Bakeru Reviews
BAKERU is an action platformer with brilliant ideas supported by charming simplicity and a great representation of Japanese culture. The variety it offers throughout the adventure is a symptom of an original familiarity that many Nintendo fans will love. A Japanese match as beautiful as it is funny!
Review in Spanish | Read full review
BAKERU is a lovely Japan inspired action platformer, with novel drum-based combat and sensational collectables to gather.
Bakeru is a sweet, snappy, and satisfying linear 3D platformer that feels like a wonderful callback to a genre that doesn't get a ton of representation these days. It's really easy (although the Western version ups the difficulty slightly) and has some performance problems, but the gameplay variety, snappy combat, oodles of collectibles, and gorgeous art style all come together to make for an adventure that you won't want to miss out on.
BAKERU is a light-hearted action game that's as vibrant and boisterous as the festival you're tasked with quelling. The combat can feel repetitive across the game's 50+ levels, but there's enough to learn and do to keep players pushing ahead in this rollicking adventure through fairy tale Japan.
BAKERU blends smooth platforming with incredible combat (and a plethora of gameplay variety) to create one of the most fun games I’ve played in a while.
If you miss Goemon and the kind of off-beat Japanese humor that came with it, BAKERU delivers the fun while also being a gigantic platformer epic. This is the kind of game you used to see during the PlayStation 2 and Gamecube days but made with the dazzling veneer of modern technology and effects.
Putting that aside, Bakeru is a warm, delightful thing and one of the best non-Nintendo platformers that I’ve ever played. Admittedly I’m partial to it given that I love roaming Japan for all its little regional quirks and specialties, and I loved discovering the developer’s interpretations of them here, but even if you’re not attuned to the game’s cultural resonance, its relentless joy will surely prove infectious.
Bakeru is a cute, fun, instantly accessible game for kids of all ages - and maybe even some adults. It doesn't reinvent the genre, but it's a pleasantly comfortable platformer that provides the sort of pleasant experience you'd expect from a developer named Good-Feel. The only things potentially holding back the title are that it's a bit simple and basic for older gamers, and there's some occasionally poor performance. If you're a parent looking for a safe and comfy game for your kids, Bakeru is a great choice.
BAKERU is a whimsical game full of fun combat, great references to Japanese culture, and a huge variety of unique stages to play. This is a title to check out!
Bakeru is an enjoyable romp that consistently delivers lighthearted action with a lot of charm even if it gets a little repetitive the deeper you get into it. Good-Feel clearly learned a lot from working with Nintendo because this game deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Nintendo's lighter fare. This isn't quite the Goemon spiritual successor I felt I was promised, but Bakeru is still a good time (especially for younger players) and I hope that Good-Feel both continues working with Nintendo and continues to work on projects like this.
This is a lengthy action platformer geared towards kids that will get mileage out of those that previously enjoyed Goemon titles back in the day. There are many similarities between Konami's sidelined franchise and BAKERU, but Good-Feel's latest release suffers from repetitive gameplay and a poor frame rate that hinders enjoyment. There is a strong appeal to the Japanese themes and setting, along with a cartoon style, child-friendly story and low difficulty that means all age groups can appreciate it. Just don't expect something quite reaching the qualities of Nintendo's top platformers.
Who knew that beating enemies with bachi sticks could be this much fun? 🥁
I can’t believe how nostalgic I felt for a game I’ve never played before. Engrossing, engaging and constantly evolving, players can expect to squeeze every bit of fun out of every second that they’re in the world of Bakeru. I’ll understand not loving it to the degree I do, but I’d be shocked to find someone who didn’t at least have a good time.
BAKERU is just plain ol fun, and we could always use another game like that.
Thanks to engaging combat, impressive level variety, rewarding exploration, an immersive hub area, and vibrant art, it's one of the very best games of 2024.
Bakeru is a love letter to Japan and its culture, ultimately culminating in one of the best platforming experiences I've had in years. With engaging combat, vibrant visuals, and delightful levels, this is one any fan of the genre should not pass up.
A 3D exploration and action adventure capable of offering good and interesting moments, especially in terms of combat dynamics. It's not one of the most polished 3D games, but it's original and fun to explore.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
"The desire for [a new] Goemon is easily filled by BAKERU. It doesn't reach all the notes of the inspiring franchise, but it's an excellent pick. Small mistakes that can be easily fixed aren't a huge issue when the whole thing is worth it. It took a while but Bakeru came to the world, drumming and blasting through everything in his way."
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
BAKERU is a charming, inspired game that’s unfortunately dragged pretty far down by its framerate issues. When working at its best, it’s an especially fun integration of culture and fun platforming mechanics. While it’s let down somewhat by a number of gameplay features feeling underutilized, I ultimately thought what I played was a fun time… But it bears repeating that this is mainly when its technical issues aren’t getting in the way of that enjoyment. I would definitely recommend this game, but maybe wait for a patch or two first.
BAKERU is a slow-paced education-action-exploration mishmash that does not quite reached the heights I wanted it to, but its lively levels are a breath of fresh air I would love to see more of.