The graphics of the game, especially the backgrounds and enemies, received praise for being colorful and well-animated, many comparing it to The Legend of the Mystical Ninja in graphical style. On the other hand, some reviewers experienced slowdowns in frame rate. In addition, the controls were considered easy to pick up and play. The two-player mode was considered by some reviewers to add a lot of value to the game. Pocky & Rocky was generally well-received by critics, with some calling the gameplay addictive. In Japan, Pocky & Rocky was broadcast on the Satellaview service on June 6, 1997. It is the sequel to the 1986 arcade game KiKi KaiKai. Pocky & Rocky was licensed by Taito to Natsume, who developed and published the game for release in Japan in 1992 and the rest of the world in 1993. Throughout the game, they battle a number of creatures from Japanese mythology, including kappas. Together, Pocky and Rocky must unravel the mystery of who is controlling the Nopino Goblins. Suddenly, Pocky and Rocky are ambushed by the Nopino Goblins, which appear to be under a spell. Rocky tells Pocky that the Nopino Goblins have gone insane yet again and that she must help them. Some time ago, the Nopino Goblins ( Yōkai in Japan) went insane, but were stopped and cured by Pocky. Rocky is a member of a group of creatures known as the Nopino Goblins. Set in a Far East-themed world, Pocky & Rocky is about a young miko girl named Pocky (known in Japan as Sayo-chan ( 小夜ちゃん)) who is tending to a Shinto shrine when she is visited by Rocky the Tanuki, or raccoon dog (known in Japan as Manuke ( 魔奴化)). A floating being called 'Help man' is hidden in each level that will drop power-ups when found. Others include a shield that absorbs enemy attacks, and a power-up that replenishes hit points, giving Pocky and Rocky more endurance. Various power-ups can be acquired that will increase the effectiveness of either Pocky or Rocky's attacks, such as making their projectiles larger or giving them the ability to throw multiple ones at once. Pocky can also perform a spinning attack whereas Rocky is able to transform into an invulnerable and immobile statue for a short time. Pocky's bomb attack is more powerful than Rocky's, although Rocky's bombs cover a wider area. However, Rocky's slide attack goes a long distance. Pocky moves and slides slightly faster than Rocky does. There are some differences between both characters. A limited-use special bomb attack can be used to hit several or all the enemies present on the screen. If a player bumps into the other while sliding in a two-player game, it will cause the other player to spin out of control across the screen, damaging any enemies they come in contact with. Both characters can slide across the ground to cover the area quickly. Likewise, Rocky can throw leaves across the screen or quickly turn his backside and swing his tail. Pocky can use her ofudas to hit enemies from afar or swing her gohei to damage enemies close up. In two-player cooperative mode, both characters are on the screen at the same time. In single-player mode, the player can choose to play as either Pocky or Rocky. The game features six levels and allows its players to continue indefinitely. The screen can move either horizontally or vertically and the player-controlled characters can move in eight directions. Pocky & Rocky is a scrolling shooter video game that takes place from a top-down perspective. Pocky and Rocky fighting against first stage boss of the game.

Pocky and rocky 2 stage 1 theme