Tanuki Justice

If the tension, pace, and feel of Cuphead appeal to you and you’re curious about something more streamlined and frantic, consider Tanuki Justice.

Tanuki Justice is a high-quality, retro-inspired, hardcore platformer that vibrates with the personality of the era that it pays respects to. It is very short, but for those that prefer an all killer no filler approach, it’s money well spent.

Otherwise, Tanuki Justice is an absolute delight. The 8-bit graphics are about as detailed as you can get, with backdrops and background animations that are brought to life, thanks to the game’s vibrant colors and smooth animations. There were moments when I forgot I was playing a Switch game, since Tanuki Justice does a great job of providing a NES feel while playing, with a shoot ‘em up factor that brings the gameplay into the modern era.

Not many indies completely nail retro arcade games as well as Tanuki Justice does so if you love 2D action then this is a must-have game.

I can’t help but be charmed by Tanuki Justice. It’s the second game I’ve played published by Storybird Studio, and it’s another great retro throwback. Yes, it’s challenging and sometimes unforgiving, but it’s also a hell of a lot of fun. The few modern conventions here do ultimately make it a more well-rounded package, as well as elements like being able to select stages in any order once you’ve beaten them or try it with another player. And while I do feel it’s a bit pricey, it’s still pretty easy to recommend at less than $20. If you’re a fan of retro-looking for something new, this is a great holiday treat.

Tanuki Justice has the retro spirit of arcade games from the 80s and 90s, with pretty solid gameplay and challenging levels. Maybe a little more content and a little more personality are missing.

Tanuki Justice is a real "your mileage may vary" type of situation. [Issue #51 – March/April 2021, p. 19]

Tanuki Justice is a homage to 8-bit era action platformers and does a good job at that, with its mix of simple action and frantic boss fights, along with a lovely visual style. At the same time time, Tanuki Justice does not particularly stand out in any of its components, and despite its good formula it doesn't rise above its peers.

Tanuki Justice feels exactly like a 90s platformer, with its colourful levels and cute characters that, combined with the difficult but well crafted levels make it a recommendable game for any retro player.

Tanuki Justice is typically ‘retro’ in terms of its overall presentation. The colourful, pixel-heavy visuals pay homage to NES titles (although the art design often screams Sonic), and the soundtrack features some catchy, albeit rather repetitive tunes. There are a couple of annoying quirks typical of some 8-bit games, like the inability to jump down through a platform, and items disappearing after just a few short seconds. Otherwise, if you’re after a fun little run ‘n’ gun platformer reminiscent of early Mega Man titles, this might just be the one for you.

Tanuki Justice is an enjoyable and welcome retro release, one that recaptures the magic of ninja action games like Shinobi and Ninja Gaiden while adding some bullet hell shenanigans to provide a different type of challenge. There are some mechanical imperfections and omissions which do hamper the intended fast-paced ninja action. Still, the experience as a whole tends to shine through thanks to its vibrant presentation and strong level design.

Unlike the assortment of “retraux” games spotted in recent years, Tanuki Justice is firmly and proudly retro. This release could absolutely have been a sleeper hit on the original NES with no adjustment. Unfortunately, it also lacks a certain sense of contemporary pizazz, with limited combat variation and some old tropes that have been largely extinguished since. Pickups fade if not retrieved in time, tanukis cannot “jump down” by pressing down and the jump button, something which can cut a player off from a ledge, and a few levels feature trouble discerning between what’s background art or a stable ledge. These are the details that would have been excused in the past - and fans of those games will arguably do the same here - but it does make certain sections feel cheap or inelegant. Still, for anyone jonesing for some old-school pick-up-and-play NES action, Tanuki Justice will satisfy that urge on the Switch.

Tanuki Justice is a throwback to the run and gun games of the 80s and 90s, for better or for worse. While it does sport some challenging difficulty and a distinct pixel art style, some of it goes into unfair territory and ends up being an exercise in frustration.