The foremost collectible in Bakeru isn’t an item you can stow away or display anywhere—it’s trivia. A little sprite in a puffer jacket named Scoop is tucked behind crates and in tiny caves; every time I found him, he gave me a "nugget of wisdom," usually centered around Japanese history and food. It was through Scoop that I learned that the first underwater mailbox is located in Wakayama, the process to make bonito flakes, and that persimmons are best enjoyed in moderation.
Bakeru’s affection for Japanese folklore and culture is proudly worn on its sleeve, face, and just about everywhere else. Each of Japan’s 47 prefectures gets its own level as the titular tanuki goes around cleansing evil spirits, and the game designates itself on the Steam page as "Japan-esque wild action," which I think is just about accurate. You explore levels in search of collectibles and paper lanterns, bashing enemies over the head with your sacred tanuki drum, and using the game’s four Henge transformations to access different areas and give you the edge in fights.
