Tag: Nangoku Shounen Papuwa-kun

Nangoku Shounen Papuwa-kun (SFC)

There's weird, and then there's weird
There’s weird, and then there’s weird

If there was ever a platformer destined to stay in Japan from the moment it was made, this would win by a country mile (or a Godzilla foot). It combines an anime feel (based off the anime after all), Japanese wackiness and standard platforming 101 techniques. There are 8 worlds to conquer, with multiple levels for each one.

The eight await
The eight await

Nangoku has a level-up system. Anytime you kill an enemy a number pops in its place, indicating how many experience points you just gained. After a set amount is achieved, you level up. This is pretty cool as you don’t see this done much in platformers. A password system is also incorporated to make your life easier.

Sweep kick, punch and jump kick your way to victory.

WORLD 1

Nothing like a light morning jog
Nothing like a light morning jog
Not exactly rocket science
Not exactly rocket science

Punch that block to form a makeshift bridge to safely guide you across deadly bamboo spikes.

Uh, OK. Um... [brella -Ed.]
Uh, OK. Um… [brella -Ed.]
"A" unleashes a special attack
“A” unleashes a special attack
HADOKEN!
“HA-DO-KEN!”
Rays pierce through the forest
Rays pierce through the forest

WORLD 2

Some foreshadowing...
Some foreshadowing…
WHADDUP KIRBY!
WHADDUP KIRBY!
Do we really want to free it?
Do we really want to free it?
Actually, you do. Grab the key
Actually, you do. Grab the key
Close!
Close!

WORLD 3

Prepare for Asian-y hi-jinx
Prepare for Asian hi-jinx galore
Lucky you're a nimble jumper
Lucky you’re a nimble jumper
"I like to move it move it"
“I like to move it move it”
Mandatory flaming section
Mandatory flaming section
Don't get crushed!
Don’t get crushed!

WORLD 4

WHOA, Link cameo!
WHOA, Link cameo!
"Uh, ya take a wrong turn?"
“Uh, did you take a wrong turn?”
"Wait a sec... aw shit"
“Wait a second… OH shit”
And off the Link chap goes
And off the Link chap goes
Must have been a portal...
Must have been a portal…
"Your rent was due last week!"
“Your rent was due last week!”

WORLD 5

That chick's actually a baddie
That chick’s actually a baddie

WORLD 6

Beautiful backdrop
Beautiful backdrop

WORLD 7

The dreary sky adds a nice touch
The dreary sky adds a nice touch

CLOSING THOUGHTS

PACHINKO!
PACHINKO!

Daft developed three Super Nintendo games: Super Back to the Future II, Violinist of Hamelin and Nangoku Shounen Papuwa-kun. All three are solid to very good games. Daft was an underrated company. Enix snatched up Violinist of Hamelin and this game to publish. Over the years, Enix has been erroneously credited as making those two games. Of which I was guilty of. Let it be known, for the record, Enix only published them. It was Daft that made the magic happen. Of their three SNES games, I enjoy Nangoku the most. It’s pretty much a standard platformer, but there’s a quirky Japanese charm to it, and I love the RPG-esque leveling up system. It adds a different flavor to the game and makes it feel different from every other 16-bit platformer.

Looking for a fun platformer that stands out a bit from the crowd? Then take Nangoku Shounen Papuwa-kun for a spin. It’ll likely put a smile on your face as everyone I’ve talked with who has played this has enjoyed it quite a bit.