Starring the lovably lazy titular tanuki himself, studio Good-Feel’s Bakeru is a game that proudly wearsits cultural rootson its sleeves, especially when it comes to folklore, but the cultural tidbit that’s most integral to the gameplay in thisspiritual successorto the Ganbaru Goemon series is without a doubt the transformation mechanic.
It’s so important, in fact, that the word for which the game is titled, bakeru, literally means “to transform” in Japanese. That being said, not every transformation is created equal, so we’ve meticulously ranked them all to find out which form suits Bakeru best.
6Giant Robot Bunpuku
Limited Usability, But Fun, Nonetheless
Unfortunately, the Bunpuku only transforms into tokusatsu mode during specific boss fights, but under technicality, it is a transformation, and you do get to play as a giant tanuki-themed tea kettle robot when it happens, so there’s that.
Outside of the fact that youwon’t be able to access this form at willduring the main game, the biggest downside tothe giant robotBunbuku is that it controls like a giant tea kettle. That is to say, this thing is seriously clunky. That’s fine for the most part, since the bosses in Bakeru are usually designed around that control style, but when compared to the other tools in Bakeru’s arsenal, this one is mostly just for show.
While most of the giant robot fights in Bakeru are designed with the limitations of this form in mind, there is exactly one boss that we need to warn you about if you haven’t played the game yet. The Sakurajima Dai-Con fight can be extra frustrating thanks to an imposed time limit and some very hard to block attack patterns, so go into that particular fight ready for it to take a few tries.
5Issun Henge
Certified Little Guy Energy - Literally
The most prominent transformations in the game must be unlocked via license from a fairy tale hero and are called henge, which roughly translates in English to “variant” or “morph.” Of the four basic henge in the game, the first one you’ll be given a license for is, perhaps unsurprisingly, also the most limited in terms of utility.
Sun’s henge gifts Bakeru with the ability to shrink down to micro-size and fit into otherwise nontraversable gaps. That does make it useful for finding secrets, but since you can’t attack in this form, you’re also putting yourself in immediate danger every time you use it.
4Kintaro Henge
Is It Kids Day Already?
Taking control of what is essentially a tinyMobile Suit, the legendary golden boy Kintaro, child of superhuman strength, offers you the chance to beef up Bakeru’s attacks in exchange for reduced agility and a larger hit box. The drawbacks here aren’t much to write home about when compared to the raw power this henge offers, but unfortunately, neither is the power itself.
Because most enemies in Bakeru can’t take much of a beating to begin with, the Kintaro Henge doesn’t really offer much that you can’t already do. There are a few situations where you might consider bringing it out, but for the most part, this transformation will probably go unused.
3Ningen/Human
It Counts
Bakeru doesn’t actually look like a person all of the time, technically speaking. He only actually transforms into his human form once the Issun clan sends Sun to ask the Tanuki clan for assistance, though he does retain that form for the rest of the playtime once that happens.
In human form, Bakeru is incredibly capable, more so than he is in the Issun or Kintaro henge by a country mile. He’s agile, has great attack variety, and has a very satisfying block that makes great use of the purifying taiko drum and its mystical powers. Oddly enough, that means that the default “transformation” is among the best in the game.
2Momotaro Henge
Peaches, Peaches, Peaches Peaches Peaches
Born in a giant peach, Momotaro was a hard worker who eventually dispelled the demons of demon island all on his own, and now, thanks to some rad roller skates and a rockin' pair of twin pistols, you may, too!
Being able totarget and shoot down large groups of enemieswith the peach pistols feels phenomenal and tends to come in handy with how many hordes of enemies the late-game levels throw your way. The only downsides are how fast this henge drains the meter and the roller skates being a bit hard to control.
1Urashimataro Henge
Gone Fishin'
There’s no easy way to say this, but Urashimataro’s henge is the best transformation in the gamebecause it’s overpowered. The twin fishing poles are meant to be a good option for enemies that are just out of reach, or that need to be stunned to hit, but if you spam the attack button while in this form, you can pretty much clear out the entire playing field without so much as breaking a sweat.
It also happens that killing enemies in this form fills the gauge faster than the form itself drains it, so if the transformation you really want in Bakeru is the one that makes you an unkillable god, Urashimataro’s henge has got you covered, and nothing else even comes close.
