Goemon (series): Difference between revisions

What games do most people think of when they hear the name "[[Konami]]?" ''[[Castlevania]]''? ''[[Metal Gear]]''? ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh (Animeanime)|Yu-Gi-Oh]]''? How about ''Ganbare Goemon''? No? Well, you're not alone.

'''''Ganbare Goemon''''' (known as '''''Mystical Ninja''''' in the West) is a long-running series of video games that began in 1986 with the release of ''Mr. Goemon'' for the arcade. The plots revolve around the chivalrous thief Goemon and his friends Ebisumaru, Sasuke, and Yae as they set out to defeat whatever zany villain is threatening Japan (or the universe) at the time. [[Surreal Humor]] [[Hilarity Ensues|ensues]].

Cultural barriers, mostly. One of ''Ganbare Goemon'''s biggest draws - aside from the vibrant graphics, superb music, and great gameplay - is its bizarre brand of [[Widget Series|uniquely Japanese humor]] that makes translation difficult. Within you'll find many oddities such as time-traveling transvestite nuns, bunny-obssessed shoguns, and suicidal sportsmen. There's also a great deal of anachronistic elements (such as [[Instant Awesome, Just Add Mecha|giant robots]]) that really have no place in Edo-period Japan. It's all so absurd that you'll just have to experience it for yourself.

=== '''[[Notable]] works in the franchise:''' ===

* Then there were the Super Famicom games, which returned to the original's gameplay improving upon it to make themselves the epitome of the series.

* Meanwhile, a plethora of [[Game Boy]] games have been released. Only two of them got released oversas:

** ''Ganbare Goemon: Sarawareta Ebisumaru'' (1991, [[Game Boy|GB]]): Released in Europe as part of ''Konami GB Collection Vol.3'' as ''Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon'' (2000, [[Game Boy|GBC]]). It is available worldwide on the 3DS eShop.

* The [[Play StationPlayStation]] opuses were not met with nearly as much success as the N64 games.

** ''Ganbare Goemon: Uchū Kaizoku Akogingu'' (1996, [[Play StationPlayStation|PSX]]): a 2D sidescroller, inspired from Goemon 3 SFC. It ditches long-time [[PPlayer CsCharacter|PCs]] Yae and Sasuke for two [[Replacement Scrappy]] old men.

** ''Ganbare Goemon: Kuru Nara Koi! Ayashige Ikka no Kuroi Kage'' (1998, [[Play StationPlayStation|PSX]]): a full 3D game. Hit the [[Polygon Ceiling]] pretty hard, and is widely considered the worst console Goemon game, save for its Goemon Impact sequences.

** ''Ganbare Goemon: Ōedo Daikaiten'' (2001, [[Play StationPlayStation|PSX]]): where the series went back to its 2D roots, with a 2.5D sidescroller, inspired from (and bordering on ripping off) Goemon 2 SFC.

** ''Goemon Shin Sedai Shūmei!'' (2001, [[Play StationPlayStation|PSX]]): A spinoff with a futuristic setting and a new cast, with a young spiky-haired Goemon. Fans didn't appreciate. It was ported (with many cuts) to the GBA as ''Goemon New Age Shutsudō!'' (2002, [[Game Boy Advance|GBA]]).

* ''Bōken Jidai Katsugeki Goemon'' (2000, [[Play StationPlayStation 2|PS2]]): A slightly [[Darker and Edgier]] attempt at reimagining the series, with a kid Goemon with a pet white tiger, and a more serious tone. Has cameos from long-time [[PPlayer CsCharacter|PCs]] Yae, Sasuke, and Ebisamaru. Has a complete [[Vaporware|unreleased english localization]] by [[Working Designs]].

* [[American Kirby Is Hardcore]]: When the first SNES game in the series, ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131125205739/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/goemon/goemon1sfc.jpg Ganbare Goemon: Yukihime Kyuushutsu Emaki]'' got translated and brought over to America as ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131125205739/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/goemon/mysticalninjasnesa.jpg Legend of the Mystical Ninja]'', it's boxart got redesigned to suit the more 'American Style'.

* [[Canon Dis ContinuityDiscontinuity]]: An odd case occurs in ''Ganbare Goemon 2'' for the Famicom. Certain events in ''Soreyuke Ebisumaru'' meant that the game did happen, but the issue of {{spoiler|Ebisumaru actually being a woman}} was completely ignored. This led to the growth of many [[Epileptic Trees]] that were fertilized by the revelation of {{spoiler|Ebisumaru's daughter Mao}} in ''Goemon's Great Adventure''. (It also provided [[Jumping the Gender Barrier|ammo]] to particularly creative shippers.)

** Actually, starting with Goemon 2 SFC, the townspeople would no longer harm Goemon in town, at least until he attacks someone, triggering an infinite swarm of furious cops, as a nod to previous NES-Era games... Played straight however in a town set within Goemon 2 Final Castle (which may be justifiable), and whith te platforming sections.

* [[In -Universe Game Clock]]: Featured in a few games - tougher monsters appear at night, and some side quests are available only at certain times of day.

** The two Goemon games for the Famicom, and the first one on the SNES (the localized one) has a severe case of [[Everything Trying to Kill You]], as all of the villagers, cops, fishermen (and the fish they're holding) trying to kill you. Starting with Goemon 2 SFC, this is no longer the case, but if you hit someone, you're likely to be raided by an infinite army of cops, in a nod to the earlier games. The DS game even summons more powerful cops every time you clear enough of them, some being end-game enemies. But the cops won't react if you attack a thief, or some grandmas/old men (who are much more dangerous then cops..)

* [[Shout -Out]]: The obligatory references to other Konami games. [[Castlevania|Simon Belmont]] was even a [[Guest Star Party Member]] in ''Ganbare Goemon Gaiden 2''.

** In ''Legend of the Mystical Ninja'', a kid mentioned his dad was trying to do a rain dance, but it "Ended up looking like a [[Michael Jackson (Music)|Michael Jackson]] dance."

** In ''Goemon's Great Adventure'' there's a sidequest in the Tree Stump Village involving a girl that wants to get ride of the crow tengus infesting the Wonder Valley. She asks you if you are the exterminator she hired and then she correct herself saying that said exterminator mentioned something about [[Terminator (Filmfranchise)|wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses]].

** Goemon's power up in ''Legend of the Mystical Ninja'' mimicks [[Dragon Ball (Manga)|a super saiyan transformation]].

** ''Ganbare Goemon 3'' has [[The Cameo|cameo appearances]] of [[Tokimeki Memorial|Shiori Fujisaki]] and [[Twinbee (Video Game)|Pastel]], as [http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/4429/gg3shioripastelcameos.jpg reception hostesses of the Tourist Centers].

* [[Polygon Ceiling]]: Averted with the two first localized N64 games (the third, Goemon: Mononoke Sugoroku, being a Japanese-only version of Culcept), but played horribly straight in the 3D [[PS 1]] and the Only [[PSPlayStation 2]] outings. Futuristic Punk Kid Goemon, anyone? Rumours say it was the reason Sony would not allow these to be localized. The Only redeeming factors in those outings (infamous for a blue void as a background, and horrible game designs) are its [[FM VsFMV]]s, or the Impact Battles pushing those systems to their limits.

* [[Skip of Innocence]]: Ebisumaru is a [[Gender -Inverted Trope|Rare Male Example]]. Some games (The Super Famicom ones mainly) have him skipping as a walking animation.

* [[Stalked Byby the Bell]]

* [[A Day in Thethe Limelight]]: ''Chikyū Kyūshutsu Sakusen'' is a rare occasion in which Omitsu takes an active role in the plot instead of being a cheerleader or kidnapping victim. [[Nico Nico Douga]] commenter reactions were a mixture of confusion and annoyance.

* [[You Have Failed Me...]]: In ''Anime'', Makuamuuge tires of Seppukumaru's constant screw-ups and sends him down a [[Trap Door]] to make way for newcomers Dr. Mudanashi and Mr. Protein.

* [[City of Adventure]]: Hagure Town of Edo, [[Spell My Name Withwith an "S"|variously translated as]] "Oedo Town" and "Lost'n Town."

* [[Tokyo Is the Center of Thethe Universe|Edo Is the Center of the Universe]]

* [[Sealed Evil in Aa Can]]: {{spoiler|Harakiri Seppukumaru in ''Ganbare Goemon 4'' and Dochuki in ''Goemon's Great Adventure''.}}