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Tokoro-san no Mamoru mo Semeru mo

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Tokoro-san no Mamorumo Semerumo is an action platformer that stars real-life Japanese musician/comedian/voice-actor Tokoro Jouji, a.k.a. George Tokoro. Armed with a water pistol with a finite supply of water, Toroko-san must make his way across various levels either shooting or avoiding the vario...

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Developer
ISCO

Released on
1987

Size
1 Player

Version
NES

Requirements
Nintendo Entertainment System

Downloads
Action

Publisher
Epic/Sony

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Tokoro-san no Mamorumo Semerumo is an action platformer that stars real-life Japanese musician/comedian/voice-actor Tokoro Jouji, a.k.a. George Tokoro. Armed with a water pistol with a finite supply of water, Toroko-san must make his way across various levels either shooting or avoiding the various enemies along the way.

This game has some notoriously poor game design, such as ammo replenishing items being hidden, which means the player needs to shoot randomly to find them which simply depletes their finite ammo supply even faster. If the player takes too long in any one world, a massive vision-obscuring storm will roll in and make the game considerably more difficult to play. The game, however, does feature an early example of a non-linear stage selection progress as different paths become available after defeating each boss.

Tokoro-san no Mamoru mo Semeru mo

Overview & History

Released exclusively in Japan in 1987 by HAL Laboratory, *Tokoro-san no Mamoru mo Semeru mo* (loosely translated as "Tokoro's Defend and Attack") is a bizarre and quirky action-puzzle game for the Famicom. The game is heavily themed around the real-life eccentric Japanese comedian, musician, and TV personality George Tokoro. Tokoro's surreal humor, idiosyncratic visual gags, and distinctive persona permeate every corner of the title, making it a distinct product of 1980s Japanese pop culture. Unlike traditional platformers of the era, the game challenges players to balance offensive pushes with defensive territorial holds across surreal, maze-like stages populated by bizarre enemies, ranging from flying slippers to oversized mechanical contraptions. Despite remaining a deep-cut curiosity for Western retro collectors, it stands out as an early example of celebrity-branded video games leaning into avant-garde, self-aware comedy.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The core gameplay is divided into distinct phases where players must simultaneously manage territory defense and aggressive counter-attacks. Navigating as Tokoro, you manipulate objects within grid-based arenas, setting traps, pushing blocks, and outsmarting eccentric foes. Unlike standard linear progression, success relies heavily on spatial awareness, timing, and resource management. Tokoro's moveset includes standard movement alongside unique context-sensitive interactions where he can summon household objects, utilize absurd cartoon-physics weapons, and trigger environmental hazards to clear the screen of adversaries. The pacing shifts dynamically between frantic dodging and strategic positioning, punctuated by Tokoro’s digitized voice samples and humorous facial animations whenever he takes damage or clears a stage.