Play Gegege No Kitarou : Kikiippatsu! Youkai Rettou Online

I picked up Gegege No Kitarou: Kikiippatsu! Youkai Rettou back when it came out on the Game Boy Advance in 2003. It was developed by KCE Studios and published by Bandai, a familiar pairing for licensed games on that system. This was during the GBA's peak, a time when you could find all sorts of anime adventures tucked into that small cartridge.

You control Kitarou, the one-eyed yokai boy, navigating through side scrolling stages. Your main goal is to rescue your friends by clearing each area of hostile spirits. Kitarou attacks using his detached hair needle as a projectile; you can aim it in different directions while still moving, which becomes essential. You also collect spirit orbs to charge a special screen clearing attack for tougher moments. The pacing is brisk, with some tricky enemy placements that demand quick reflexes. It feels like a straightforward action platformer that captures the show's spooky, playful tone.