Puss 'n Boots: Pero's Great Adventure brings Toei Animation’s iconic feline mascot to the 8-bit stage in a globe-trotting platformer loosely inspired by Jules Verne’s most famous work. Taking on the role of Pero, players must traverse various international locales ranging from London to the North Pole within a thematic eighty-day time limit. The game’s DNA is rooted in its 1986 Famicom predecessor, though Western players did not receive the localized version until 1990 via Electro Brain. It serves as a colorful, whimsical tribute to the character who eventually became the permanent face of one of Japan’s most legendary animation studios.
The gameplay is a blend of traditional side-scrolling platforming and vehicular combat sections, keeping the pacing brisk and varied throughout. Pero utilizes swords and projectile items to dispatch enemies, but the real highlights are the stages featuring ships, balloons, and submarines that break up the on-foot action. While the controls are responsive, the difficulty curve is notably gentle, making it an ideal entry point for younger gamers or those looking for a stress-free retro experience. Each stage is relatively brief, emphasizing momentum and visual variety over complex level design, which allows players to breeze through the continents at a satisfying clip.
Visually, the title captures the bright, Saturday-morning cartoon aesthetic that Toei is famous for, featuring large sprites and distinct backdrops for each country visited. Despite its short length—it can be completed in under thirty minutes by an experienced player—it remains a charming curiosity in the NES library. The music is catchy, if a bit repetitive, and the overall polish reflects a developer comfortable with the hardware’s limitations. It may not offer the depth of a flagship Nintendo title, but as a licensed tie-in, it manages to be far more competent and enjoyable than many of its contemporary counterparts.
