Truely, a Great Adventure

Author's Rating:

Pros: Amazing graphics, nice music, pretty good translation, great level and character design; brightly coloured, extreme variety, a side scroller on N64 that actually comes off well.

Cons: A plot so shallow that if it were a puddle, you wouldn't even get your feet wet. Some obnoxious bugs.

Author's Review
And I thought the first Goemon N64 game was good! This game is absolutely incredible. The graphics are spectacular, the lighting is very realistic, the level design is unique and challenging, the character designs are extremely varied, zany, and brightly coloured, and there are many surprises and extra missions tucked away in here. My only complaints are some of the glitches, graphical (polygons becoming a bit see through...) and otherwise (most of them have to do with things like passing through enemies, or falling through a raft you've been riding on for ages). This is much longer and more challenging than its predecessor, and I feel this is the first side-scroller for the N64 that really works. The game also has the original japanese dialogue subtitled in english, which I am very relieved at as they left that out of the first N64 Goemon game, and it's far better with the speech. The graphics are also better than Mystical Ninja 64, which is surprising as, if you've played it, you know how gorgeous they were in the first game, too.
There is also true game time, which affects many aspects of the game. More enemies come out at night, and you get more money for fighting them. Some secrets and missions can also only be carried out at night, or are timed (you usually have until six pm to complete them). There is also a two player feature, which is REALLY helpful if you've got someone to play with, as piggybacking can make players jump farther and increase their weapon power. There are many secret/optional missions and such in here, which help to further the game's replay value. I can go through a level dozens of times, and then suddenly find something I've never seen before, which is quite nice. The game is also very long, a significant improvement over its predecessor.
Unfortunately, the one thing this game lacks is a good plot. It's not very interesting or original, and is far more stupid than anything else. It feels like Konami scripted it at the eleventh hour in an effort to piece the levels together and make the release date. Something about defeating Ebisumaru in drag and trying to stop the resurrection of some ghost she's got the hots for; I don't get it. :| It is funny to hear the guy who does Ebisumaru make his voice go even higher, though...
Thankfully, the translation on this game is relatively good. Not perfect, but better than most. Oh, one other thing, be sure you have a controller pack or you won't be able to save. DEFINITELY try this one out. You won't regret it!