I’ve never been a fan of pinball games myself, but Momonga is not merely a pinball game. It is an adventure puzzler wrapped up in a pinball-like package, and it tells of a heroic tale (pun intended). Along the way, you not only tap the left and right flippers to bounce Momo around, you also complete side challenges, collect coins, uncover hidden chambers and even fight bosses.
The basic gameplay goes like this: you flip around in a small area until the area is complete, either by unlocking a door or hitting a few targets. Momo will then go through the door into another area where you do the same thing. After all, pinball is about achieving pin-point accuracy with the flippers. Even when fighting bad guys, you are required to bounce momo to accurately hit specific targets in the area to defeat them. But this never gets boring. The game mixes it up well by providing imaginative ways to hit those targets, and additional flippers at helpful larger areas.
However, less coordinated users might find it frustrating at times when accuracy and timing is at the utmost important. There were times when I was just flipping and praying that it will hit the target and at the right time. For example, in the tutorial where you have to hit the panda’s stick while the panda was teleporting around the area, or when you have to flip a switch at one corner of the area, and go through the rapidly closing door at the other corner of the area. Hitting a moving target is very common in the game, but I’m sure this only adds to the satisfaction after completing the area.
The maps can also be quite elaborate, as far as pinball games go, especially during the later stages. Around a single level, there will be more or less 5 areas to complete. The transition between these areas never makes you feel as if it interrupts the fun you’re having, instead it provides a sense of accomplishment when you finally make it through. Between some of the areas, Momo will be rocketed into the air and, living up to its name, Momo will fly around in a tilt-based minigame where you collect as many coins as you can before landing and rolling to the next location. This provides a breath of fresh air from the flipper-tapping routine the rest of the game employs.
The levels also include a three-star system, made popular by games like Angry Birds. Some of the levels are pretty difficult at first, so expect to replay them if you are a perfectionist. After completing a level for the first time, a series of challenges will be unlocked to encourage replayability. These challenges are not too difficult, as you can imagine. They mostly ask the player to destroy all the blocks in an area, or complete the area in under a certain time, etc. As you replay the level a few times, you become more familiar with the layout, and you will find it easier to recognize what to do to achieve said objectives.
The graphics are comically and beautifully rendered in 3D and is very pleasant to roll around in. I think it is safe to say that it is one of the most interesting looking pinball games I have ever seen, not that there is anything remotely similar to compare it to. The music also has to be complimented as it is original and soothing, yet it conveys a sense of excitement when it needs to.
The only gripe I have with this game is the voice acting. I have no idea what language the characters are speaking in, but the voice acting for dialogues is horrible and bland. It sounds as though they just read the line once without understanding the context of the situation and that’s it. It makes me feel as if it is totally unnecessary, and that they purposely made the language unknown to hide the emotionless way the dialogues are voiced. But this is only a small and insignificant annoyance I personally noticed. It should not be anyone’s reason to not try this wonderful game.
With Momonga Pinball Adventures, Paladin Studios have redefined a genre that has been stuck in a rut. If you are a fan of pinball games, cute and cuddly furry animals, original music or beautiful graphics, which is all of you, I recommend giving this a shot. You might be amazed at the ideas people have to make their game unique, and I hope more developers follow suit with similar ingenuity.
