Wonder Momo (Japan) - ワンダーモモ
Wonder Momo (ワンダーモモ) is a 1987 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 risqué content.
Wonder Momo is a loose parody of a typical Ultraman-style superhero series, utilizing a then-rare female protagonist. When the game is first started, players are treated to a parody of the MGM logo featuring Momo instead of a lion. The game then cuts to a scene of a theater stage, where a play begins starring Momo, a young girl who gets super-powers. 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 control an actress who is merely playing the role of Momo/Wonder Momo. This game also features voice samples (in Japanese).
As Momo, she can only attack using kicks, 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.
The game is noted for featuring some slightly risqué content for the time, in the form of fanservice at Momo's expense. 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 "embarrassed" (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.
Wonder Momo is a loose parody of a typical Ultraman-style superhero series, utilizing a then-rare female protagonist. When the game is first started, players are treated to a parody of the MGM logo featuring Momo instead of a lion. The game then cuts to a scene of a theater stage, where a play begins starring Momo, a young girl who gets super-powers. 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 control an actress who is merely playing the role of Momo/Wonder Momo. This game also features voice samples (in Japanese).
As Momo, she can only attack using kicks, 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.
The game is noted for featuring some slightly risqué content for the time, in the form of fanservice at Momo's expense. 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 "embarrassed" (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.
Wonder Momo (Japan)
Technical
CPU
- maincpu HuC6280 (@ 7 Mhz)
Chipset
- HuC6280 (@ 3 Mhz)
- MSM5205 (@ 1 Mhz)
- CD/DA
Display
- Orientation Yoko
- Resolution 255 x 242
- Frequency 59.922743 Hz
Controlers
- Number of players 5
- Number of buttons 6
- Kind of controler joy (8 ways)
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Wonder Momo (Japan) Screenshots
Ports and related releases
Wonder Momo was later ported by NEC Avenue 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. On March 15, 2012, Wonder Momo was resurrected as an internet comic strip on Namco Bandai's comic strip website, ShiftyLook, with the title Wonder Momo: Battle Idol. The series focuses on Momoko, an idol who, after failing a TV show audition, encounters a race of aliens who give her Wonder Momo's powers and afterwards, she begins battling evil aliens as well as rival hero Amazona, who is actually a popular idol named Akiho Mazo who was inspired by the original Wonder Momo(Momoko's mother).
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. On March 15, 2012, Wonder Momo was resurrected as an internet comic strip on Namco Bandai's comic strip website, ShiftyLook, with the title Wonder Momo: Battle Idol. The series focuses on Momoko, an idol who, after failing a TV show audition, encounters a race of aliens who give her Wonder Momo's powers and afterwards, she begins battling evil aliens as well as rival hero Amazona, who is actually a popular idol named Akiho Mazo who was inspired by the original Wonder Momo(Momoko's mother).
