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Mr. Goemon

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Mr. Goemon is a side-scrolling platform arcade game developed by Konami in 1986, based on Ishikawa Goemon, an outlaw in 16th-century Japan. Enemies charge and grab the character, ending his life unless the player jostles the control stick to break free. Later enemies also have projectile weapo...

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Developer
Konami

Released on
1986

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Platform

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Mr. Goemon is a side-scrolling platform arcade game developed by Konami in 1986, based on Ishikawa Goemon, an outlaw in 16th-century Japan.

Enemies charge and grab the character, ending his life unless the player jostles the control stick to break free. Later enemies also have projectile weapons that the player must dodge. They are defeated by throwing a found object at them or hitting them with an always-equipped pipe. Jumping on the enemies’ heads will push them down a level or off the screen entirely. Levels feature either boss battles or a pile of gold bars at the end, worth various points depending on the level.

Mr. Goemon

Overview & History

Released by Konami in 1986, Mr. Goemon (known in Japan as *Ganbare Goemon! Karakuri Dōchū*) stands as the genesis of the legendary, whimsical folklore franchise that would later delight Super Famicom owners. Merging Edo-period Japanese history with surreal steampunk mechanics, this coin-op arcade precursor tasks the legendary thief Ishikawa Goemon with a daring rescue mission. Rather than the sprawling action-adventure format of its console sequels, the arcade original is a tense, claustrophobic top-down maze game. Players navigate labyrinthine villages and castles to collect three magical items—a pass, a pipe, and a coin—before time runs out and guards apprehend the titular anti-hero.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The game unfolds across labyrinthine grid-based stages filled with hostile samurai, stray dogs, and local villagers. Goemon is initially armed with a short-range pipe swing for dispatching minor enemies, but can upgrade his arsenal by locating hidden merchants and chests. Strategy relies heavily on resource management; players must collect monetary ryo to bribe officials, purchase power-ups like geta sandals for increased speed, and unlock heavily guarded castle gates. The challenge ramps up drastically through hostile environmental hazards, ticking time limits, and relentless pursuers that require precise corner-weaving and stealthy pathfinding to survive.