BAKERU Review: A Rhythmic Romp Through a Resplendent Rendering of Japan

Imagine setting off on an adventure where each new land is filled with colorful sights, quirky characters, and surprises around every corner. In BAKERU, that’s exactly the experience you get. Developed by Good-Feel and released for Switch in 2023, this game casts players as Bakeru, a fun-loving tanuki embarking on a drum-pounding quest to save Japan from an evil oracle’s mind-control schemes.

With its blend of 3D platforming and beat ’em up combat, BAKERU takes inspiration from classics like the Mystical Ninja series. You’ll guide Bakeru through dozens of stages representing Japan’s 47 prefectures, each with its own distinct atmosphere. Beaches, shrines, cities, and more spring to life as you explore. Along the way, your main tools are a pair of magical drum sticks. Tapping shoulder buttons lays down rhythmic attacks, while mixing up your timing unleashes stronger combos.

Yet beneath the bright colors and bopping tunes, BAKERU tackles a serious plot. An oracle has unleashed dark spirits across the land through “mind control festivals.” Only Bakeru and his trusty sticks stand in the way. It’s up to you to free Japan by battling a parade of quirky enemies, solving simple puzzles, and soaking up Japan’s vibrant culture along the way. All told, BAKERU offers a joyful journey that respects gaming’s power to entertain and teach in equal measure. Its heartwarming tribute to Japanese heritage makes this adventure a pleasure from start to finish.

BAKERU’s Fantastical Journey through a Talespin Japan

The plot in Bakeru weaves an imaginative tale. You play as the namesake character on a mission to save Japan after an evil oracle casts a spell during a festival, letting dark spirits loose across the land. Only Bakeru and his magical drumsticks stand in the way! Alongside a tiny tanuki ally named Issun, it’s up to you to free the country’s great heroes from mind control and defeat the villianous plans.

This story plays out within the wonders of “Talespin Japan,”  a fairy tale version of the real country that fully embraces its myths and legends. You’ll tour lands pulled straight from folklore, like volcanoes inhabited by sinister oni demons. Every setting transports you to a new lavishly crafted realm. Forests overflow with fiery autumnal hues, whereas cruise ship levels teem with joyous dances and beach toys.

It’s not just the environments themselves but how Bakeru brings them to life. As you explore forests, town streets, and shrines across Japan’s 47 prefectures, little authentic charms dot the landscapes. Stages tell stories through quirky details, like areas centered around real-world places known for certain foods or festivals. Throughout, the world maintains an air of whimsy and heartwarming charm, thanks to the care put into each setting. Bakeru truly lets you immerse in a playful vision of Japan, both familiar and fresh.

A Percussive Adventure: BAKERU’s Combat and Collectibles

BAKERU blends light-footed platforming with brawling bonks that’ll have you in a rhythm-gaming flow. As Bakeru, you’ll explore colorful levels piece by piece, but it’s the punchy percussion-style battles that really drum up fun. Just imagine gripping a pair of magic drumsticks, tapping shoulders to smack foes with a musical “bonk” that resonates through everything.

The core idea centers on landing hits through drums, so shoulder buttons call out quick strikes while tapping together unleashes boomier blows. But mix up your tempo for extra impact—hold buttons and your swings charge harder hits. As you play, new techniques like spinning strikes or dash attacks emerge too. It all meshes into a tactile, stylish system emphasizing momentum.

Of course baddies fight back dirty, so agility aids your attacks. Well-timed dodges give openings to counter-smack sneaky ninjas. Or deploy your mini-taiko as a shield, even batting away hazards. Should a foe fury require space, your transformations trade sticks for new means like guns or fishing rods. Each ability spices up your repertoire.

Yet beyond brawls, collectibles give stages depth. Hunting hidden snacks and poo pals teasing trivia ensures re-exploring stages. Scattered income also lets you prep at vendors, maybe restoring health or boosting damage with items. And while combat drives most, varied diversions like racing emerge to break routine.

Boss rewards further evolve your moves through “henges,” briefly lending mythical might. Maybe growing giants amplifies attacks, or shrinking infiltrates tiny tunnels. Every tool arms you with fun ways to fulfill each stage’s simple goals—just find glowing lamps and beat the end-level drum! With BAKERU, Good-Feel forges rhythmic battles and exploration into a vibrantly musical odyssey that’ll keep the beat going.

An Artful Tour of Japan Through BAKERU’s Stages

BAKERU whisks players across a dazzling Japan, staging over 50 levels that showcase the diversity of the country’s prefectures. From snowy mountains dotted with steaming oni to bustling nightlife streets illuminated with festive lanterns, each stage transports you to vibrant new locales.

Variety ensures steady surprises. Volcanoes oozing lava give way to lush forests and coasts dotted with seaside towns. Serene shrines share the scenes with bustling tech districts towering with neon advertisements. Levels take inspiration from real-world places, so a dig site pays tribute to Fukui’s history of dinosaur finds while a cruise ship stage references Okinawa’s tourism.

Goodfeel’s visuals bring these settings to stunning life. Vivid shades pop without oversaturation, maintaining clarity amid colorful chaos. Locals feel alive with intricate backgrounds, like mountains heavy with red leaves or cities crammed with lively crowds. Character animations stay charmingly expressive too, whether foes flail or Bakeru drums with enthusiasm.

Some stages shine especially, like a surreal honey garden or spooky underwater levels tinted eerie green. Though occasionally you’ll traverse emptier spaces, varied objectives and collectibles keep most areas engaging. A few repetitive tropes like grassy fields could use more novelty, but diverse scenery outweighs such nitpicks.

In all, BAKERU elevates the impact of level design through irresistible artistry. Its celebration of Japanese culture through imaginative environments makes returning to perfect runs or seeking hidden goodies a pleasure. Stages feel vivid tourism brochures for the country’s regions, introducing curiosities with infectious style. Under Goodfeel’s guidance, each setting sings with personality deserving exploration.

Fantastical Foes and Friends

At the heart of every great journey stands an unforgettable cast. In BAKERU, the hero guiding players through a fairy tale Japan is Bakeru, a fun-loving tanuki with a heart for adventure. Armed with magical drumsticks and a bold ‘do, he’s ready to brush off any trouble with a tune and a smile. And assisting in his quest is the pint-sized Issun, who proves big things come in small forms.

This duo will face an array of enchanted enemies ripped from Japanese lore. Mask-wearing demons and living lanterns bounce into view, joined by shimmying snakes and stomping ogres. Even massive clanging bells and turtle-tuned tanks stand as formidable foes! What truly brings these baddies to life is their expressiveness—lanterns glide with a wiggle and bells boom with personality.

But the real stars are how characters carry themselves through combat. When Bakeru kicks into a charged attack, his enthusiasm is contagious. Enemies too appear full of personality, whether snakes flail wildly or masked demons lunge with abandon. This levity imbues even battles against hulking bosses with a sense of fun, as epic fights play out with goofy graces.

Overall, BAKERU has a way of making each being, friend or foe, seem like old pals through their animated charm. From Bakeru’s glowing drum solos to serpentine sashays, their antics elevate every encounter. In a game so rooted in cheer, it’s no wonder these performers prove just as entertaining to watch as to play with.

A Magical Musical Journey with Room for Improvement

BAKERU brings its fairy tale Japan fully to life through presentation. Enchanting melodies lift spirits in each area, perfectly capturing settings from mystical shrines to bustling cities. Music maintains intensity during climactic battles before soothing again amongst scenic vistas.

Overall sound design stimulates the senses too. Drum attacks boom satisfyingly while special moves unleash unique riffs. Effects like breaking lamps or smashing coins ring clearly. Even subtler sounds, like the pitter-patter of rain or cicadas chirping, envelop landscapes. It’s easy to get wrapped up in BAKERU’s charming aural world.

Though story slides remain visually delightful, Japanese voice acting leaves some lost without subtitles. However, menus prove navigable through experimentation alone. Logical layouts and responsive controls also earn praise.

BAKERU earns kudos for weaving music, effects, and quality interfaces into an immersive experience. Still, framerates cause occasional issues—particularly apparent amid bigger enemy hordes. While challenges stay fair, smoother performance could have elevated whole sequences further.

A few other niggles felt worth addressing too. Namely, some excessively wide-open areas stand empty, begging for more interactivity. Plus, certain minigames leaned too far from core combat, disrupting momentum at times.

All told, BAKERU excels at drawing players deep into its world. Presentation seldom lands as a strong suit for indie games, yet Goodfeel proved masters at setting stellar vibes through sound. While performance leaves room for growth, overall BAKERU succeeds in filling any journey with magic.

A Fantastical Journey Well Worth Your Time

Whether battling enemies to the beat or voyaging between charming lands, BAKERU delivers adventure with delight around every corner. Throughout its upbeat odyssey across fairy tale Japan, Goodfeel infuses each moment with entertaining detail. From bustling cities seen through leaves of red to festival-coated foes putting up their guard, creativity reigns supreme.

While some framerate dips may trouble, less forgiving players can expect a generally frustration-free experience. Rather than punishing failures, BAKERU aims to put smiles first by keeping challenges accessible. And for younger gamers curious about other cultures, educational charm emerges too among factual discoveries.

Of course, simple stories and ease mean not for all audiences this journey will enthrall. Yet those seeking colorful, carefree fun with friends and family in tow will find companionship aplenty within these borders. Then, for action fans hungering nostalgic platforming epics of yesteryear, modern magic masters the field once more. Overall, BAKERU trips a light fantastic well deserving wider eyes.

Whether for lighthearted entertainment or a glimpse into Japan, give BAKERU a tap of your drumsticks and let its rhythm carry your cares off into the sunset. For earnest industry and vibrant vision, Goodfeel proves masters of mirror-making missed only by unfortunate digital exclusivity alone. Still, within the magic it weaves, none will regret the time spent as Bakeru’s percussive pal.