Wonder Momo
Encyclopedia
is a beat 'em up
arcade game
that was developed and published by Namco
exclusively in Japan
. It runs on Namco System 86
hardware This game was never released outside of Japan, due to its slightly questionable content.
. The game then cuts to a scene of a theater stage, where a play begins starring Momo, a young girl who gets super-power
s. At this point the game puts the player in command of Momo. Rather than playing a hero who must save the world, the setting is that of a live stage show (set at the "Namco Theater"), and players actually play as an actor who is merely playing the role of Wonder Momo. This game also features voice samples (in Japanese
).
As Momo, she can only attack using kick
s, and in doing so builds up her "Wonder" meter. When she touches a cyclone
icon or spins by herself, she can become Wonder Momo and also can attack using the Wonder Hoop, which can be reused as long as she is Wonder Momo. After the Wonder Hoop is thrown, she won't be able to throw anymore, while she'll have to wait for it to bounce back to her. She sometimes can shoot small waves of energy in whatever direction she faces, which is based on the similar move by the Ultraman
characters. Her most powerful move is the Wonder Typhoon, a more powerful version of her small energy wave move which shoots numerous amounts of them toward the left and right simultaneously while she spins.
When Momo jumps, players can visibly see her panties. Also Momo needs to be wary of a photographer in the audience who is determined to get a peek under her mini-skirt. If he is successful, Momo will be stunned for a short time. Additionally, one of the images that appears on the curtain (at the beginning and end of some stages) is Momo wearing only a towel.
for the PC Engine
exclusively in Japan on April 21, 1989. This specific version was later added to the Virtual Console
on February 27, 2007. The original arcade version was later added to the Virtual Console on June 16, 2009. Other than the Virtual Console, the arcade version was included with six other Namco arcade games in the seven-game, PlayStation
compilation Namco Museum Encore, and was released exclusively in Japan on October 30, 1997.
The titular character made numerous appearances outside of her video game, mostly in Namco's other video games. Both Momo (and Wonder Momo) appeared as one of the playable characters in the Japan-only, strategy RPG title Namco X Capcom
, partnering with Bravoman
. The character often covers herself, alluding to the original game. Some artifacts, models and costumes based on her appeared in some other Namco titles. She appeared as a magnus card in the Namco RPG Baten Kaitos, made a cameo appearance as one of Anise's dolls in Tales of the Abyss
, had her normal self appear as one of the various floats that appear in the bonus stages of Marvel Land
, and had her "Wonder" costume appear in Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2
and in Catalogue 4 in the Xbox 360
game The Idolmaster (which the costume in The Idolmaster originally cost 1000 Microsoft Points
but has been further discounted to 500.
Besides appearing in video games, J-pop
singer Haruko Momoi
released an album influenced by the video game fully titled as WONDER MOMO-i〜New recording〜 (a pun combining her last name with the name of this game). It utilizes both the game's main gameplay theme and the "henshin" (transformation) theme. Yujin released a gashapon
figure of Momo as part of the "Namco Girls" collection. Her latest appearance lies in the PSP strategy RPG Queen's Gate Spiral Chaos.
Beat 'em up
Beat 'em up is a video game genre featuring melee combat between the protagonist and a large number of underpowered antagonists. These games typically take place in urban settings and feature crime-fighting and revenge-based plots, though some games may employ historical or fantasy themes...
arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
that was developed and published by Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
exclusively in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It runs on Namco System 86
Namco System 86
The Namco System 86 arcade system board was first used by Namco in 1986. It was succeeded by the more powerful Namco System 1 arcade board.-Namco System 86 Specifications:Processors:* Main CPU: Motorola 6809 @ 1.536 MHz...
hardware This game was never released outside of Japan, due to its slightly questionable content.
Gameplay
When the game is first started, players are treated to a parody of the MGM logo featuring Momo instead of a lionLion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
. The game then cuts to a scene of a theater stage, where a play begins starring Momo, a young girl who gets super-power
Superpower (ability)
Superpower is a popular culture term for a fictional superhuman ability. When a character possesses multiple such abilities, the terms super powers or simply powers are used...
s. At this point the game puts the player in command of Momo. Rather than playing a hero who must save the world, the setting is that of a live stage show (set at the "Namco Theater"), and players actually play as an actor who is merely playing the role of Wonder Momo. This game also features voice samples (in Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
).
As Momo, she can only attack using kick
Kick
In combat sports and hand-to-hand combat, a kick is a physical strike using the foot, leg, or knee . This type of attack is used frequently, especially in stand-up fighting...
s, and in doing so builds up her "Wonder" meter. When she touches a cyclone
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
icon or spins by herself, she can become Wonder Momo and also can attack using the Wonder Hoop, which can be reused as long as she is Wonder Momo. After the Wonder Hoop is thrown, she won't be able to throw anymore, while she'll have to wait for it to bounce back to her. She sometimes can shoot small waves of energy in whatever direction she faces, which is based on the similar move by the Ultraman
Ultra Series
The is the collective name for all the shows produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad Ultra Monsters. The Ultra Series is one of the prominent tokusatsu superhero genre productions from Japan, along with Toei produced series Kamen Rider, Super...
characters. Her most powerful move is the Wonder Typhoon, a more powerful version of her small energy wave move which shoots numerous amounts of them toward the left and right simultaneously while she spins.
When Momo jumps, players can visibly see her panties. Also Momo needs to be wary of a photographer in the audience who is determined to get a peek under her mini-skirt. If he is successful, Momo will be stunned for a short time. Additionally, one of the images that appears on the curtain (at the beginning and end of some stages) is Momo wearing only a towel.
Ports and related releases
Wonder Momo was later ported by NEC AvenueNEC
, a Japanese multinational IT company, has its headquarters in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. NEC, part of the Sumitomo Group, provides information technology and network solutions to business enterprises, communications services providers and government....
for the PC Engine
TurboGrafx-16
TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
exclusively in Japan on April 21, 1989. This specific version was later added to the Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
on February 27, 2007. The original arcade version was later added to the Virtual Console on June 16, 2009. Other than the Virtual Console, the arcade version was included with six other Namco arcade games in the seven-game, PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
compilation Namco Museum Encore, and was released exclusively in Japan on October 30, 1997.
The titular character made numerous appearances outside of her video game, mostly in Namco's other video games. Both Momo (and Wonder Momo) appeared as one of the playable characters in the Japan-only, strategy RPG title Namco X Capcom
Namco x Capcom
is an action RPG/tactical RPG hybrid game for the PlayStation 2 console, developed by Monolith Soft and featuring characters from games produced by companies Namco and Capcom.- Storyline :...
, partnering with Bravoman
Bravoman
Bravoman, known in Japan as , sometimes referred to as Berabow Man is a 1988 platformer/beat-em-up hybrid arcade game developed and released by Namco for the arcades only in Japan. It was later ported to the NEC TurboGrafx-16 in 1990. This version was also released outside of Japan simply as Bravoman...
. The character often covers herself, alluding to the original game. Some artifacts, models and costumes based on her appeared in some other Namco titles. She appeared as a magnus card in the Namco RPG Baten Kaitos, made a cameo appearance as one of Anise's dolls in Tales of the Abyss
Tales of the Abyss
is a console role-playing game developed by Namco Tales Studio and published by Namco in Japan and Namco Bandai Games in North America. Tales of the Abyss's characteristic genre name is The Meaning Of Birth RPG . It is the eighth mothership title in the Tales series, and was released for the...
, had her normal self appear as one of the various floats that appear in the bonus stages of Marvel Land
Marvel Land
is a platform arcade game released by Namco in 1989.-Gameplay:In Marvel Land you play as Prince Paco , who is on a quest to save Princess Luxy from the evil Mole King . The gameplay was in the platformer style so popular at the time...
, and had her "Wonder" costume appear in Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2
is the fifth entry in the Tales of the World series, and the second entry in the Radiant Mythology series. Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2's characteristic genre name is . Like other games in the series, it features a group of characters from various Tales games. 50 characters from the...
and in Catalogue 4 in the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
game The Idolmaster (which the costume in The Idolmaster originally cost 1000 Microsoft Points
Microsoft Points
Microsoft Points are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Games for Windows - Live Marketplace, Windows Live Gallery, and Zune online stores. The points allow users to purchase content without a credit card and to reduce the number of small credit card transaction fees, which Microsoft would...
but has been further discounted to 500.
Besides appearing in video games, J-pop
J-pop
, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
singer Haruko Momoi
Haruko Momoi
is a Japanese voice actress and singer/songwriter. She was born in Tokyo, Japan and is affectionately referred to as 'Halko' by her fans, a nickname she gave herself which is inspired by HAL 9000, the onboard computer of the Discovery in 2001: A Space Odyssey....
released an album influenced by the video game fully titled as WONDER MOMO-i〜New recording〜 (a pun combining her last name with the name of this game). It utilizes both the game's main gameplay theme and the "henshin" (transformation) theme. Yujin released a gashapon
Gashapon
is a Bandai brand trademark widely used throughout the world for their capsule toys. It is also referred to as ." Both gashapon and gachapon are Japanese onomatopoeia, made up of two sounds: "gasha" or "gacha" for the turning of a crank on a toy vending machine, and "pon" for the sound of the toy...
figure of Momo as part of the "Namco Girls" collection. Her latest appearance lies in the PSP strategy RPG Queen's Gate Spiral Chaos.