Kitano měl svoji vlastní Yakuzu dřív, než to bylo cool
Hey fellow weirdos! It's Javi here, bringing you another dive into the depths of Japanese media.
Takeshi Kitano, or Beat Takeshi, is a true Japanese renaissance man: film director, comedian, actor, author, screenwriter, poet, painter—the list goes on. You might recognize him as Yoshitaka Nishi in Hana-bi or the terrifying Kitano-sensei in Battle Royale. In a moment of inspired madness, he decided to add "video game designer" to his eclectic resume. The result? A game so baffling, it makes abstract art look straightforward.
Introducing Takeshi's Challenge, a 1986 title for the Famicom created by Taito Corporation. When the production team approached Kitano to lend his name to their new video game, he didn’t just say "yes" and cash the check. No, he dove into the project with gusto. Kitano wanted to make something unique, and boy, did he succeed. The game he concocted is part action-adventure, part existential crisis simulator.
Takeshi's Challenge thrusts players into the shoes of a disgruntled salaryman who dreams of finding treasure on a remote South Seas island. But before you can even think about palm trees and buried gold, you have to navigate the drudgery of daily life in Japan. Get yelled at by your boss? Check. Divorce your wife? Double check. Learn to play the shamisen because, apparently, treasure hunting requires musical prowess? Triple check.
The game's development story is just as quirky as its gameplay. Legend has it that Kitano came up with the plot during a drunken bar visit. While this might sound unbelievable, it perfectly captures the game's chaotic spirit. Kitano’s hands-on approach led to some truly unique features, including using the Famicom’s microphone for karaoke segments—innovative even by today's standards.
Kitano even starred in cryptic commercials for the game, providing hints that were more confusing than helpful. These ads are as much a part of gaming folklore as the game itself.
Takeshi's Challenge is infamous for its punishing difficulty and surreal tasks. But beneath the frustration lies a glimpse into the mind of Takeshi Kitano—a man who dared to make a game that defied conventions and left players questioning their life choices.