{"id":981440,"date":"2026-01-06T11:59:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T11:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.polygon.com\/?p=457016"},"modified":"2026-01-06T11:59:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T11:59:19","slug":"20-years-later-an-n64-cult-classic-gets-a-killer-spiritual-sequel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/20-years-later-an-n64-cult-classic-gets-a-killer-spiritual-sequel\/","title":{"rendered":"20 years later, an N64 cult classic gets a killer spiritual sequel\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Between 1986 and 2005, Konami released 20 entries in a beloved series. Yet you\u2019ve likely never heard of Ganbare Goemon<\/a><\/em>, a colossal franchise that predates the publisher\u2019s hits like Castlevania, Metal Gear, and Silent Hil. Only four of its games reached the U.S. None found widespread success.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For that reason, I appreciate that most Polygon readers won\u2019t have rosy nostalgia for the diminutive set of Ganbare Goemon <\/em>English-language localizations haphazardly spread across SNES, Game Boy, and N64. That Konami hasn\u2019t created a new entry in nearly two decades would suggest Ganbare Goemon is doomed to trivia at your local bar arcade. <\/p>\n

This would be the end of the shortest, saddest article on Polygon if not for developer Good-Feel, founded by Goemon veteran Etsunobu Ebisu, willing the spiritual sequel Bakeru<\/em> into existence. And, most importantly for the English-speaking audience, localizing the game \u2014 in all its Japanese geographical glory \u2014 for release in the west on Nintendo Switch and Steam.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019m certain it will be the only game this decade to include \u201cBattle your way through all 47 Japanese prefectures\u201d as a marketing bullet point. <\/p>\n

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