122. Nagagutsu o Haita Neko: Sekai Isshuu 80 Nichi Daibouken (Shouei, Famicom, 1986)

Nagagutsu o Haita Neko: Sekai Isshuu 80 Nichi Daibouken is based on a 1976 Toei Animation movie, which was a mashup of Puss in Boots & Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days. The game takes this plot and sets it in a very basic platformer. You are able to shoot, jump, and move, though none of these control in an inspired way. There is a counter on the screen during each level that is counting down the hours and days, which is at least a novel feature.

The graphics are pretty ugly, even for 1986, but the game gets a decent amount of variety out of them, reusing a lot but inserting certain one-off features makes levels feel more real / varied. Similarly, you travel in different vehicles in different levels, which all control basically the same as when you are walking, but they give the levels a different feel. It's pretty amusing that your boat can jump, and there are even huge hills made out of water like big waves that were pretty striking. I don't think I've ever played a platformer with a jumping boat before (really, I probably have but can't remember it).

The gameplay itself though is pretty barebones, a lot of the time you are just running to the right, waiting for any enemies to poke out so you can instantly turn and shoot them. At least the boat is able to shoot upwards, which makes the numerous aerial enemies trivial to deal with. Every level has the exact same music and the same boss, which really makes the game feel like it was made on a budget. The game was eventually retooled as Puss n Boots: Pero's Great Adventure and released on the NES, so I wonder if that version is any better.

2/5, a platformer that makes the most out of what it has, I just wish it had more in the first place.