BAKERU is released on Nintendo Switch and PC in the West after establishing itself as a pleasant surprise confined within Japanese borders. Good-Feel’s game may not be the most mediatic, but it has everything to win you over and I’m going to show you in this BAKERU analysis.
The title doesn’t come out of nowhere. This 3D action platformer is the spiritual heir to Ganbare Goemonthe legendary and long-running Konami saga, which is now “returning” from the hand of its creator, Etsunobu Ebisu and his development studio, very close to Nintendo.
After conquering Japan, where he received the very brief title of Otogi Katsugeki Mameda no Bakeru: Oracle Saitarou no Sainan!!, Now it lands in the West as simply BAKERU (which is appreciated) with the intention of bringing the spirit of the land of the rising sun to us “western demons.”
Not in any game you can control a mecha teapot that faces a clean punch in the middle of Osaka against a delicious takoyaki giant (the octopus balls). For this and much more, it has been a pleasure for me to write this BAKERU review.
Are you fascinated by Japan, its folklore and culture? Do you want to enjoy a platform adventure without great pretensions, but that manages to surprise you with every passing minute? Then get ready to get to know this fun game in depth with the BAKERU review for Nintendo Switch and PC:
Bakeru gameplay: this is the gameplay of this “non-exclusive” Japanese game
Often, the complexity and ambition of game systems like Black Myth Wukong is not needed. A simple idea, executed with care and affection, is enough to make us enjoy for a good handful of hours. That’s what BAKERU does.
In terms of narrative, we are faced with a simple game that puts us in the shoes of the eponymous tanuki magical, a lazy hero who receives the “humble” request from a little fairy: save a fantasy Japan affected by a terrible festival which turns everyone into a brainless person.
Bakeru will have to transform into a human and request the help of several mythical heroes of Japanese culture such as Momotaro to collect powers. hengebecome stronger and thus face all dangers.
For this we have to overcome linear levels with a scent of games like Super Mario 3D World or Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Good Feel already knows what it’s like to work with Nintendo on titles like Yoshi’s Crafted World or Princess Peach: Showtime! and Here you will find some of that Nintendo essence.
Bakeru has to deal with small darumasall kinds of creatures taken from the cult Shintoist and even aggressive ones kendoka using two curious weapons: the bachi (the drumsticks) of the traditional drums known as taiko.
From here it is established a very simple and slightly rhythm-based combat system with the coordinated use of each bachi depending on which console trigger we use. We only have a few attacks at our disposal, but they are powerful and we will finish off the enemies really quickly.
BAKERU toys at times with the idea of being a beat em up three-dimensional due to the number of battles it puts on the table, but it comes closer to platforms to be deeper, more varied and, above all, fun. The goal is not to fall and not to lose all your hearts.
There are several Henge powers that we can activate for a limited time so that Bakeru can transform, acquiring powers such as giant hands, a fishing rod capable of eliminating groups of enemies, or shrinking in size to pass through burrows and other remote places.
These powers are simple, but effective and They bring freshness to the gameplayalthough it is true that they alter the balance of the game too much in terms of difficulty. Everything is extremely easy when you are transformed.
While the objective of each level is always the same (break three paper lanterns to purge a tower), throughout the fifty challenges that the game has You will be able to experiment with the use of powers henge and explore each level to find its many collectibles.
And I’m sure you’ve already realized, but BAKERU is a love letter to Japan and its culture. Each level is set in one of the country’s 47 prefectures. and refers to the traditions of each city and town, as well as its coasts and mountains (which we explore using a very attractive map).
You can walk around Nara and beat up its deer, visit cities like Kyoto or Fukuoka, travel to faraway Okinawa and even tour the north of the snowy island of Hokkaido; but on top of that The game takes the trouble to tell you the history and identity of each place.
This is achieved through the various collectibles available. In each level, you can find three typical souvenirs from the area and five small pieces of information related to it, focusing on the gastronomy, rituals or customs of each place. Many of them are not easy to obtain.
So you can know that the eel eel It is the specialty of Shizuoka, in Okayama they make some Kibi Dango of delicious peach or that in the town of Arita in Saga is known for its Imari porcelain of exquisite quality.
Nevertheless, BAKERU’s great success comes with the design of its levelsThe first few aren’t too impressive, but the game just keeps getting bigger and bigger as you progress, featuring some truly large, intricate and well-structured ones.
The game manages to make sure you never get bored. and when you’ve already played a few linear levels, it changes gears by offering aerial combat phases on rails, aquatic races and other classic ideas that fulfill their purpose perfectly.
In addition, it also presents boss battleswhich include crazy boxing matches inspired by the kaiju and highlights, a recurring theme in Goemon’s games, and one that fans of the Konami series will surely appreciate. These battles may not be the most fluid due to their slowness and the crude combat system, but they are once again a fun way to get started.
And I insist that variety is what I liked most. Each level is an adventure and You will always want to play one more. Although it is true that there are some other aspects that could have been improved that could have turned the game into a benchmark title.
The story is nothing special and the fact that only be in english can make some players get lost. The item purchasing system is simple and there are not too many incentives to get coins in the levels and the camera is too stiff.
Duration: How many hours does Bakeru last?
Completing BAKERU should not take you more than 10 hoursThe game offers a slightly longer duration than expected, which also depends a lot on your playing style and how many times you are defeated in the many levels it has.
It must be said that Completion players can enjoy a few more hours (maybe up to 3pm), if what you want is to get all the collectibles and find the secrets hidden in each of the game’s challenges.
Is Bakeru a difficult game?
We are dealing with a game designed for all types of players (including the youngest members of the family), so it does not have among its goals to establish an extremely complicated challenge. Therefore, Bakeru is not too difficult a game.
However, it does have moments when Your skill will make the difference And I have to say that I have bitten the dust more than I expected, although I have never felt frustrated by the levels it offers.
Overall, Bakeru strikes a great balance in offering an accessible and challenging adventure at the same time, but it is true that the use of powers henge It makes everything absolutely ridiculously easy and makes you practically invincible if you use them frequently.
Bakeru Price, Editions, Platforms and Content in the West
BAKERU is available on Nintendo Switch and PC for a price of 39.99 euros in digital format starting September 3, 2024. The premiere has not confirmed any type of physical edition beyond the one existing in Japan, which is a shame.
And even though there are no editions beyond the standard one, Western players have been “lucky” enough to receive a version with some improvements compared to the Japanese one, such as Three new attacks and a new enemy.
Let the drums roll!
BAKERU establishes itself as a highly fun and original classic adventuredesigned for all fans of Japanese culture. The simplicity of its combat makes it a friendly game, ideal for unwinding and returning to those classic 3D proposals that we have always loved so much.
Good Feel’s game has a delicious Nintendo scent that can be to hook platform-loving gamers and its overflowing and colorful visual section makes each and every level deeply enjoyable.
I’ve barely experienced any technical issues and, apart from the occasional frame drop on the Nintendo Switch, the game runs smoothly. It’s not very demanding in this area either, although in terms of graphics it’s more ambitious than it might seem.
It’s not perfect, and BAKERU certainly isn’t going to blow your mind with its approach, but there’s something I didn’t expect at this point from a game of its characteristics, and that’s the fact that it surprises me so much with its variety.
For the originality of each level, for its deep affection for that more folkloric part of Japan and the way he uses this to express his ideas, Bakeru is as powerful as a drumming session with Taiko no Tatsujin. Enjoy!Ittekimasu!
