Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Doraemon: Meikyū Daisakusen delivers a familiar yet refreshing action-puzzle experience that immediately captures your attention with its overhead maze design. Each stage tasks you with collecting every key to unlock the exit door, but doing so won’t be a walk in the park. Enemies patrol the corridors relentlessly, and you must cleverly dig holes to trap them. Once an enemy is stuck, you can choose to fill in the hole and dispatch them or leave them imprisoned while you explore further.

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What makes the gameplay particularly engaging is the variety of power-ups you’ll encounter. Whether it’s a trusty raygun that gives you ranged offense, a yo-yo for rapid strikes, or gadgets that extend your digging reach across multiple tiles, these temporary boosts reward exploration and strategic risk-taking. Timing is crucial when using these items, as missteps can lead to getting cornered by a horde of Gigazombie’s henchmen.

Boss encounters punctuate the action at key intervals, offering a satisfying change of pace. These larger foes require you to apply everything you’ve learned—maneuvering around hazards, timing your digs correctly, and maximizing any active weapon. The balance of puzzle-solving and light combat keeps the gameplay loop fresh and challenging throughout the adventure.

Graphics

On the Famicom hardware, Meikyū Daisakusen shines with vibrant, crisp sprites that bring Doraemon and company to life. Character designs stay true to the beloved anime style, making it easy for fans to recognize Nobita, Shizuka, Gian, and Suneo even at a glance. The color palette is bright and cheerful, which contrasts nicely against the darker tones of the labyrinthine levels.

The maze backgrounds are rendered with clear visual cues—breakable blocks, ladders, and trap doors all stand out distinctly, ensuring you’re never confused about the next step. Animations are smooth for the era: digging, trapping enemies, and triggering power-ups all carry just the right amount of snappy feedback to keep you engaged. Even enemy patrol patterns are communicated well through simple but effective movement loops.

Special effects during boss battles and power-up activations add a sprinkle of spectacle without overloading the limited hardware. When you fire a raygun or unleash a yo-yo swing, the brief flash and vibration are enough to enhance the sense of impact. Overall, the graphics strike a wonderful balance between nostalgic 8-bit charm and clear, functional design.

Story

The narrative setup is classic Doraemon: what begins as a carefree picnic quickly turns into a time-spanning rescue mission. Gigazombie’s evil interruption provides a straightforward but motivating plot—rescue Nobita, Shizuka, Gian, and Suneo, each trapped in different eras, and restore order. It’s a simple framework, but one that gives context to the diverse stage designs inspired by various time periods.

Throughout the game, brief text interludes and character portraits remind you of Doraemon’s mission and the stakes at hand. While the story rarely deepens beyond “save your friends,” it serves its purpose exceptionally well for a puzzle-action outing. The charm of the characters and the familiarity of their personalities add emotional weight to each rescue.

Fans will appreciate nods to the wider Doraemon universe, from the use of gadgets (of course!) to the interplay among your friends. Although the game doesn’t explore deep character arcs, the premise of time travel and camaraderie makes every stage feel like a mini-adventure in itself.

Overall Experience

Doraemon: Meikyū Daisakusen strikes an enticing balance between challenge and accessibility. Newcomers will find the basic mechanics easy to pick up—dig to trap, fill to defeat—but mastering enemy patterns and optimizing power-up usage takes real skill. As you advance, stages grow in complexity, encouraging replay to uncover more efficient routes or discover hidden secrets.

With its bite-sized levels and engaging puzzle dynamics, this title is perfect for quick play sessions or marathon runs. The moderate difficulty curve ensures you’ll seldom feel stuck for long, and the inclusion of password continue codes means you can jump back in without losing progress. On emulated platforms or through official re-releases, these features make the game feel remarkably player-friendly for a mid-80s release.

Overall, Meikyū Daisakusen remains a standout in the Doraemon catalog and a delightful reimagining of the Nichibutsu classic Kid no Hore Hore Daisakusen (later seen as Booby Kids and Cratermaze overseas). Its engaging maze puzzles, charming presentation, and steady progression make it a worthwhile pick for retro enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Strap on your time machine goggles—Doraemon awaits!

Retro Replay Score

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