Cave and G.rev craft a soft, colourful vertical shooter starring the child hero Mamoru, in which shooting must avoid killing enemies too quickly. The tender art direction and original scoring system contrast pleasantly with Cave's usual manic offerings.
Your verdict
Category
Shooter1 player12+
Description
Shoot-em-up by G.Rev and Kadokawa, Japan June 2009. Defenders battle demon waves in shooting levels with Yoshis bomb mechanics - transforming enemy bullets into resources. Advanced scoring based on cursed-state destruction and distinct ability characters. Cult Japan Xbox 360 exclusive shoot-em-up.
Mamoru-kun wa Norowarete Shimatta! review
3/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Polished"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Very short"
Turning enemy bullets into resources: such is the spring of this G.Rev shooter, where defenders battle waves of demons. The run is short, but the bomb system and cursed-state scoring open a performance field. Its brevity turns into a quest for mastery, where you replay to exploit every ability and polish your chains.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
A G.rev shmup, Mamoru-kun wa Norowarete Shimatta brings to Xbox a vertical shooter with offbeat charm and an original scoring system, kept Japan-only. Printed in low quantity, it has become a sought target for genre fans. Its interest combines this singular tone and a real physical scarcity proper to the Japanese shmup.
Is Mamoru-kun wa Norowarete Shimatta! still worth playing in 2026?
Released on Xbox 360 in Japan, Gulti's Mamoru-kun wa Norowarete Shimatta! is a vertical shoot them up of singular charm, blending a cute aesthetic with a bold scoring system based on proximity to enemies. The closer you fire, the higher the multiplier climbs, creating a constant tension between caution and greed. The colourful art direction and the cheerful mood contrast with the genre's frequent austerity. The content stays limited and the distribution confidential. But the scoring mechanic hooks. For devotees of Japanese shmups and collectors of rare gems, this overlooked title keeps a real interest today.
