also known as Ganbare Goemon - Neo Momoyama Bakufu no Odori
Nintendo 64
🇬🇧
Reviewed in 1998
76
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✪ Reviewed on September 19, 2023
68
The first 3D Goemon to reach the West, from Konami. The whimsical musical world, the mecha-sized bosses and the off-kilter humour translate beautifully into 3D. The soundtrack is delicious, the staging brims with ideas and the adventure outstrips all expectations. A genuine N64 hidden gem.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player7+
Description
First 3D Goemon on Nintendo 64, where Goemon and companions save Japan from an evil theatre troupe intent on turning it into a showbiz stage. Published by Konami, released in 1997 in Europe and North America. Four distinct characters, semi-open world, melee combat, and fiercely Japanese humor.
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Long"
Technical info
💾0,01 GB📅11/03/1998
Published by Konami
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon (N64) price, value & rarity
The only North American release of Konami's long-running Ganbare Goemon series, out in 1998 and the franchise's first move into 3D. Its importance lies in this role as the Western gateway to a Japanese universe that stayed largely unreleased outside the archipelago, with its humor and giant robots remaining cult favorites. The US cartridge became a coveted piece because it is, for the English-speaking audience, the sole official access to this emblematic series of Japanese gaming.
An underrated gem
The Goemon gang's first leap into 3D, this loopy adventure blends platforming, dungeons and a giant robot in a thoroughly bonkers feudal Japan. Technically uneven and erratic in pacing, it divided players. But its zany charm, its catchy soundtrack and its unique humour make it a trip that the J-game curious would do well to take.
Is Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon still worth playing in 2026?
Ganbare Goemon - Neo Momoyama Bakufu no Odori is the 3D entry of Konami's zany series, in which Goemon and Ebisumaru save a fantasized Japan in a totally offbeat musical and burlesque universe. The absurd humor, the variety of levels, the giant robot fights and the lively soundtrack make it an adventure full of personality, faithful to the franchise's spirit. The 3D handling and camera call for some adaptation. For fans of the Goemon series and wacky Japanese action-adventure, it is a singular gem.
