Based on the eccentric commercials for Nissin’s instant noodles, *UFO Kamen Yakisoban: Kettler no Kuroi Inbō* is a surreal beat 'em up that could only have emerged from 1990s Japan. Players take control of the titular hero, a caped crusader with a bowl of yakisoba for a head, as he battles the villainous Kettler to rescue his kidnapped bride-to-be. The production values are surprisingly high for what essentially began as a promotional item, featuring large, expressive sprites and a vibrant color palette that perfectly captures the "tokusatsu" parody aesthetic of the live-action source material.
Mechanically, the game follows the standard belt-scrolling formula established by *Final Fight*, though it leans heavily into its comedic theme. Yakisoban utilizes a variety of sauce-based special moves and projectile attacks to clear screens of bizarre enemies, including sentient kettles and various food-themed goons. While the difficulty is relatively low and the campaign can be cleared in under an hour, the inclusion of several mini-games and the sheer polish of its presentation prevent it from feeling like a hollow marketing exercise.
Despite its niche appeal, the title remains a fascinating artifact of a time when cross-media branding dominated the Super Famicom landscape. *Yakisoban* occupies the opposite end of that spectrum, remaining a strictly Japanese curiosity that never officially made the leap to Western shores, though it has since earned a dedicated following among global import collectors.
