigate through minuscule passages; however, subsequent abilities are predominantly combat-oriented – converting your drumsticks into yo-yos or firearms. Exchanging one ability for another more potent version is always thrilling, but the meter depletes swiftly if not replenished with radiant orbs regularly.
Despite my enjoyment with BAKERU, it’s important to mention that it does have several areas for improvement. One significant issue lies within its performance on the Switch platform, which can occasionally be inconsistent. While this is tolerable in most parts of the game, certain stages may experience framerate hiccups that might not sit well with all players. Moreover, a few racing tracks within the game are challenging to control smoothly, and although variety is generally welcome, these tracks could have been omitted for a more polished gaming experience.
As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but be thrilled about BAKERU! From start to finish, it’s an action-packed platformer that keeps me hooked with its captivating Japan-inspired theme and engaging combat system. Diving into each world feels like an adventure, uncovering facts and treasures along the way, and I must admit, the boss fights are truly exhilarating and never fail to impress!
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2024-08-29 16:46