Collection essentials #420: Goemon’s Great Adventure (N64)

Goemon was to get another Nintendo 64 game under his belt, but this one would not be in the same style as the previous game. In fact, for this installment, Konami decided to return to side-scrolling 2D-style gameplay. Well, I ought to say “2.5D”, because the game does effectively use its 3D graphics to make levels with multiple pathways that go off into another direction seamlessly while the player still simply moves left and right.


The plot of the game this time involves the mischievous Bismaru, who steals a powerful new contraption that can bring dead people back to life in hopes of using it to revive someone to help them take over the world. As with other Goemon games, the game’s story and dialogue tends to be very silly, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The opening cutscene is voiced in Japanese, and I freakin’ cracked up when two of the characters fantasized about bringing back long-dead American celebrities James Dean and Marilyn Monroe.


The game utilizes a world map much like the Super Mario Bros. titles, with levels being separate from each other. Occasionally there will also be a town in which players can roam around freely, talk to various people, go shopping, and more. Gameplay is not entirely linear, as levels often have multiple paths and secrets to find. In order to advance in the game, Goemon and his friends must collect enough “passes”, and if they don’t find enough of them they may be forced to revisit previous areas to get more. That’s fine, as doing so is fun and not more difficult than it ought to be.


Various other series staple gameplay elements return for this game, such as multiple playable characters with different abilities, optional two-player co-op, and the cool first-person giant robot battles where the characters pilot the happy-looking Impact once again. And it’s all really good, another one of Goemon’s best outings for any console!


Like the previous game, it’s a bit surprising to me that this game got an international release seeing as the previous game didn’t sell all that well. Supposedly this one sold better, though ironically I definitely have seen more people talk about and remember the previous 64 title more than this one. I think, as of right now, I like both 64 games about the same amount, which is…a lot! I think they’re among the best non-mainstream Nintendo 64 titles and among the best in their series. Goemon’s Great Adventure is another wonderful essential from Konami.

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