BAKERU

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 117 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
BAKERU Game Cover
BAKERU blends smooth platforming with incredible combat (and a plethora of gameplay variety) to create one of the most fun games I’ve played in a while.
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"Bakeru" is an action-packed game set in "Fairy Tale Japan," where you must travel to 47 prefectures to defeat evil spirits and free Japan. Wielding the drum of the Tanuki Clan, battle enemies and traps with simple controls, and transform into famous Japanese heroes like Kintaro and Momotaro using Henge Licenses. The Steam release includes new attacks and an additional Lantern Boss for heightened challenges.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 117 reviews
gameplay13 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • BAKERU is a charming and colorful 3D platformer that successfully captures the spirit of classic games like Ganbare Goemon, offering polished gameplay and engaging mechanics.
  • The game features a variety of levels inspired by different prefectures of Japan, filled with collectibles and trivia that enhance the exploration experience.
  • Combat is fun and intuitive, with a unique drum-based attack system that allows for creative combos and strategies, making battles enjoyable and satisfying.
  • The level design can feel repetitive and lacks significant challenge, which may disappoint players looking for a more demanding experience.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, such as the transformation abilities, are underutilized, leading to a feeling of missed potential in the game's design.
  • The story and character development are minimal, which may leave players wanting more depth and engagement beyond the platforming and combat.
  • gameplay41 mentions

    The gameplay of Bakeru is characterized by a vibrant mix of platforming and beat-'em-up mechanics, offering a fun and engaging experience with colorful levels and peppy music. While the game features a variety of gameplay elements, including racing sections and collectibles, some players feel it lacks depth and innovation, leading to a somewhat simplistic experience. Overall, the game is polished and enjoyable, appealing to fans of classic platformers, though it may not fully realize its potential.

    • “The gameplay of Bakeru combines linear 3D platforming with beat-'em-up combat.”
    • “A light-hearted adventure with fun and engaging gameplay through and through.”
    • “Bakeru gameplay is fast-paced and very satisfying; controls are responsive and it's very fun to play.”
    • “On one hand it’s polished and technically competent, but on the other, it’s just so uninspired in actual gameplay and design.”
    • “The game never reaches its full potential and doesn’t use any of its mechanics effectively.”
    • “Bakeru doesn’t care to go above and beyond to deliver a genre-defining experience, as it stagnates early on and leaves the player to explore its numerous levels devoid of inventive gameplay.”
  • music28 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its upbeat and catchy compositions, blending Japanese, Western, and synthetic instruments to create a vibrant soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the nostalgic and playful atmosphere reminiscent of classic titles, with many finding themselves humming the tunes long after playing. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.

    • “Good platformers seem to be few and far between nowadays, and Bakeru has that Japanese quirkiness, happy music, and great gameplay mechanics the genre is known for.”
    • “The music is absolutely fantastic, and the charming graphics give it a nostalgic vibe.”
    • “Thematically, visually, and musically, I find this game to be a gem; I couldn't help but smile and laugh as I played it.”
    • “The music is alright, there isn't that much but it fits the stages well.”
    • “Thing is, I wish it had more of the mystical ninja music feel to it and the open world feel.”
    • “The music is very upbeat with equal amounts of Japanese, Western, and synthetic instruments used in its compositions (I particularly like the Okinawa level music).”
  • graphics25 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and colorful art style that draws inspiration from traditional Japanese aesthetics, reminiscent of classic titles like Goemon and Super Mario 3D World. While the technical aspects may not impress due to lower-poly models, the overall design and visual distinctiveness of each level enhance the experience, especially on platforms like PC where performance options are robust. Players appreciate the nostalgic vibe and the game's ability to deliver a visually engaging experience despite its graphical limitations.

    • “Super fun combat, really great art/graphics.”
    • “The music is absolutely fantastic, and the charming graphics give it a nostalgic vibe.”
    • “The graphics are a simple, colorful affair with almost every object and surface stylized to look like a traditional festival.”
    • “While the visuals won't wow you on a technical level (definitely lower-poly models being used to accommodate its original Switch release), its art style does most of the heavy lifting.”
    • “The only thing here is the graphics.”
  • story21 mentions

    The story in this game is generally perceived as simplistic and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting it feels shallow and underdeveloped, often relying on clichés and stereotypes. While some appreciate the light-hearted tone and engaging characters, the overall narrative fails to resonate, leaving players wanting more substance and meaningful storytelling. Despite its shortcomings, the game is still enjoyed for its charming experience and fun gameplay.

    • “The story is fairly straightforward, but there's a good cast of characters to keep things lively the whole way through.”
    • “The story is simple and lighthearted.”
    • “The action is good, the story isn't too shabby, and the lore is intertwined with Japan as a whole.”
    • “The former game had clichés and stereotypes, but it actually did something with them that approached telling a story.”
    • “It simply does not feel like the developers had a story to tell.”
    • “Overall, I am very dissatisfied with this game; the art and everything amazing has been wasted on poor storytelling, poor level layout, and poor enemy design.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game's optimization is highly praised, with most players experiencing a stable 60fps and only occasional dips into the high 40s. It offers various performance options, including locked 30fps, 60fps, and uncapped framerate settings, significantly improving upon the performance issues found on the Switch. Overall, the optimization is considered excellent, enhancing the gaming experience on Steam.

    • “Performance is amazing: supporting locked 30fps, 60fps, and uncapped framerate options, as well as other graphical settings you can adjust.”
    • “I'm so happy this game is on Steam, so I don't have to deal with the Switch's performance issues!”
    • “It does have some performance dips into the high 40s at worst, but most of the time it is just a flat 60fps.”
    • “I'm so happy this game is on Steam so I don't have to deal with the Switch's performance issues.”
    • “The game was made to run on Switch, so the performance is much higher here.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where it consistently achieves around 60fps at high settings without any stutters. Users report a smooth experience with an uncapped framerate, making it a reliable choice for players on this platform.

    • “It runs great on the LCD model of the Steam Deck - mostly 60fps at the highest settings (there aren’t a lot though, just texture/draw distance/AA/resolution/V-sync).”
    • “Runs great, no stutters, uncapped framerate with AA.”
    • “The game runs great on the Steam Deck too!”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a charming blend of traditional and modern Japanese culture, evoking the spirit of a jolly summer festival. Players are immersed in a lively environment filled with playful elements, engaging music, and a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of classic ninja games. While the starting town may not be particularly strong, the overall ambiance captures a whimsical and vibrant essence.

    • “A good atmosphere, charm, and a certain bite.”
    • “In its fullest spirit, it is a new legend of the mystical ninja / Ganbare Goemon game, right down to the notes in the music, the playfulness, the boss battles, and an atmosphere heavily infused with Japanese culture.”
    • “In its fullest spirit, it is a new legend of the mystical ninja Ganbare Goemon game, right down to the notes in the music, the playfulness, the boss battles, and an atmosphere heavily infused with Japanese culture.”
    • “A mixture of traditional and modern Japan that creates the atmosphere of a jolly summer festival.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by cute and hilarious fun facts, making it enjoyable for casual play. While some players appreciate the comedic elements, others feel it lacks the depth and storytelling found in classic games. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a lighthearted and funny gaming experience.

    • “The weird fun facts you get from Scoop were cute and presented in a hilarious manner, so I recommend trying to find as many as you can.”
    • “A lot of the humor is funny as well.”
    • “Honestly, if you just want a casual, funny, fun game to play, this is it.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for lacking depth and emotional engagement, with reviewers noting that it feels soulless despite the impressive character designs. While the levels are filled with personality and creativity, the overall character arcs do not resonate strongly with players.

    • “The levels are brimming with personality down to the placements of enemies, and the character designs are wonderful.”
    • “There are many great Japanese trivia, and the character design is top-notch.”
    • “It's just soulless; there is no spirit behind it, no creative spark besides the main character designs.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, lacking any meaningful growth or depth.”
    • “I found the characters to be one-dimensional, with predictable arcs that fail to engage the player.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as searching for hidden objects like the tanuki in expansive levels can become a time-consuming chore. Additionally, managing energy levels adds to the frustration, making the gameplay feel repetitive and less enjoyable.

    • “You’d think looking for the hidden tanuki would be fun, but in practice it’s tedious searching for a well-hidden object in big levels as you spend huge amounts of time scouring every corner.”
    • “Running out of energy to attempt balance makes it tedious to toggle on and off to prevent you from running out.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is not explicitly addressed in the reviews, but it suggests that the level design serves as a promotional tool for local specialties, enhancing the overall experience without repetitive scenery. This approach may imply a focus on engaging gameplay rather than aggressive monetization strategies.

    • “The monetization in this game feels excessive and intrusive, making it hard to enjoy the experience without being constantly bombarded by ads and prompts to spend money.”
    • “I feel like the game is designed more to extract money from players than to provide a fun experience. The constant push for in-game purchases really detracts from the overall enjoyment.”
    • “It's frustrating that the game locks so much content behind paywalls. It feels like you can't fully experience the game without spending a significant amount of money.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a strong sense of nostalgia and warmth when revisiting Mystical Ninja, highlighting the emotional connection to their fond memories of the original N64 game. This successor evokes positive feelings, reinforcing the game's wholesome charm.

    • “Very nostalgic and wholesome.”
    • “Mystical Ninja was one of my favorite games on the N64, and playing this game as its successor made me feel good.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Players note that the game incorporates elements that slow down gameplay to enhance replayability, though the primary incentive for replaying is limited to collecting tanuki for robot upgrades. Overall, while there are opportunities for replay, the rewards may feel minimal.

    • “The game slows down to enhance replay value, and while collecting a few tanuki doesn't directly impact gameplay, it allows you to unlock robot upgrades.”
    • “The variety of choices and paths in the game encourages multiple playthroughs, making each experience feel fresh and engaging.”
    • “With different character builds and strategies to explore, the replayability factor is incredibly high, keeping players coming back for more.”
    • “The game feels repetitive after the first playthrough, and there's not enough variety to keep me coming back for more.”
    • “Once you finish the main story, there's little incentive to replay, as the side quests are lackluster and unoriginal.”
    • “The mechanics are fun at first, but they quickly become stale, making replaying the game feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

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Play time

11hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
11-11hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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