Osomatsu-kun: Hachamecha Gekijō

Osomatsu-kun: Hachamecha Gekijō
Full Title	Osomatsu-kun: Nonsense Theater
Alternate Titles
Japanese Title	おそ松くん はちゃめちゃ劇場
Information
Developer	Sega
Publisher	Sega
Platforms	Mega Drive
Release Date	December 24, 1988

Osomatsu-kun: Hachamecha Gekijō (おそ松くん はちゃめちゃ劇場) is a side-scrolling platformer game released exclusively for Sega's Mega Drive system in Japan on December 24, 1988. It is the first Osomatsu-kun-themed video game and the fourth Japanese Mega Drive game overall.

Plot

Iyami and Chibita have kidnapped Karamatsu, Choromatsu, Ichimatsu, Jyushimatsu, and Todomatsu in retaliation for being attacked by them and Osomatsu. Osomatsu sets out to rescue them, armed only with a slingshot. The plot of the game is presented in a short manga in the manual.

Gameplay

The player controls Osomatsu Matsuno whilst using his only weapon, a slingshot, to bring down enemies. Specific paths must be taken in order to proceed to the next section of the level with each stage containing an Iyami boss at the end.

Upon clearing a stage, both Osomatsu's health and slingshot range are increased.

Throughout the game various items can be found or obtained from enemies upon defeating them. These items each provide a small benefit to Osomatsu.

• Ramune Soda – Slightly restores health.
• Cupcake – Decently restores health.
• Chocolate – Moderately restores health.
• Ramen – Greatly restores health.
• Totoko Doll – Increases health capacity.
• Osomatsu Card – Provides an extra life if six are collected.
• Ribbons – A form of currency to be exchanged at Totoko's Shop.

Sometimes the player may encounter Totoko's Shop, where Ribbons can be exchanged for special items.

Before entering Totoko's shop in stage 1 the player has the chance to play a ghost leg-based minigame. If won, the player will receive health, whereas if they lose their ribbon amount will reduce.

Before entering Totoko's shop in stage 2, the player has a chance to play a slot machine minigame.

• If three Osomatsu are matched up the player will receive an extra life.
• If three Totoko are matched up, the player will have their health restored.
• If three Dekapan are matched up, the player will have their ribbons tripled.
• If three Iyami are matched up, the player may lose their ribbons.

After entering Totoko's Shop various items can be purchased, but only once.

• Wings (15 Ribbon) – Allows Osomatsu to fly for a short period of time.
• Octopus (20 Ribbon) – Allows Osomatsu to run faster for a short period of time.
• Firework (15 Ribbon) – Throws a firework some distance which explodes after some moments, greatly damaging all enemies within range. If Osomatsu receives damage before it explodes then it will disappear.
• Barrier (30 Ribbon) – Momentarily makes Osomatsu immune to attacks (excluding bosses).
• Mustard (50 Ribbon) – Wipes out all enemies on-screen (excluding stage end bosses).
• Bone (40 Ribbon) – Summons a cat to aid Osomatsu.

Development

Fujio Akatsuka, who was not fond of video games, allegedly threw an ashtray at one of the developers.

Reception

The game was panned by reviewers and often left labeled as a crappy game (kusoge).

Some of the most notable problems throughout the game includes:

• Poor game controls, along with bugs and game crashes.
• Confusing level design; where the player needs to fall off certain ledges, jump onto specific clouds, etc. in order to proceed correctly, otherwise they would be looped back to the beginning of the stage. This also lead to the ability to easily complete the game within minutes if the correct route was known.
• The abrupt ending and its scene that was unrelated to the game plot.
• The manual introducing the game's three stages and claiming it had more.

Videos

CM MD SEGA おそ松くん 「時代の先行くメガドライブ」