Play Gorilla Man, The (Japan) Online

Gorilla Man, The was a Japan-only release for the Nintendo Entertainment System, developed by Konami. It came out during a period when many side-scrolling action games were experimenting with unusual protagonists and mechanics, and this title fits right into that niche without much fanfare.

You control a muscular gorilla who swings on vines, punches enemies, and occasionally throws barrels. The main goal is to rescue your kidnapped companion by fighting through several stages of urban and jungle settings. Signature mechanics include vine swinging for traversal and momentum-based attacks, along with screen-by-screen progression that requires clearing all enemies to advance. The pacing is deliberate, and the difficulty can feel uneven due to some awkward controls. It feels like a rough but earnest attempt to do something different with the platform brawler format.