Bonze Adventure
Released: 1988
Pitch: As a monk, journey through seven Hells to get rid of the evil spirit of King Emma-O.
Bonze Adventure is a competent, if frustrating, action platformer. You play as a monk—by all accounts Buddhist but you supposedly throw rosary beads—fighting his way into hell to vanquish evil what's-his-name. I didn't get that far because everything kills your monk with the slightest touch. I feel this game would be a lot more fun with a life bar, despite the level designs that feel a step up from random. Plus, when you die you're taken back to an invisible checkpoint and while the game is fairly generous with these spots, it's frustrating to die and have to do that same part again...and maybe again...and again. This game is certainly playable but it feels like it was throw together pretty quickly.
I do love how the monk looks like a giant baby 
This game kind of reminded me a bit of Adventure Island mixed with Ghosts N Goblins, with a Japanese 'Yokai" theme. But if I remember correctly, it was one of those 'one hit and you die' kind of games, and I'm not a big fan of those.
Yes, I found the one-hit-deaths very frustrating.
I don't remember this on Taito Legends 2, but I probably played it very quickly because I don't generally enjoy platformers.
The monk looking like a giant baby is the most memorable thing about it, I think lol
He's a chubby one too. haha