When I first saw Momodora I was drawn in by the gorgeous pixel art. I've also been a fan of side-scrollers ever since Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Genesis. Still there is an array on modern side-scrollers and I wasn't exactly sure what to expect going into this one. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised by to find to the gameplay equally as enthralling as the aesthetics. Beautiful music, original visuals, and captivating combat can be found throughout Momodora.
You arrive at kingdom in decay and its troubles have reached the boarder of your own country. You play as a red-haired priestess dressed in a hooded white robe. Its your job to find out where the curse is stemming from and stop it before it spreads into your own land. The tone of the narrative is quite dark as it seems all the locals have given into despair. All of the story is told through your interactions with the various characters you encounter. For those who are interested I'm sure there is more depth to be found but I was more drawn to the gameplay.
Exploring Momodora you feel a great sense of adventure. The map of the game is laid out in a grid, similar to a Metroidvania. Unlike a most metroid style games there isn't many big upgrades that promote much backtracking. The one ability that does open up quite a few path is when you gain the option to transform into a cat. The cat is actually quite fun because it has its own attacks similar to the priestess herself. For a majority of the game you must travel from point to point on foot but eventually you can fast travel between the bells. The bells work as save points as well as restore health and consumables.
The Priestess proves quite capable in combat, even if her weapon of choice is a maple leaf. Combat is as simple as stringing attacks with your leaf or shooting off arrows with your bow. You can evade on the ground by rolling and dash short distances while in the air. You can carry three different consumables, the most important of which restores your health. You can also equip two upgrades that have an ongoing passive bonus. Every enemy you kill will drop money you can use at the shops for new items. Bosses are the highlight of Momodora as they present really good challenges yet they never feel insurmountable.
If I had thought Momodora was more charm then substance I was happy to be proven wrong. Although it doesn't offer much new for the genre its quite well put together. The stylish visuals are obviously a treat but the charming soundtrack to match is a pleasant bonus. The combat and platforming from zone to zone is enjoyable enough but the bosses are where Momodora shines. They force you to learn patterns but never get too complex. It took me four hours to basically 100% the game. Although not particularly long, the reasonable price makes me satisfied I got my money's worth.