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I’m Sorry

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I'm Sorry, known in Japan as Gombe's I'm Sorry (ごんべえのあいむそ〜り〜 Gonbē no Aimusōrī), is an arcade game released by Coreland/Sega in 1985 for the Sega System 1. This action game stars a caricature of former Prime Minister of Japan, Kakuei Tanaka. The title is actually a play on the Japanese word for P...

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Developer
Coreland Technology

Released on
1985

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Puzzle

Publisher
Sega Enterprises

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

I’m Sorry, known in Japan as Gombe’s I’m Sorry (ごんべえのあいむそ〜り〜 Gonbē no Aimusōrī), is an arcade game released by Coreland/Sega in 1985 for the Sega System 1. This action game stars a caricature of former Prime Minister of Japan, Kakuei Tanaka. The title is actually a play on the Japanese word for Prime Minister, Sōri (総理). The game satirizes Tanaka’s greed by making the goal of the game acquiring gold bars. This arcade game made it into some of the United States arcades. It could be considered one of the earliest forms of political satire in a video game.

The goal is for the greedy protagonist to collect all the gold bars while jumping over or defeating various enemies and obstacles in each maze-like level. Some of these enemies are: Giant Baba (a Japanese wrestler), a moonwalking Michael Jackson, Madonna, Japanese comedian Tamori, Carl Lewis, moving statues (activated when passed by). Some obstacles include: Gates, “fire” hydrants, safes (making it difficult to gain access to the gold), a rolling barrel, conveyor belts, and a swimming pool with platforms ranging in size and strength. When you collect all the gold in a given level, you must cash it into a building (labeled “out” when the level begins and “in” once you retrieve all the gold) to beat the level. The player can only hold ten bars of gold at once. In later levels there are more than 10 bars of gold, so the player must make multiple deposits.

I'm Sorry

Overview & History

Released by Sega in 1985, I'm Sorry (also known as *Omoikkiri Tanteidan* or *Chotsukai Detchi*) is a bizarre, highly satirical arcade game that stands out as one of the earliest political caricature titles in video game history. The game centers on a thinly veiled pixel-art caricature of former Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, affectionately nicknamed "Gorin-san." Players take control of this prominent political figure as he navigates surreal, vertically scrolling urban streets, subterranean tunnels, and surreal corporate offices. His ultimate objective is not defeating standard arcade monsters, but rather collecting stolen gold bullion, briefcases of cash, and various political artifacts while dodging relentless waves of pursuing journalists, political rivals, and rogue police officers. The game's humorous, self-deprecating tone and quirky sound effects made it an instant cult classic in Japanese arcades, offering a distinctly playful jab at real-world political scandals of the era.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Mechanically, I'm Sorry is a top-down, multi-directional scrolling action game where positioning and quick reflexes are paramount. As Gorin-san, players must scour labyrinthine maps to collect scattered gold bars and assemble them into a massive stack of wealth. However, movement is constantly hindered by eccentric enemies that try to steal your loot or knock you out. To defend yourself, Gorin-san can pick up heavy objects, throw bricks, or utilize temporary power-ups found inside buildings. Environmental hazards, such as open manholes, moving vehicles, and collapsing scaffolds, add layers of frantic challenge. Clearing a stage requires not only gathering a specific quota of treasure but also outsmarting the persistent paparazzi and navigating treacherous maze layouts before the timer runs out. Each completed level transitions to humorous cutscenes that further mock political life, culminating in escalating difficulty curves and increasingly bizarre urban landscapes.