Developer: Konami Publisher: Konami Release: 01/04/89 Genre: Action-Adventure
My history with the Goemon series like many is random as hell. Legend of the Mystical Ninja was my introduction as it was the first to be localized. Like nearly all who played it I fell in love with the game but sadly we would not get any of the Super Famicom sequels. In fact it was not until the Nintendo 64 that Konami would give Goemon another chance. It made the transition to 3d better than most but Konami would put the series on ice once again. In the meantime the rise of the internet allowed me to learn about the entire franchise and to revisit those previously unattainable games. Ganbare Goemon! Karakuri Dōchū established many of the tropes we would come to love these games for. Ganbare Goemon 2 is more of the same. And you know what? I am okay with that.
Goemon and Ebisumaru are rotting in jail, obviously for their thieving ways when Ebi mentions that a great treasure inside Karakuri Castle. With nothing better to do the pair break out of jail to seek out the riches that lie in wait. Ganbare Goemon 2 does not stray from the formula set up by its predecessor. But it does include two-player coop, a feature that would go on to become a series staple.
The later Goemon games have an everything but the kitchen sink approach to their design. They are not afraid to throw giant mecha alongside sumo wrestlers and take trips to outer space with no explanation. That goofy tone begins here. You can sneak in to the women’s baths, sleep in a barn if you are broke, buy cartridges that change the enemies to other Konami games, and even get sent to hell if you are not careful. There are different gags in between levels of Goemon distributing his stolen goods that are funny too. None of this stuff is mandatory but it gives Goemon 2 flavor. I am glad they kept this tone for the later games. It helps to separate the Goemon games from the other action games of the era and leads to some truly out there scenarios. Not that it needed it of course.
In terms of gameplay Ganbare Goemon 2 is near identical to its predecessor. In each stage you collect beat enemies over the head to build gold you can spend on numerous amenities. Food restores health slightly, armor reduces damage, occasionally you can even buy extra lives. In most levels you must once again find three passes to open the checkpoint to complete the level. This time however the game relies less on hidden passages and usually places them in the 3d mazes in each level. There is one exception; level five forces you to buy all of them and they are expensive. The one sore point of the first game was its lack of end level bosses. Nearly half the levels end in a unique boss fight this time which offers a reprieve from finding passes and is a welcome change.
Karakuri Dōchū confined its adventure to one prefecture in Japan. Ganbare Goemon 2 sees you travel the whole country which does wonders for visual variety. Each level is distinct and in addition their sections have names to make exploration easier. The various changes make for a brisk adventure compared to the original. That is until the final level which is a multi-floor behemoth with various challenges that I wish were sprinkled throughout the rest of the game. You have mazes, puzzles, and boss battles all in one stage that makes the finale feel epic. But you know, baby steps.
The difficulty is notably lower than the first game. Gold coins are abundant and there are fewer enemies in every level. There are so many shops and ways to refill health that it is all but impossible to die. This is good as the hit detection is spotty and the need to be at the edge of the screen to scroll will lead to cheap hits. Even though there are bosses their patterns are simple and even the boss gauntlet at the end is nothing. Since you spend less time searching for passes in hidden caves you no longer need to dawdle earn gold to buy hourglasses to extend your time. The clock is extremely generous to the point it might as well not exist. Most importantly you have continues this time, correcting one of the most egregious flaws of Karakuri Dōchū.
In Closing
Ganbare Goemon 2 is more of the same great gameplay you loved in the first game. That is not a bad thing as I really liked that game. If you are expecting a game that reinvents the formula with all new features look elsewhere. But if you want a good action game that is this side of wacky seek this one out. The manic tone Goemon is famous for begins here and only gets nuttier as the series progresses and I am here for it.
