Tanuki Justice

 Switch
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
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  1. GameGrin
    Jan 4, 2021
    85
    Tanuki Justice is a super fun and difficult game reminiscent of challenging games like Ninja Gaiden and Mega Man. Not much for a story here but has a lot of ninja throwing star action, what more do you really need.
  2. Nintendojo
    Feb 23, 2021
    83
    If the tension, pace, and feel of Cuphead appeal to you and you’re curious about something more streamlined and frantic, consider Tanuki Justice.
  3. Switch Player
    Jan 19, 2021
    80
    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.
  5. TheGamer
    Jan 10, 2021
    80
    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.
  6. Video Chums
    Dec 20, 2020
    80
    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.
  7. Hey Poor Player
    Dec 9, 2020
    80
    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.

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User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. SuperClaudio64
    Jan 15, 2022
    7
    Gioco carino che omaggia i vecchi videogiochi. Avrei preferito che avesse più livelli visto che in 20 minuti si finisce abbastanza bene, ma inGioco carino che omaggia i vecchi videogiochi. Avrei preferito che avesse più livelli visto che in 20 minuti si finisce abbastanza bene, ma in ogni caso è un buon gioco per i fan dei giochi old school.… Full Review »
  2. CreativeCatProd
    Dec 14, 2020
    9
    Tanuki Justice is a meticulous and masterfully crafted throwback to the best ninja games of the 16-bit era, but with a graphic style andTanuki Justice is a meticulous and masterfully crafted throwback to the best ninja games of the 16-bit era, but with a graphic style and soundtrack reminiscent of the Sega Master System. This quality alone makes this game a standout title for retro gaming fans, since the master system is a neglected treasure.

    The first level is a perfect homage to the Revenge of Shinobi and Ninja Spirit on the TurboGrafx-16. Indeed, the cute and colorful cats you play as in this game control pretty much the same as Ninja Spirit, only with more gravity and a double jump.

    The game is tough as nails. I find it awesome that there’s not even an “easy” mode, which telegraphs how much this game will just rock you until you master its creative and perfectly crafted levels. You get multiple lives and it’s often easy to pick up more as you play, but it’s one hit deaths all the way through to the boss. Thankfully, you continue right where you stand and you won’t have to replay any sections until you lose all your lives. Once a level is beaten you can start there or choose to play previous levels in order to beat your score.

    Some pro reviewers say stuff like this game is just a one to one throw back to the NES. It is not. First of all, it’s plainly a master system game. Second, you could not have played this on original hardware. It would not have been possible to play a game with this speed, detail, smooth frame rate, colors, and huge array of sprites. There’s no slow down or flicker here. And the level design is pretty much perfect. Very few games in the 80s and 90s had this much care put into them. Whoever made this has played A LOT of video games, because items are right where they should be, enemies too. There are no cheap deaths. There are no areas, that I’m aware of, where you take unnecessary damage. It’s great.

    The only real down side is that the levels, while tight, well designed, varied, and beautiful are also short. The game itself is short. But the wicked fun difficulty kept me coming back to master it, and the inclusion of 2-player simultaneous gameplay is always a HUGE plus in our household.

    We absolutely love this game. It’s worth the price. Especially if you were a fan of retro ninja games.    … Full Review »