Review of Kaiketsu Yanchamaru 3-Taiketsu! Zouringen 

Kaiketsu Yanchamaru 3(a.k.a Kid Niki 3 in US title) was released in 1993 by irem. It was a final sequel of Yanchamaru series. Unlike first two Yanchamaru series,"Kaiketsu Yanchamaru 3" has been popular since the famicom age was over.

Plot of the game:
Again princess has been kidnapped by enemies. The princess send a help message in the scrap of paper and then sends a airplane out of her prison which located by the higher tower. Fortunately the airplane reached to her boy friend which is Yanchamaru,and Yanchamaru him self set out his journey to save her.


Game play:
The game is standard side scrolling game. Unlike second game this time there is no map screen. In this game there are 7 stages in total. Each of the stages has large map to explore. To complete the each stage(except final stage)you need to get keys to open the doors and at the end of the each stage there are boss fighting.There are lot of coins in the stage.Each time if you collect at least 20 coins,you can access to enter a bonus stage which is popping three balloons and if you mach exact same three item they will give you a weapons to help to complete the stages.

The character:
Yanchamaru appears with new debution. He appears as a classic samurai looking and his weapon also changed into a white stick(at the time it was known as sword in the manual) instead of spinning sword in previous Yanchamaru games. Unlike first two game, Yanchamaru does a lot of actions by using sticks.

Actions and Controls:
The controls were simple like other games. Left and right on the D-pad makes Yanchamaru move. Press down at the D-pad makes Yanchamaru duck.Button "A" is simply jump button and button "B" is basicily shooting laser(or beam). There are also a other actions.

Stab Jumping:
By jumping on the air press "B" and down on the D-pad at the same time you can do a stab jump. Stab jump can defeat the enemies by jump on them.
He can also stab jumping more higher by press the "A" button.

Sliding:
By press down on the D-pad to make Yanchamaru ducking at the same time press "A" button which make Yanchamaru to slide. This skill can be helpful to pass through the narrow side. This skill is similar as a later "Mega Man" series.

Wall jumping:
By jump into the higher wall at the same time press "B" button to make him grab the wall and after that release the "B" button and makes Yanchamaru to wall jump. This skill is helpful for reaching the higher place which Yanchamaru cannot reach by normal jumping.

Spinning:
By holding "B" button and few second when Yanchamaru is blinking then release the "B" button to make him spinning.This is the other way to defeat the enemies and this skill gives a lot of damage to each boss.

Ground wall jumping(a.K.a back flip)
By charging Yanchamaru by pressing "B" button and move to any wall and you can see Yanchamaru is pressing his stick into the wall and release the "B" button to make him back flip.

Swimming:
The swimming control in this game is totally different than other games.Unlike pressing "A" button like other games(for example Super Mario Bros)
in this game you have to press "B" button to make Yanchamaru to swim. This causes a problem which later on stage 2(the only stage which you have to swim)it is impossible to defeat the enemies(such as sharks)by shooting beam.The reason is because you have to press "A" button to get out of the water.

Back attacking:
By pressing up on your D-pad and press "B" button at the same time you can back attack.

Music and graphics:
The graphics in this game is much similar to "Super Mario Bros". It was more cheesier than the previous games. The music also cheesy and addictable. Each of the stage theme was perfectly fit with the background of the stage. The theme of the game is similar to "Ganbare Goemon" themes.

Items:
There are items to help Yanchamaru to complete the stages.

Big heart:It gives half of the health to Yanchamaru. These item are making appearance of each stage.It helpful when ever Yanchamaru almost got killed.

Small heart:It has a same role as the big heart. But it only gives 1 over 3 of the health. This item only makes brief appearance at the final stage.

Princess head:The princess head gives Yanchamru a full health when Yanchamaru is almost killed. This item made first appearance in stage 2.

Rolled paper:It seems like this is something like paper which "spells" were written. It`s bascily an invincibility but unlike game like "Super Mario Bros" it makes Yanchamaru to through all the enimies.You can only get this item by killing random enemies.

The items from bonus stage:

Rolled paper:It is invincibility which works only for few second.You can this item by match 3 exact same golden coins.

Red cloth:It makes Yanchamru into the red color.It is still unknown if this item is helpful or not. You can get this item by match 3 exact same princess head.

Dragon fire beam: This makes Yanchamaru instead of shooting normal flame, it makes him to shoot fire. The fire is more powerful than normal beam, and it can also killed 2~3 enemies at the same time instead of shooting only one.Dragon Fire beam can also pass through the wall.You can get this item by match 3 exact same Yanchamaru`s head.

Trivia:
*Unlike first two Yanchamaru series the stages does not include the pits or holes,instead they put lots of spikes.
*Stage 2 is the only the stage which you have to swimming.
*This game has a translated rom on "romhacking.net"
*This game has a bootleg hack which is known as "Super Mario 14".And the also known as "Ninja Gaiden 4" and "Kid 333" as a bootleg title.

Conclusion:
The game has a little difficulty but because of that it made the game more challenging.Overall the game is ok and it made one of the best Yanchamaru game series.