Along with Frog Bog (Intellivision), Missile Command (Arcade), Skiing (Atari 2600), and Video Pinball (Atari 2600), this week's Game Room update includes a surprising arcade title: Konami's Mr. Kabuki, or Mr. Goemon -- full name Ganbare Goemon of the Legend of the Mystical Ninja series.

This 1986 title predates the Famicom and SNES releases the blue-haired ninja is best known for, and is actually the first game from the Konami series. Several sources indicate this never appeared in arcades in the West, and even if it was, I doubt many in the States had a chance to play it.

So, what's Mr. Kabuki all about? Hardcore Gaming 101 has an informative summary:

The graphic style emulates the ukyo-e style paintings seen on the covers of the other titles, and for a game made in 1986, the squat character sprites exude a tremendous amount of personality.

The game is pretty simple - just right to the right and avoid the guards. You can either bash them with your pipe or jump on top of them, although you can pick up random items (fans, cat statues, masks) to toss at them.

If the guards catch you, you have to wiggle the controller to break free, or else you'll lose a life. It's a pretty short game, but since it's based in the arcade, it's also very hard. You only get three lives and you have to start from scratch when you run out.

If you have any interest in the Legend of the Mystical Ninja series and are curious to try out the release that started it all, grab this game pack! (Also, is that a tanuki in the above screenshot?)

[Via GamerBytes]