Yatterman DS: Bikkuri Dokkiri Daisakusen da Koron

About

Yatterman DS is a side-scrolling platformer built for the Nintendo DS. You control the eponymous hero, a duo of bumbling but well-meaning crime fighters who leap, dash, and shout their way through levels. Combat revolves around simple button mashing and timing-based attacks while navigating floating platforms and avoiding hazards. The DS touch screen lets you scribble paths to solve environmental puzzles, and the microphone can be used to trigger specific in-game effects. The controls feel awkward at times but add to the chaotic charm. The game leans heavily into its source material's campy humor and kaiju-sized villains. Levels are packed with frantic set pieces and visual gags that play up the absurdity of the Yatterman universe. Though it has a cult following in Japan, the title remains obscure outside its region. With 15 levels and a focus on quick, explosive action, it’s a niche pick for fans of 2000s-era platformers. The lack of multiplayer and dated graphics keep it from broader appeal but work in its favor as a time capsule of late-00s handheld gaming.