Ganbare Goemon MUST Return!

I think it's time Mystical Ninja/Ganbare Goemon made comeback, here are some thoughts. A small part in a larger video on the Mad Panic Gaming channel (the artist formerly known as Kid Shoryuken). The collab features people like Karcamo the Forger of Pain and Jared from Avalanche Reviews, check it out here: • DEAD Gaming Franchises...
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Gameplay was captured on real hardware using the Elgato HD60 S+ and video/audio was edited using Davinci Resolve Studio 18.
Music used in this video is from the game Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon (Ganbare Goemon Neo Momoyama Bakufu no Odori) on the Nintendo 64 from Konami and KCE Osaka...great soundtrack!
Thank you for watching!
#GanbareGoemon #がんばれゴエモン #ImportGamingFTW

[@ColeFam]

A Goemon collection would be incredible. I'd also like to see a "Starring Goemon" remake. Just clean it up a bit and add dedicated camera controls and you're set!

[@ImportGamingFTW]

1000% this.

[@coolchannelize15]

I would cry if they did this that game was a big part of my childhood it is so underrated to me!

[@alanu4637]

The Goemon series definitely needs to come back or at least bring most of the older ones over for the West. It’s been 2005 since the last real game and it’s time to Make Goemon Great Again!

[@ImportGamingFTW]

I should make that into a t-shirt...or political campaign.

[@zetohmunch]

I'd lose my mind if we got a translated English collection of Goemon, but I would be even more stoked for a new entry

[@ImportGamingFTW]

I'd be happy with either, but yeah...a true continuation would be preferred!

[@RetroIslandGaming]

I still fondly remember the time we played Goemon at your place! I haven't played it since. Maybe it's time I give the series another chance. Awesome mini video.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

I think you should give it another play on your highly successful Twitch channel and MAKE GOEMON GREAT AGAIN®. Thanks for watching and I wish we had hung out more when I still live in Hawaii...and didn't drink as much as I did.

[@Mighty10917]

I would LOVE to see Ganbare Goemon series to return in a Collection treatment, thanks to your videos I got into the series and I loved it, it was quite an enjoyable series to play, including my friends on some two player games let alone playing only the ones that has an English fan translation including the official

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Hey, happy to hear you got into the series (and because of my videos?), they provide some of the best coop times OF ALL TIME.

[@Mighty10917]

Yep including your Videos and not just the Co-op Gameplay but the Adventure ones (Fan of those too!) Like Ganbare Goemon 3, Ganbare Goemon: Uchuu Kaizoku Akogingu, Legend of the Mystical Ninja. Well yeah one of your videos where you showcase almost all your Goemon Collection really let understood that the series is popular in Japan (Well... The glory days of Konami) I'm also a fan of Japanese Setting which got me more interested so yeah I learned a lot for the series and having a lot of respect. I support if the Collection ever came true! 👍

[@ChronicMetamorphosis]

You and I have had the same dream for decades. I think we see hints of Goemon in the new Yoshi games. There's even a Yoshi mech in the Go Go Yoshi level. I was hoping Smash Bros would give Goemon more light. It would be cool to see a collaboration with Good Feel and IGA on a Goemon 3 style Metroidvania.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

You're saying all the right things to me, baby.

[@Gorilla_Jones]

Jimmy's got one of the best voices on KZbin.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

That's a hot take, but I appreciate it, Mr. Jones!

[@blindcrow849]

I totally agree with you! We need Goemon back. A compilation would be nice, but a new game would be awesome.

[@eddsnake]

A Goemon collection with the later Super Famicom games finally translated into English would be amazing. Peer Schneider actually mentioned his wish for a Goemon collection on IGN’s Nintendo Voicechat podcast back in the Summer.

[@blay_DEV]

They did it! Ganbare Goemon's spiritual successor was announced during the Nintendo Direct!

[@Rokku-D]

Like I said in Mad Panic Gaming's video: I want a Goemon Game. Perhaps an HD remake of the SNES, and the two N64 Classics, or a Collection of the games we missed out on all those years ago finally translated, or a brand new game! Either way, I just wanna see my favorite cat-smile ninja thief come back again.

[@andrewdowell6474]

While I'd love to get a bunch of newly translated games we never got, I'd be perfectly ecstatic to get a remastered collection of the SNES and N64 titles we did get.

[@TheKonamiMan]

Nuts how you almost predicted Mameda no Bakeru with that GoodFeel portion of the video.

[@h3corptempbutevadinganass]

AGREEEEEDDD !!!! Thatsss righttt jimmy hapa nowni remember that was in ur old name, you are crazy underrated my friend, came to this video cuz GOE.MON NEEDS SUCH A COMEBACK YESSSSSSSSSSS BRING JUAT A DIGITAL COLLECTION!!!!

[@tankatlus5797]

I agree let's make Goemon Great again we need a Mystical Ninja collection with all the best games and the creators of those collections should ad some quality to life improvements to make the games easier for casuals or newcomers and such. it would be cool to see a good reboot out of Goemon

[@ImportGamingFTW]

I'm all for "quality of life" improvements for old games, now that I've finally experienced them in recent months. As long as you can turn them completely off to avoid the temptation for "serious" gaming sessions, ha ha.

[@justjorge4121]

Thanks for sharing this video with us. It would be interesting being able to play these games in a collection. I also liked the mention of wanting a new Adventure of Valkyrie game if possible, because I would love that as well.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Maaaaaan, it's a shame with how much Namco has milked its old properties that Valkyrie is often ignored.

[@Larry]

I love the Goemon series! Always heartbreaking when Konami tease "a classic franchise is getting a rerelease" only to discover it's bloody Castlevania again. But did you know the unreleased English version of the PS2 Goemon game was leaked last year? Working Designs translated it just before they went bust.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Ha ha, it seems like it always is Castlevania. I heard about a leak but haven't looked into it--if it's a full translation, that's fantastic.

[@WMARUoriginal]

Slow singing and flower bringing! Would love to see some goemon localized.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

CALL THE CORONER!

[@feiwong3634]

The sentiment is mutual, but let's be honest: Konami couldn't make another game without killing the franchise, the original staff of the series is long gone, and no western studio could make a game that relies so much on Japanese culture and weird humour. Let's be thankful for the fans that translated a lot of the games in recent times, they are heroes.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Yeah, in the last decade or so, when I hear a game series is getting a revival or reboot, I'm usually cautiously optimistic...or just cautious. That's why I'd hope a studio like Good Feel is given the reigns, at least they'd have respect and knowledge of the series...and they'd know how to handle the unique Japanese-ness of the series.

[@meezuswalks9578]

*BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS!!! COULDNT AGREE MORE*

[@schizophist2963]

Always a good day when Jimmy uploads

[@SquintStint]

when I saw that collection image box u made, my heart skipped like crazy and was SO sad when I saw it wasn't real 😭

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Sorry to give you a mini heart attack, but I believe the promised day will come someday, though not soon enough!

[@goteckwah]

Your wish has been granted. Good-feel announced a spiritual successor in the latest Nintendo Direct (Otogi Katsugeki Mameda no Bakeru: Oracle Saitarou no Sainan!!).

[@noneofyourbusiness4616]

Thank you, Mystical Jimmy.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Ah man, Mystical Jimmy would have been a way better KZbin name than Jimmy Hapa!

[@rafresendenrafresenden.1644]

new Goemon succesor 御伽活劇 豆狸のバケル ～オラクル祭太郎の祭難！！

[@kidying5296]

its been my number one childhood game !!

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Same here! Wonderful memories playing the first SNES game with my sister.

[@Krisipoke]

Good-Feel actually teased a new project in 2020 for the Switch that looked incredibly Goemon-esque... and it was supposed to come out in 2021. And we never heard of it again in almost 3 years. Incredibly sad. Also, I just got the Ninja Jajamaru collection that was put out by Strictly Limited, and they DID use fan translations for many of the games there, so something like your suggestion has already happened. Come on Konami, do something with Goemon already.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Yeah, the art they teased with that project looked fantastic--I do hope it gets used for something. A new Goemon would be great, but an original game in a similar style would please me just fine! I wanted to mention and show some of that here, but I was told to keep my segment to two minutes, so a lot of things had to get left out/cut. Interesting to hear about the Ninja Jajamaru collection and fan translations--do you know if any of it was "licensed" by the translators? Also...how is the input latency on those games? I've been thinking of picking that collection up here in Japan, but I'm weary of how laggy it could be.

[@Krisipoke]

@@ImportGamingFTW I'm pretty sure there was some kind of legal agreement, I imagine the collection would get some negative PR if it wasn't the case. The logos on the title screen are edited to be the same one the collection uses, though. I haven't really noticed any input delay, but there were some weird emulation bugs, like the Famicom games chugging when using filters, and the colorized version of the Game Boy game freezing a few times (thankfully there's a rewind feature which solves this problem). However, I'm somewhat sure that the Japanese version is actually a different collection. Not only does it have fewer games, but the emulation was supposedly done by a different team.

[@MaryTownsendRyokansDomain]

Yes this need to come back, because this is also my favorite series from Konami

[@ImportGamingFTW]

It's my favorite Konami series, too--and just think of all the amazing IPs under the Konami banner!

[@MaryTownsendRyokansDomain]

@@ImportGamingFTW I know right

[@forbiddenra_muneballs]

You know, Japanese culture is represented so fondly in these games I would love this recreation to be a sentiment to that , westerners are becoming more intrigued in visiting the islands it's due time and there are so many nods to beautiful stories, lore interests and culture I just can't get over my childhood spent with this game and the profound respect it helped me grow as an adult ❤

[@SuperGoemon]

We all want this. So let's not give up until it happens

[@ImportGamingFTW]

I say this all the time, and so far it hasn't meant anything, but I've got a good feeling something will happen soon!

[@TheRetroCleric324]

@@ImportGamingFTWyou should do a review of said “good feeling” it is out now and is excellent. Although not as good as goemon 64 it is a good 3d platformer akin to Kirby and the forgotten land and Mario 3d world. Just wish it was co op

[@1UpJohn]

I would love a Goemon collection! I can't see Konami paying for translation though but maybe it could be possible on at least some of the games. They did an English translation for Kid Dracula, so it's could happen!

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Yeah, maybe a "best hits" of the series, translate one or two of the Super Famicom games, a Famicom or PS1 title, the DS game...

[@tokufan22]

I know how you feel. I wouldn't mind a compilation or reboot of some type myself. Honestly, I am still holding out hope they will release Goemon 64 and/or Goemons Great Adventure on the Nintendo virtual consoles. I would gladly upgrade my membership if they did that. Like you said......."A man can Dream"......

[@gabrielsauceda9109]

Yes please.

[@mikem3431]

There is a complete Goemon ps2 prototype available for download in English.

[@reubenc3830]

I also have this dream...

[@barry-allenthe-flash8396]

I'm with you 99%! I just don't know think Good-Feel are the only ones who could or should be behind a revival, especially with their bizarre adherence to Nintendo hardware loyalty instead of going multiplatform with their games (it's not like Nintendo cares to pump a lot of money into producing or marketing games like Wario Land Shake It or Yoshi's Wooly World). Their Goemon DNA is impressive, but I dunno, I think a new team could do a refreshing and successful reboot too if it went to the right people. The devs behind Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin over at Edelweiss capture a lot of Goemon vibes in that game for instance. They would be as close a match as, say, when Konami handed Bloober Team the keys to Silent Hill since they too were a horror game studio. Heck, I bet Wayforward could do a great job too even though they're westerners - they did do Contra 4 for Konami, after all, and tons of their games sport nothing but pure anime love (you don't get TRIGGER to animate cutscenes for your Shantae game if you _aren't_ a bunch of weebs after all, lol. Heck, a lot of Shantae games owe their design and structure to Goemon anyway!). Plus, they work well with Arc System Works when it comes to keeping the Double Dragon/River City/Kunio Kun games going strong nowadays. Ultimately though, I guess I'm just grasping at straws, lol. What's important is the message that GOEMON NEEDS TO COME BACK, and you are doing God's work by preaching this message, Jimmy! Keep banging that drum! Keep growing the cult! The Mystical Ninja-who's-really-a-Heroic-Thief-of-Japanese-Folklore needs to come back, and Konami needs to focus on that! I mean, Bomberman and Silent Hill are fine, whatever, and bringing Castlevania to games like Dead Cells is alright, _I guess._ Heck, Eden's Zero Pocket Galaxy actually looks like a really nice production (that should've targeted _consoles_ but I digress). The point is, they're doing... cautiously alright at the moment, let's say, but they gotta stop wasting time on stuff like CrimeSight and focus on bringing back Goemon first!

[@ImportGamingFTW]

You know, I have been thinking of picking up Sakuna for months now, almost pulled the trigger the other day, but I would like to find the North American limited edition for a decent price. Wayforward is great and would probably be the best Western team to work on a new Goemon, but I'm fully team Good Feel, if only because of their Goemon DNA, as you put it. Anyway, let's keep preaching the message, brother--MAKE GOEMON GREAT AGAIN!

[@sadizz455]

i'd love a new Goemon game that has unlocks for freshly translated versions of the older games.

[@riggles]

Goodfeel is already working on a spiritual successor to Goenon at least, concept shown a couple of years ago, and likely affected by the virus. I don't believe it's cancelled. Ebisu at the leading role for the project. The project has robots in an old edo era style setting and everything.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Yeah, the concept/setting art for it looked great! I'm hoping that something will come of it, whether the Goemon name is attached or not!

[@Crayolapup]

Have you seen Otogi Katsugeki Mameda no Bakeru: Oracle Saitarou no Sainan!! Its a Goemon Spiritual Successor on the Nintendo Switch.

[@Chicomite]

As you and I are probably equally as hardcore about Ganbare Goemon games, I wanna ask, does anyone know what happened to that Goemon fan site that had guides/maps/translations for almost every Goemon game? All the Gamefaq guides for stuff like Oedodaikaiten, or even the PS2 Goemon, reference that site for the maps to many of the games, and it's been down for at least about 10 years. For a Goemon collection, I'd be greedy, I want almost all of them on there. I don't really need to play the Famicom games over and over, but besides that, put it all on there. From SNES Mystical Ninja 1, and 2-4 on the Super Famicom, to Goemon's Great Adventure, the PS1 games, the amazing Game Boy Color Dynamite game, why not.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

You know it might sound weird, but I don't think I've ever been to that fan site! It sounds like it was awesome, though, and I too would like to know what happened to it. I would like all the Goemon games to make it to a collection, but having just ten or so would still be an impressive set. Sounds like it might be a fun topic for a video.

[@arunca190]

This needs to happen. I will pay big money for a Konami package of all the Goemon (translated). C’mon Konami.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

I'll throw in my buck o' five as well.

[@RawPower867]

ABSOLUTELY THIS NEEDS A COMEBACK. I've been begging for a new Goemon for, literally, decades. I would lose it if a Switch collection were released in English. Speaking of Good-Feel, they are working on a new game for Switch that appears to be very Goemon-like (judging by the concept art). They described it as a "comical action game set in Japan".

[@ImportGamingFTW]

I'm hoping for that Good-Feel game to be released...as something original, or as a Goemon title. The art really kindled the imagination!

[@coolchannelize15]

Underrated series! My favorite is Mystical Ninja starring Goemon! That game was my childhood and I wish for a remake or a port to the Nintendo 64 Switch online soon!

[@HidaSilverlight]

Every so often I do tweet at Konami asking for them to give Goemon some love, although it might not be seen by anyone. Lol I would love a collection.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Tweet mob.

[@coolchannelize15]

Is there any other way to message them? 😂

[@RiderWithTheScarf]

A Goemon collection would probably do wonders in Japan and for the fans who'd need more than one source for game preservation but when it comes to revival, we can only hope; GoodFeel is a great fit and it's the best out of all the options but something tells me they might have to approach Konami themselves, similar to what the indie studio behind the recent Getsufumaden revival did. It will be interesting to see such a scenario occur again. Here's hoping. I still like the future saga darnit😅

[@ImportGamingFTW]

I had no idea how the new Getsu Fuumaden came about, thanks for the info. Fingers crossed that Good Feel is "the one," I know they've kind of laid the groundwork for a new Goemon title, and it would just be a great and fitting pairing, I'm sure. Also, the futuristic Goemon games have grown on me over the years...but those characters/designs will never top the original!

[@RiderWithTheScarf]

@@ImportGamingFTW For sure, nothing beats the classics. It would be fun to even have some of the og actors come out of semi-retirement if possible for one last go, like Yasunori Matsumoto for Goemon.

[@boltsy1395]

love to see the games from the n64 to come back i love those games

[@HeronNobody]

Love the video. Still worth the watch

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Thanks, man!

[@RariLink6484]

Did you already find out that Goemon was added to a Super Smash Bros 64 Hack called "Smash Remix"?

[@ImportGamingFTW]

I did, actually! Thanks for stopping by to let me know, though.

[@nofaceyawl5368]

Ganbare Goemon is amazing, I don't get why they aren't rereleasing anything, not even in Japan or all places...It's mindboggling

[@ImportGamingFTW]

It really does boggle the mind!

[@arturolopez7251]

I had a dream this was real

[@nickiebanchou]

FACTS right there!

[@ImportGamingFTW]

That's riiiiiiight!

[@derossetmyers47]

I think the best thing to do for now would be to re-release the series in installments, sort of like the Valis games but in more relevant groups and far less expensive. I’d prefer the Super Famicom games first since they’re the ones ı want the most. Personally, ı’d also be interested in a collection with the futuristic games as well.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

I'm down for that method of release! As long as they're handled well (good technical ports, maybe some extra materials).

[@questions9856]

I agree. Its one of those games that make you who you are! That new spiritual successor to Goemon is cool I guess, but WHY NOT BRING BACK GOEMON!

[@kaishmuper]

Well, the wish came true, kinda. GoödFeël Banzai!!

[@prettyboybagel718]

Dude what part of Japan do you live in? I’m in Tohoku. I definitely wanna find Goemon merch but I can’t find it anywhere

[@ImportGamingFTW]

That's funny, I live in Tohoku as well--what part? I would recommend looking at Yahoo and Mercari, but there's been a huge drought of stuff in the past year or more, and what does show up that's uncommon or rare goes for crazy prices. If you want some of the more standard stuff, that's all there, and you could try the Surugaya online shop.

[@prettyboybagel718]

Dude, no way! I live out in Morioka. It would totally be an awesome if a man of culture such as yourself, joined my mates and I for a retro game night, sometime :) Do you have an Instagram account? I really do appreciate your help and insight. I Would love to nab one of those B2 Goemon promotional posters

[@maximoperez4751]

I want garbare goemon come back in 2025 thanks to limted run Games to added all Games from goemon games such as lcd game and video games

[@michaellegend6625]

Please remaster this game!!! I really love goemon 2 and it is very innovative unlike modern games like Call of duty!

[@UltraHealthyVideoGameNerd]

It seems illogical, but my favorite is Mystical Ninja 64. Yes, the 3D action rpg. I don't even understand it myself. After that is Shinsedai Shumei, the futuristic spinoff, although I can totally see why you would prefer the original style for a new game. I still seriously think you should learn to use Godot Engine or Gamemaker and just make a sequel yourself.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

I guess based on the games you're typically into, it IS illogical that Mystical Ninja 64 is your favorite...but damn, that's a good one! Man, you put that idea in my head about making a Goemon-ish game a while back and I think about it all the time, honestly. While I have your attention here, when is Violet making her way to Switch?

[@UltraHealthyVideoGameNerd]

@@ImportGamingFTW I've added a couple patches and the game is much better now, so I need to get off my ass and research publishers. Had one offer, but it would probably been only in Japan and Switch only. Pretty sure it can be accomplished with the year

[@LanEXHikari]

Let's us share that dream, and if any, hope that Konami realise they can milk that franchise too (not in pachinko form, mind you)

[@ImportGamingFTW]

I'm always dreading the day when one of my favorite franchise get revived, only for the title to follow with "THE PACHINKO."

[@Caspicum]

It only had one RPG right? That's why it never took off, needs more RPG. also what a silly name, Gan-berry Go-ey-man? How do you even say that?

[@ImportGamingFTW]

It's actually Ganberry Gooeyman and it's delicious. And more than one RPG, but none of them were as good as Arc the Lad: End of Darkness.

[@gamelife916]

Make video of Menkyo Torou ps1

[@practicallyneutral]

You've gotta get someone who's better at co-op than whoever is Sasuke at 0:56...

[@ImportGamingFTW]

That guy was THE WORST!

[@maximoperez4751]

#bringbackgoemon

[@ttora]

Most Switch owners only buys nintendo stuff. I don't know why people think retro collections are bound to be on the switch when they are often released on other consoles too and sell just as well maybe more. But yeah, just release a Goemon collection on Switch and let it die.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Well, I never said it had to be just on Switch, I just made some mock box art for the system. I don't know how it is outside of Japan, but Switch versions of games often sell much more than PS4/5 or other platforms, sometimes even twice as much, which is why I'm sure a lot of companies make it a priority to put their new games out on Nintendo's system despite having to "downgrade" a lot. Either way, I do tend to see a lot of older games for Switch than any other platform.

[@joehucker2367]

wouldn't get your hopes up and to be honest they probably wouldn't get the formula right. There are too many factors that plain prevent goemon from having a legitimate return to form with how society has plummeted nowadays, and even if, it wouldn't be done right, graphics gameplay or both, something would be wrong.

[@ImportGamingFTW]

While you're probably right--many of the numerous remakes, remasters or revivals have been disappointing, not just in gaming, but in all forms of media--movies, comics, TV, whatever. It's the the point where when I hear something from the past is making a comeback, I really have a cynical viewpoint from the get-go. I think a Goemon revival could be done to satisfy both old school fans and new gamers, but it's highly unlikely Konami would, could or wants to produce such a product.

[@joehucker2367]

​@@ImportGamingFTW cynicism is expected, people have started to lower media standards nowadays and companies are given a lot more say, therefore can cut corners at will. I find it copium that people call that new game made by good-feel and ebisu etsunobu anything close to goemon tbh. it plays nothing like any of them and is closer to kuru nara koi or mario 3d world, but it still looks fun and well designed, just nothing like what comes to mind when I think "goemon", gameplay and even visually. It sure looks better than anything else good feel put out before.

[@1upLeviathan]

❤️🍡🍙🇯🇵

[@ImportGamingFTW]

[@ZockAmigo]

It’s Konami…so chances are low 😢

[@ImportGamingFTW]

...never say never.

[@Drayton2k]

At this point just please translate the DS game

[@DarkbluesEXE25]

April Fool 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

[@ImportGamingFTW]

Nope--I didn't choose this date, and I do think Goemon needs to make a comeback.

[@SnappleRyRy89]

I know its not exactly a comeback revival but im finding more and more gamberry gooeyman kid ying games available with translation patches available for us baka gaijins. havent gotten to all of them yet, but really enjoyed Goemon zero and am currently trying out Ganbare Goemon: Uchuu Kaizoku Akogingu