Tanuki Justice

About

Tanuki Justice is a single player and multiplayer arcade platformer game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Wonderboy Bobi and was released on April 15, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Tanuki Justice is a classic-style action platformer with fast-paced gameplay and stunning pixel art. Play as a shape-shifting tanuki, battling through various stages filled with enemies and bosses. Use your abilities to master different forms and reach new heights in this challenging and exciting game. Reference: * Steam ID: 1406250 * Game Name: Tanuki Justice * Genre: Action Platformer * Developer: Wonderscope Games * Publisher: Wonderscope Games

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 45 reviews

story3 negative mentions

Tanuki Justice offers tight controls and responsive gameplay, reminiscent of classic arcade run-and-gun titles, making it a nostalgic experience for fans of the genre.
The level design is compact and aggressive, providing a challenging yet fair experience that encourages mastery through repetition and skillful play.
The game features a colorful pixel art style and an energetic soundtrack that enhances the fast-paced action, making it visually appealing and engaging.

The game's difficulty can be punishing, with limited checkpoints and a steep learning curve that may deter casual players or those unfamiliar with retro platformers.
Some mechanics, such as the 'lock in place' feature, can lead to unintentional deaths due to confusing controls, which can frustrate players.
The game is relatively short, with only a few stages, which may leave some players wanting more content or a more extended experience.

gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
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The gameplay is characterized by its focus on challenging mechanics and retro design, emphasizing precise movement and timing over complex systems. Players appreciate the tight controls and responsive mechanics, particularly the 8-way shooting and locking aim feature, which enhance navigation and momentum. However, some users have reported issues with the locking mechanic leading to unintended character movement, which has sparked debate about its design intent.
- “From the moment the action begins, it establishes itself as a no-nonsense title that values gameplay feel and challenge over elaborate storytelling or expansive systems.”
- “Mastery comes not from unlocking new mechanics, but from learning how to move efficiently, manage space, and time attacks with precision.”
- “This is a game that actually nails the 'retro' design, not only on graphics but on gameplay and difficulty, yet it adds quality of life features like control/aim precision and stage select, so you can take your time to practice this game without much pressure.”
- “Some design choices intentionally echo older platformers, including strict movement constraints and a lack of modern conveniences like forgiving recovery mechanics.”
- “Nothing changes mechanically at any point throughout the game.”
- “Some mechanics are broken; locking yourself in place often results in your character not only not stopping, but locking you in a running loop instead - sending you to your death.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
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The graphics of "Tanuki Justice" are characterized by a vibrant and clean pixel art style that pays homage to late 8-bit and early 16-bit games, effectively capturing the retro aesthetic. Players appreciate the nostalgic visuals, which are complemented by a catchy soundtrack that enhances the fast-paced gameplay. Overall, the game successfully combines retro design elements with modern quality-of-life features, making it a standout in the run-and-gun genre.
- “Visually, Tanuki Justice adopts a clean and colorful pixel art style that evokes the look of late 8-bit and early 16-bit action games.”
- “Incredibly well-designed run and gun game with graphics and music reminiscent of the Master System.”
- “This is a game that actually nails the 'retro' design, not only on graphics but on gameplay and difficulty, yet it adds quality of life features like control/aim precision and stage select, so you can take your time to practice this game without much pressure.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
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The music in the game is widely praised for its energetic and catchy tracks that enhance the fast-paced gameplay and arcade feel. Reviewers appreciate the nostalgic 8-bit and NES-inspired sound, noting that it complements the vibrant graphics and contributes to an overall enjoyable experience. The soundtrack effectively maintains tension and momentum, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “Much like the games that inspired it, this game is a lot of fun with its fast-paced and challenging gameplay that will keep you on your toes, colorful 8-bit graphics, and a catchy NES-inspired soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack complements this aesthetic with energetic, rhythm-driven tracks that reinforce the game’s fast pace and arcade sensibilities, helping maintain tension and momentum throughout repeated attempts.”
- “Incredibly well-designed run and gun game with graphics and music reminiscent of Master System.”
- “Music is simple and catchy, puts you in a good mood.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
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The story centers on two tanuki ninjas on a quest to save feudal Japan from an evil emperor, prioritizing gameplay and challenge over intricate narrative elements. While the main storyline is straightforward, players can unlock a unique survival mode and pursue high scores after completing it, adding depth to the experience.
- “Play alone or together as 2 tanuki ninjas who are on a quest to save feudal Japan from the evil emperor.”
- “From the moment the action begins, it establishes itself as a no-nonsense title that values gameplay feel and challenge over elaborate storytelling or expansive systems.”
- “Play alone or together as two tanuki ninjas who are on a quest to save feudal Japan from the evil emperor.”
- “You unlock a pretty unique, challenging survival mode after beating the story, plus there are high scores to chase and two higher difficulties.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
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The game offers solid replayability primarily through its co-op mode, which enhances enjoyment and encourages players to refine their skills and tackle higher difficulties. While the content is limited, the focus on performance improvement and mastering co-op play provides a compelling reason to revisit the game.
- “The co-op mode doesn’t fundamentally alter level design, but it adds replay value and an extra layer of enjoyment for those looking to tackle the game with a partner.”
- “It's brief in length but has high replay value.”
- “However, its replay value lies in refining performance, tackling higher difficulties, and mastering co-op play rather than in sheer content volume.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return, as the side quests feel repetitive and uninspired.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized for containing a persistent softlock issue carried over from the Switch version, which significantly hampers gameplay. Players have reported encountering bugs and glitches, particularly with the aiming mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game's stability is a major concern for potential players.
- “I tried to find a lot of bugs and glitches, and there's one softlock present in the PC port that was in the original Switch version.”
- “Don't bother with this game unless you want to deal with a buggy lock position button that makes aiming properly a challenge.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
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The game's optimization is focused on enhancing performance and mastering gameplay mechanics, particularly in co-op play and higher difficulty levels, rather than offering extensive content. This emphasis on refining skills contributes to its replay value.
- “However, its replay value lies in refining performance, tackling higher difficulties, and mastering co-op play rather than in sheer content volume.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
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Character development is highlighted by the charming and cute design of the characters, which evokes a sense of guilt when they face destruction. In contrast, the bosses are noted for their threatening and well-crafted appearance, showcasing the creator's distinctive style.