The man who created Momotarō was no good at action games. So he set one rule for this one: nobody gets stuck.
Momotaro had spent the 1980s rolling across a board and levelling up in an RPG; on September 21, 1990 he stepped sideways into a scrolling action stage. Akira Sakuma, who created the whole Momotaro series, was no good at action games. So he set one rule. Anyone, no matter how clumsy with a controller, had to be able to reach the ending. The advertising copy promised it. In translation from the Japanese: 'Guaranteed ending! Absolutely exciting!' Most action games of the era were built to test you. This one was built to make sure you finished. No child holding the controller was going to be left behind at the first wall.
— inspired by Akira Sakuma
About this game
Momotarō Katsugeki went on sale in Japan on September 21, 1990, and never left — Hudson made no overseas version, so every copy is the Japanese HuCard. The shop and NPC dialogue are untranslated, and the action asks you to read nothing to follow it.
Gallery
Tricks & Tales
Series creator Akira Sakuma proposed the whole difficulty design himself: everyone reaches the ending. The catchphrase came out of that decision — in translation from the Japanese, 'Guaranteed ending! Absolutely exciting!' This was the first action game in the Momotaro series, which until then meant the Momotaro Densetsu RPGs and the Momotaro Dentetsu board games. The stages are a tour of Japanese folktales: Urashima's seaside village, Kachi-Kachi Mountain (where a rabbit takes revenge on a tanuki), an Issun-boshi level set inside an oni's body, the bamboo-cutter's village, and finally Onigashima.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The PC Engine (Japan) and TurboGrafx-16 (North America) share the same physical HuCard slot shape but are not compatible with each other's software. NEC deliberately reversed the data bus wiring between the two regions: data pin D0 on the PC Engine corresponds to D7 on the TurboGrafx-16, and so on through all eight lines. Beyond the hardware wiring difference, most North American HuCards contain region-checking code that detects a Japanese console and immediately crashes. Converters that electrically flip the data bus do exist and allow cross-region play. CD-ROM² discs themselves carry no region protection and play freely on both systems—however, the System Cards required to boot CD software are region-locked in the same way as HuCards, so a Japanese System Card cannot be used in a TurboGrafx-16 and vice versa.
Maintenance Tips
HuCard contacts are the most common maintenance point on the PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16. The card's edge connector oxidizes over decades of storage, causing failure-to-read and graphical glitches. Cleaning with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab—gently wiping the gold contacts on the card itself—resolves most contact issues; stubborn oxidation responds to dedicated contact cleaners such as DeoxIT. Never blow into the card slot with your mouth, as moisture accelerates the very corrosion you are trying to remove. On systems equipped with the CD-ROM² or Super CD-ROM² add-on, the optical drive is subject to the same age-related laser and sled degradation seen in any CD system of that era; the laser assembly uses a KSS-220a-type unit on the Super CD-ROM² and replacement parts remain available.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Momotarō Katsugeki copies regularly.
When was Momotarō Katsugeki released?
September 21, 1990, in Japan only, published by Hudson Soft for the PC Engine (HuCard). There was no overseas TurboGrafx-16 release, so any copy you find is the Japanese original.
Is this game in English?
No. Momotarou Katsugeki was a Japan-only PC Engine release and never received an international version, so all text and menus are in Japanese. The action itself is easy to follow, but shop and NPC dialogue is untranslated.
Is this the RPG or the board game everyone knows?
Neither. People often confuse the Momotaro titles. This is the side-scrolling ACTION game (Katsugeki), not the Momotaro Densetsu RPG or the Momotaro Dentetsu board game — a different genre with the same hero.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Momotarō Katsugeki
A short checklist for buying used PC Engine software wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Make sure it fits your console
Japanese PC Engine HuCards and CDs are not compatible with the North American TurboGrafx-16 — the formats differ. Use a Japanese PC Engine system.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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HuCard or CD-ROM² — know which you're buying
PC Engine games come on HuCard chips or on CD-ROM². CD titles also require the right CD system and a working System Card.
Confirm the format in the listing, and for CDs check the disc surface and that saves are supported.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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