August 2026 ~ Ganbare Goemon 2: Kiteretsu Shougun McGuinness
This month was JF's pick: I picked this game because I played the original on SNES when I was young. I remembered the pixel art and general vibe to be unlike anything else on the system and felt more like something that could only be created in Japan, moreso than any other games I had played at the time. I was the only one I knew who even knew it existed, and that felt special. Now an adult, I tried to replay the original and failed, not having enough patience to get through it. I hoped that the sequel wouldn't prove to be as defeating.
Platform: SNES
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Release Date: 1993
Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Platformer
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JF's Thoughts
When I started to play the sequel of a game that I have lots of nostalgia for, I was expecting for much of the same, but only better.
At first, this seemed to be the case until I fought my first mech boss. I found it an interesting touch, and found he had a trick, and I beat him and it felt like a welcome change, but I thought the mech was a one-off. Little did I know, the game keeps throwing the mechs at you, and I found myself dreading fighting them.
Unfortunately, the levels also started feel less fun to me and I found myself having to push myself to get through the game. I was not looking forward to it much at all.
All that said, the art style and the vibes were much of the same as the original, which is where my praise ends for the game. The gameplay was enjoyable at moments, but I ended up finding it to be a grind that was only sometimes enjoyable.
In the end, I'm happy to have managed to beat the game, which I can't say about the original. So I suppose it was a little more forgiving, just enough to keep me playing.
Presentation/Vibes: 9.5/10
Gameplay: 3.5/10
Level Design: 3/10
Captivation: 2.5/10
Total: 18.5/40 (4.5/10)
Quang's Thoughts
I've played a couple of Goemon games before this one, namely "The Legend of the Mystical Ninja", which is the first SNES one and the first one localized in North America at the time. Not having played much of it (probably due to its incredible difficulty based, if my recent experience with the sequel is anything to go by), I jumped over to the N64 one titled "Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon". I honestly don't remember it that much, but Goemon and his friends had just so much charm that I had to at least try them when I saw them. Being a closeted weeb at the time, I loved everything remotely Japanese-y. Needless to say, I was excited to jump back into this world, fully committed to trying my best to beat this game. It being the first of our monthly challenge, I was extremely motivated to do it right from the get-go. Oh how naive I was...
Graphics: 9/10
I was first struck by its gorgeous pixel art. Even from the title screen. So vibrant. Jumping straight into the character select screen, you're presented with three huge renditions of the selectable characters: Ebisumari, the titutlar Goemon and Sasuke. I remember just soaking that in for a while, appreciating all the work that was put into a character select screen!
The art in this game is consistent throughout the (spoilers) two full areas I completed. The first area ends with a mad dash across a town in a mech (you heard that right), wreaking as much havoc as you can, before you encounter the first mech boss battle.
Sound: 8/10
The music in this game has an Edo-era Japan flare, but with classic SNES butt-rock thrown in as well. It pairs beautifully. My favourite song from the extent that I played happened to be from the level that was my death knell, "Dragon Lake", the first level from Area 3.
It sounds so reminiscent of the Power Rangers theme. The level was otherworldly frustrating, but man I loved it when that riff came on.
Due to my lack of gamer skill, I could not finish this game and it saddens me that I could not continue to experience the soundtrack as I was playing it. I feel like when you really sit with a game and spend hours with it, you really appreciate good music and sound design.
It doesn't hit the same when you're just listening to it passively, without the memories that it evokes to go along with it. Nonetheless, the soundtrack is a treat from start to finish if you'd like to give it a listen.
Gameplay: 3/10
This game for all its charm was incredibly difficult. I fully admit that I am not the best gamer in my circle of friends and family, but there were a lot of moments in this game that just seemed completely unfair. One example is the final level that I completed: Tthe first level in the third area where you have to ride a dragon. An absolutely beautiful level to look at and listen to but it was extremely unforgiving. It was never really clear to me where you can step on the dragon and how it would effect your jump on or off it. There came a point in the level where it looked like the dragon was leading you up and above the playing area, akin to a Mario level, but no that's actually not the case. And the window to this section properly was so small, I can't imagine the frustration it must've been for someone who wasn't save scumming and playing on an emulator. I spent over 45 minutes attempting to get up there before I looked at a play through to see that you could not.
There was just a lot moments like that sprinkled throughout the game. The mech boss battles forces your timing to be exact. I feel like they knew how balls to the wall difficult they were that they included a hint system! I can't imagine how difficult the later levels must've been, having not had the patience to make it through. It's really too bad as it soured my experience quite a bit.
On a positive note, the controls felt very tight, outside of the dragon where I couldn't predict where it was going, controlling any of the characters and the mech was completely competent.
Vibes: 7/10
Immaculate. This game oozes Edo-era Japan and 90s anachronisms. Incredibly zany. Visiting the towns in every area was particularly fun, seeing all the different shops and hitting the townsfolk to envoke their rage. After my frustrating turn through level one of area three, I took a stroll down to the secret amusement park in area two where you can play mini-games (including one with a nod to next month's game!). It's things like this that I love seeing in older games.
Final* Verdict: 6.5/10
Before you take out your pitchforks, yes, I'm aware 27/4 is 6.75. But rounding up to 7 felt wrong to me and rounding down to 6 felt a little extreme. And when was the last time you a .75 in a review score? Thus I landed on 6.5. Also the asterisk is because I did not finish it.
The graphics, sound and vibes carried this experience for me. I really wish I had more patience to get through the rest of the game as I would've loved to see the sights and sounds of the newer areas, but again, and you'll hear this excuse often, my life at the moment just doesn't afford me to bang my head endlessly against the proverbial wall.
Lamp's Thoughts
I was really excited when JF picked Goemon 2 as our first Retro Video Game Book Club game because I have a very fond childhood memory playing The Legend Of The Mystical Ninja with my cousin one afternoon. I don't remember how much of it we actually played, but I remember how much fun I had and just how much there was to do in each town like gambling and even a level of Gradius.
I had no idea Mystical Ninja even had a sequel until Nintendo released the SNES Classic Mini and I was looking to play new games on it. I found out there were 3 sequels released only in Japan thanks to SNES Drunk on YouTube.
I enjoyed this game up until the third world where you have to ride a dragon while jumping from its head to tail to avoid falling into the pit, all while dodging and attacking enemies, and jumping from platform to platform. While you're doing all of this, there's lightning and an epic guitar playing. I died too many times to count because I had a lot of issues just staying on that dragon. I first thought this could be one of the most memorable levels in a SNES game, but it proved to be too frustrating to enjoy and it ultimately set the tone for the rest of my experience playing this game.
Goemon 2 has all the tools to be a game I'd love. The graphics, sound, presentation, and charm are all high quality, but the level design and mech boss battles are actually what I enjoyed the least, and those are the most important aspects of a game. The mech boss battles left little to no room for error, and are why I stopped playing at the second last boss. It's a shame because I find the mech fights the most creative boss fights in the 16 bit era.
I enjoy challenging games, but I enjoy when I can get through difficult spots with skill. I often didn't feel like I was playing Goemon 2; I felt like I was playing Simon Says, which I am terrible at.
Even though I didn't enjoy my time playing this game after the second world, I still think this game is worth trying.