Play Youkai Douchuuki Online

Summary

Yōkai Dōchūki (often shortened to Yokai Dochuuki) is a fast‑paced platformer that drops you into the Japanese concept of Hell, where you control a boy named Tarosuke. Your primary tool is a chargeable Ki bullet; hold the fire button to boost its power, but beware of overcharging, which leaves you vulnerable for a moment. Money drops from defeated foes and can be spent at in‑level shops for items that aid your progress. Each of the five stages offers branching routes, and the paths you choose affect which of the five possible endings you’ll see at the end.

Boss encounters break the usual run‑and‑gun rhythm: you kneel at a shrine, summon the spirit Monmotaro, and then pilot the floating entity to unleash powerful energy attacks. The Family Computer port adds a “pious” meter that fills when you complete good‑deed objectives, further influencing the final outcome. Critics praised the game’s graphics and multiple endings, earning it several Gamest awards and a spot in Famitsu’s Silver Hall of Fame. Tarosuke later resurfaced as a playable cameo in Namco X Capcom and Project X Zone 2, keeping the title’s quirky charm alive for newer generations.

Storyline

Youkai Douchuuki follows the misadventures of Tarosuke, a boy exiled to the Japanese concept of Hell (jigoku) after causing trouble in the world of the living. He must trek through five distinct regions—such as the Gateway to Hell and the Ghost Sea—fighting monsters, gathering money, and hunting for hidden items. At the end of each of the first four stages he confronts an oni guardian, and by kneeling at a shrine to Buddha he summons the spirit Monmotaro to aid him. The final stage’s tally of money and defeated foes determines which of five possible endings he receives, ranging from a heavenly ascent to a return to Hell. One branch of the game even leads to a racy dance‑hall show where Tarosuke receives a mysterious box; opening it can grant a 10,000‑coin windfall or transform him into an old man until he purchases a specific item, echoing the Urashima Tarō legend.