Title: Kero Kero Cowboy

Developer: MetagameMike

Publisher: MetagameMike

Released Date: May 7, 2025

Platforms: itch.io or .gbc format

Reviewed On: .gbc format on Same Boy  

Introduction

Kero Kero Cowboy is a western themed platformer in Game Boy Color style.

Synopsis

Take on the role of a frog in a 10-gallon hat wielding a six shooter and amphibian tongue action as you take out the bad guys to save the west.  

Analysis

You are an amphibian cowboy, taking on the responsibility to rid the west of a vile bunch known as the Ferocious Five. These stellar examples of criminalistic animals are set in 5 different areas as you hop and destroy their villainous ways.

The gameplay

Kero Kero Cowboy puts you in the boots of a frog who is also a cowboy. As a side scrolling platformer your goal is to make it through each level and reach the boss. There are five worlds each with 4 levels and a boss fight. You have 3 hearts, 3 lives, and 6 bullets to help you in your task to victory. Each level consistently gets harder as you progress through the story, which makes you adjust how you tackle each level.

The level structure is consistent throughout each world. You have a theme for each world, giving it unique feel for each stage you play. As you go through the level you will need to collect coins, which has a dual purpose. The first is like many other games, collect one hundred coins and receive an extra life. The other purpose is halfway through each level there will be a dog, roasting a hotdog by a fire. You may sit down and pay 10 coins to restart as a halfway point if you fail your mission. If you manage to get to the end of the level the game will automatically save, and you are free to start the next level.

The enemies in the game can vary in each world, giving the player a somewhat challenging road ahead. Some enemies like raccoons will shoot bullets at you and you must doge and fire back, remember you only have 6 bullets and can be depleted unless enemies drop them for you as well as hearts too. Some enemies you can’t eliminate, some you can’t jump on, and some can reappear. You will have a few tricks to use to combat them besides your revolver and tongue. I encountered a boot, much like the kuribo shoe in Super Mario Bros. 3, that allowed you to stomp on cacti and sharp objects. You also could hop in a mine cart that you could either brake or speed up much like in Donkey Kong Country.  Lastly, a spicy pepper makes you run faster and are temporarily invincible for a short time. I enjoyed the variety amongst each level.

What I enjoyed a lot was the various experiences of each boss fight in each world provided the player. Some were straightforward where you came across the boss, and you needed to hit him until you defeated him. Other bosses like World 4 had a more dynamic boss. You need to climb a mountain and avoid oncoming snowballs as you chase after a bear who wants to rid you of your existence. Some bosses also have multi-tier fights adding in some extra layers and effort.

In addition to playing within each level and defeating the bosses and additional challenge was added. In each level there can be 3-star coins for the player to try and collect, it can be a daunting task but not impossible. It’s up to you to collect them and see what could happen.

Final Score

Kero Kero Cowboy was a fantastic platformer that encapsulated both a new experience with that of a retro game boy charm. The visuals, music and challenging gameplay gave me plenty of risk and reward. I always strived to get through each level as smoothly as I could, but what added extra challenge is when you either don’t pay or have enough money to pay the dog for your halfway checkpoint. This added some extra fun to stay focused and reach the end of the level.

A few issues arose from the sandy scenery. I had some portions of the game lag causing slower jump times and a higher risk of either death from an enemy or from a fall. This was noticeable in the later levels, and I made it part of the challenge while trying to speed run through it. I also had a few phasing issues where sometimes a jump would land a kill of an enemy and other times; I would phase through it phased or unphased. Just part of the quirks in any game you play that you try to compete against and so long as it’s not game breaking you can overcome it.

This game was so much fun and gave me some nostalgic vibes in the best ways. The music was catchy, gameplay was fun to master, and I loved the choices in boss and level design. If you have a love for platformers, Game Boy types of games, or if you like cowboys who are also frogs.

I also was lucky to have interviewed Mike during his Kickstarter campaign so please check that out and any of the other articles in my series.

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Shane Kelley is a Senior writer for Boss Rush Network, as well as a writer for Another Zelda Podcast. His favorite game is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. You can find him on X or Bluesky to talk video games, Marvel, cribbage, and axe throwing.

Images: taken by author