Goemon is a bite-sized game bursting at the seams with charm. Like gushers candy. Who doesn't like gushers? Great music, great visuals, and the gameplay?

It's a blend of solid 2D platforming along with sections that I want to liken to the River City games, even though you could probably just call them beat 'em up levels. The River City comparison mostly comes from the quirkiness and the so-bad-they're-kind-of-funny quips. The rest lies in the gameplay loop while you're in towns: beat goons, collect money, and visit shops (food/upgrades/new skills). There are also a bunch of minigames you can hang out with when you're tired of being assaulted by everything.

Strange hitboxes are a problem in a few places and there are maybe two sections of the game where you have to hit something at the right spot the correct number of times. That said, I blasted through this in one good sitting that clocked in at just over 3 hours. Minimal suffering given the amount of enjoyment I got out of that short time.

Also, shoutout to Goemon for non-traditional weapons. His smoking pipe upgrades into a yo-yo for some reason, but yo-yos own. Your gold can also be used as a projectile. Sick stuff.

Reviewed on Jan 19, 2024


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