Summary
I grew up withNintendo 64. Games likeSuper Mario 64andThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timewere foundational in shaping my gaming tastes, but a little-known title called Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon did even more than those games ever did.
Goemon was unequivocally Japanese — more so than anyNintendofirst-party games — and it was my first introduction to such a vastly different culture. I got to climb Mt. Fuji, fight off Hannya dolls, and gorge myself on onigiri. I’d never seen anything like it, and I was fixated.
While Konami eventually reduced the Goemon series to pachinko machines, a spiritual successor rose from the ashes —Bakeru, with Tadanori Tsukawaki and Goemon veteran Ebisu Etsunobu at the helm.
Following itsWestern release in September, I got to interview the Good-Feel team as part ofTokyo Game Showlast month about the process of creating this new title featuring atransforming tankuki.
Japanese Through And Through
As a country, Japan is split into 47 different prefectures, and the team at Good-Feel set itself the task of having protagonist Bakeru visit each and every one, something which Tsukawaki-san called “a tough challenge.”
“Since each prefecture would be turned intoan action stage, we couldn’t let the themes alone take the lead,” Tsukawaki explains. “So, we first focused on planning out the gameplay elements. After that, we matched it with the game’s progression and story, selecting themes based on the designated real-life locations. Then we visualized the combination of gameplay and location, and gradually built the core of the level design.”
We always prioritize gameplay ideas first and then find motifs and settings that fit.
Tsukawaki-san says that, of the stages he designed, the one set in Kyoto is his favorite.
“We worked on the art for this stage early on, and it was where we solidified the direction for the Japanese-inspired world of Bakeru so it holds a special place for me. I also really like how we combined the ‘forced scrolling’ mechanic with the Gion Festival theme.”
Alongside its stages, Tsukawaki-san tells me the team wanted to “instantly evoke Japan” through Bakeru’s soundtrack.
“The process of creating the soundtrack started with researching traditional Japanese music, festival songs, and the unique regional music from different parts of Japan. Using that as a base, we moved forward by arranging the music to fit each scene, and avoided limiting ourselves to specific genres.”
Marching To The Beat Of His Own Drum
Titular protagonist Bakeru wields a drum to defeat enemies, something that Tsukawaki-san says was given a lot of thought, considering it’s different from the games that inspired Bakeru decades prior.
“The reason we chose the drum is because we wanted this title to be enjoyable for a wide audience, including kids. Since the protagonist is a young Tanuki boy, it didn’t feel right, both in terms of the story and visuals, for him to wield weapons like swords to defeat enemies.” But that wasn’t the only reason.
“We always prioritize gameplay ideas first and then find motifs and settings that fit,” he tells me. “We had the idea of creating attack actions where the right and left hands operate independently, so using drumsticks in both hands for attacks made sense both in terms of design and logic. By also envisioning the drum as a shield, we could meet other combat demands as well.”
If there’s a sequel, I’d love to explore an even more stylized version of Japan, as there are still so many unique places left to feature.
The drum, or taiko as it’s known natively, also helped the team give Bakeru its distinctly Japanese feel.
“In Japan, the sound of a drum is said to ward off evil spirits, so we made it a tool that only works against bad entities. A drum is also a familiar instrument worldwide, making it easy for players to imagine.”
With a clear emphasis on Japan, I rounded off my chat by asking Ebisu-san and Tsukawaki-san if they’d ever consider a sequel set further afield, with both unanimously agreeing, no.
“If there’s a sequel, I’d love to explore an even more stylized version of Japan, as there are still so many unique places left to feature,” Tsukawaki-san says, which, given how much this, and many of Ebisu-san’s previous titles, explore the Land of the Rising Sun makes perfect sense.
Bakeru
WHERE TO PLAY
Bakeru’s adventure begins in this Japan-esque Wild Action Game!Disaster strikes Japan!Oracle Saitaro and his Festival Troops are using a bizarre festival to take over Japan. Bakeru travels to 47 Japanese prefectures to free Japan from the grip of evil spirits!Spectacular action set in fairy tale Japan!Bakeru takes place in “Fairy Tale Japan,” a mix of modern Japan and old period dramas, which is divided into more than 50 stages.Battle on with Bakeru’s drum!A secret treasure passed down by Tanuki Clan. It is said to be able to purify evil spirits. Fight through enemies and traps with simple controls!Transform into fairy tale heroes!By obtaining a Henge License, Bakeru can transform into whoever gave him the license. Transform into famous Japanese heroes like Kintaro and Momotaro to use their skills and abilities.Additional features have been added to the Steam release・New Attack: Hurricane・New Attack: Spinning Top・New Attack: Hurricane + Spinning Top Combo・Additional Enemy: Lantern BossAbout the gameplay・Play as Bakeru and use your “Henge” powers of transformation to overcome stage obstacles and enemies.・Features over 47 stages based on the prefectures of Japan, each with their own unique motifs.・Includes variant stages where you transform into a vehicle and race off or take to the skies for air combat!
