Momodora: Moonlit Farewell

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 914 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell Game Cover
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
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"Momodora: Moonlit Farewell" is the latest installment in the Momodora series, where you play as Momo, a priestess on a mission to save her village from a demon invasion. With gorgeous pixel art, action-packed gameplay, and an engaging story, players will enjoy challenging combat and an atmospheric world. However, be prepared for grinding and intense battles. Overall, this single-player platformer features a compelling story, wonderful graphics, and a perfect soundtrack, with a wholesome and heartwarming message.

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Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 914 reviews
story63 positive mentions
grinding15 negative mentions
  • Gorgeous pixel art and animations that enhance the overall experience.
  • Engaging combat system with the introduction of the sigil mechanic, allowing for varied playstyles.
  • Charming story and characters that tie up the series nicely.
  • Game is relatively short, taking around 7-10 hours for completion.
  • Boss fights are often too easy and lack complexity, making them less engaging.
  • The linearity of the map design reduces exploration and backtracking opportunities.
  • story231 mentions

    The story in "Momodora: Moonlit Farewell" has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its straightforwardness and charm, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic and lacking depth compared to previous entries in the series. The narrative is more explicit than in earlier games, which some fans feel detracts from the mystery that characterized the franchise, though it does provide a satisfying conclusion to the overarching plot. Overall, while the story is engaging enough for newcomers, it may not resonate as strongly with long-time fans seeking the intricate storytelling of earlier titles.

    • “The story builds on the established lore of the Momodora series, and there are even some callbacks to older game events, which is pretty cool.”
    • “The story is touching, and the gameplay is perfect for a rainy indoor day... or whenever.”
    • “Moonlit Farewell continues to push the best of what Momodora is known for - an enjoyable story with interesting characters, challenging fights, responsive controls, a well-crafted world, superb music which felt like a part of the world rather than a game soundtrack, and gorgeous artwork throughout.”
    • “The story got an upgrade, but only in quantity of conversations and characters, not in their quality.”
    • “But Momodora: Moonlit Farewell (the newest title) in my opinion has the opposite approach to the story.”
    • “The story is basic and doesn't get in the way as well.”
  • music200 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its beautiful compositions and fitting themes for various locations and boss encounters. While some tracks may not stand out individually, the soundtrack as a whole is described as immersive and enjoyable, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and experience. Overall, the music is considered a highlight, complementing the stunning pixel art and engaging gameplay.

    • “The music complements the atmosphere perfectly, transitioning seamlessly between dynamic, somber, oppressive, and moody tones as needed, enriching the overall gaming experience.”
    • “The beautiful pixel art, the area and character design, the lighting effects and the wonderful soundtrack all combine to an experience I was very happy to be lost in.”
    • “The soundtrack is once again phenomenal and I have several songs I listen to from time to time (harpy attack! is a personal favorite).”
    • “The music is even more generic than the one in rutm; there are reused enemy sprites from momo3, the beginning locations are very boring... it certainly feels like a hollow sequel to what was a fantastic game.”
    • “However, the rest of the game isn't really anything to write home about; the story, characters, music, and gameplay are all kinda meh.”
    • “Unlike with graphics, I barely paid any attention to the music, which severely failed to capture my interest.”
  • gameplay187 mentions

    The gameplay of "Momodora: Moonlit Farewell" is generally well-received, praised for its fluid controls, engaging combat, and beautiful pixel art. While it retains a familiar metroidvania structure with some new mechanics like the sigil system and stamina management, opinions vary on the effectiveness of these additions, with some players finding them to detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a satisfying blend of exploration and combat, though some feel it lacks the depth and challenge of its predecessors.

    • “Gameplay is fun, story is neat, music and art direction are (as always) extremely good.”
    • “An amazing game that deserves more recognition, not only for its beautiful and captivating art and music but also for its well-balanced, challenging, and engaging gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is tight and responsive, relatively light on backtracking and you get new abilities at a fairly modest rate.”
    • “Here, it’s clear that loads of effort went into sprites, animations, and presentation, yet the core gameplay remained equally simplistic (if not more so), and the contrast actually undermines the experience.”
    • “While it's nice to see devs trying different stuff with their games, I'd say most of the metroidvanias try too hard to add something new, or try to mix so many mechanics and styles from different genres that they end up creating more of a mess than an enjoyable game.”
    • “The gameplay is quite short, and the gameplay is both unsurprising and unremarkable, from start to finish.”
  • graphics129 mentions

    The graphics in "Momodora: Moonlit Farewell" have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful pixel art and charming animations, marking a significant improvement over previous entries in the series. Reviewers highlight the game's vibrant art style, attention to detail, and fluid animations, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. While some noted that certain areas may feel repetitive, the overall aesthetic and visual presentation are considered standout features that elevate the game.

    • “The graphics are definitely the strongest point of this game; in fact, it kind of carries it. It's really good, the sprites look great, and the animations, especially on Momo, are very nice looking too.”
    • “Beautiful pixel art graphics and fantastic metroidvania gameplay.”
    • “The areas, map design, art style, and attention to detail are simply incredible, and the characters are decent.”
    • “One of the drawbacks to the new visuals I did find while playing—the areas do seem a little more samey.”
    • “Artwork feels rushed, a lot of background and characters like the big snake clearly lack detail.”
    • “The art style is decent, but compared to the two previous games I played, it doesn't hold up.”
  • atmosphere36 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its depth and distinctiveness, with many reviewers highlighting the effective use of music and art to create immersive environments. While some areas evoke a somber and melancholic tone, others balance lightheartedness with darker undertones, contributing to a rich and varied experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as captivating, with memorable scenes and a strong sense of place, though a few critics noted some areas felt less engaging.

    • “There are some amazing standout scenes that are just brimming with atmosphere.”
    • “The music complements the atmosphere perfectly, transitioning seamlessly between dynamic, somber, oppressive, and moody tones as needed, enriching the overall gaming experience.”
    • “The art and music are at their strongest in this entry, and the atmosphere is palpable; each zone feels unique both with its scenery and the enemies that inhabit them.”
    • “The atmosphere was sombre and grim; the lack of friendly NPCs to interact with makes the situation more believable.”
    • “The atmospheres of the areas in the game feel uninteresting and bland.”
    • “It's a bit disappointing coming from the melancholy, desolate atmosphere of the prior entries, but the game's fun so it's not really a problem.”
  • grinding15 mentions

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game can feel tedious due to limited stamina and slow traversal, making exploration and backtracking less enjoyable. While some players appreciate the game's design and variety, others find the requirement for multiple playthroughs and the late introduction of fast travel to exacerbate the grind. Overall, the experience can be rewarding for completionists, but it often leans more towards tedious than challenging.

    • “Traversing certain sections of the game can be very tedious, as you'll just be running along mostly flat ground with your very-limited stamina meter depleting every few seconds of sprinting.”
    • “I choose not to go for it as it would require a great amount of time to achieve and would be more about grinding than a real skill challenge.”
    • “To get all achievements it requires at least 3 playthroughs, one of them being a no-deaths one in hardcore mode, so it might be tedious for completionists.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Players have found the game to be an emotionally impactful experience, often leading to tears of joy and sadness due to its touching story and charming characters. The combination of beautiful graphics, music, and a nostalgic atmosphere enhances the emotional depth, making it a memorable journey filled with whimsical exploration and heartfelt moments. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke strong feelings, creating a satisfying and wholesome experience.

    • “The story is touching and the gameplay is perfect for a rainy indoors day...or whenever.”
    • “When I started playing this, getting past the intro, I cried happy tears and smiled from beginning to end. After which, I cried again. This game felt like an absolute masterpiece; every moment of exploring felt whimsical. The music was beautiful, especially Koho's theme. This game delivered on so many levels; I wasn't ready.”
    • “One of the things that made me feel this way was when I first visited the fairy village. You see all those fairies on the ground begging for help, but you are not given an option to help them, even though you have a healing ability.”
  • humor9 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely appreciated, with players enjoying the quirky character designs and amusing moments, such as the exaggerated features of bosses and playful interactions. While some characters could benefit from more distinct comedic traits, the overall experience is filled with lighthearted moments that elicit laughter, even in the face of gameplay challenges. The pixel art and lively visuals further enhance the comedic atmosphere, making for a fun and engaging experience.

    • “When she first did that multi slash attack, I was like a fangirl, just screaming because she was just so cool (plus, the gun dora was just too funny).”
    • “The pixel art was amazing followed by the visual effects, it really made everything feel so lively and punchy. There were points where there was a lot of clutter causing a silly death, but it ended up being funny, so I don't mind.”
    • “And if a funny anecdote is what'll pique your interest: this game made me respond to a boss' second phase with 'finally, gender equality.'”
  • character development9 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with praise for the beautiful character and enemy designs, as well as the overall art style and animation. However, some players feel that the character development is lacking, citing bland boss battles and a disappointing story that detracts from the experience. While the aesthetic elements are celebrated, there is a consensus that the depth and complexity of character development could be significantly improved.

    • “I’ve always loved the character designs of this series, and that continued charm is on full display with this newly-improved stylistic iteration.”
    • “The beautiful pixel art, the area and character design, the lighting effects and the wonderful soundtrack all combine to an experience I was very happy to be lost in.”
    • “The game's art and character designs are worth the price alone in my opinion; I frequently found myself in awe of some of the goofy, weird, and creepy enemy designs.”
    • “Even in the series’ most banal entries, at least the game design elements did not clash with one another, but Momodora: Moonlit Farewell takes away great elements from the predecessor, such as rewards for no-hit killing bosses, fun secrets, and a true Metroidvania map that loops in on itself multiple times in clever ways and trades it for a half-baked linear experience with an eye-roll worthy story and a level of writing that almost feels like the entire writing team for their previous games was fired, as well as some of the most bland boss battles in the series, boring character designs and a hardcore mode that only exemplifies the game’s further issues with lack of control response and typical Momodora one-hit kill shenanigans.”
    • “Really like the music and background graphics, but character development could be improved.”
    • “However, there are a few character designs that either feel too simplistic for the art style (the big one being a certain snake) or overly suggestive (another snake, this time the snake lady in the promotional images), though I suppose that sort of thing is up to personal preference.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game offers solid replayability with a variant mode unlocked after the initial playthrough, alongside various challenges to enhance the experience. Its engaging sigil system, enjoyable boss fights, and well-designed levels contribute to a satisfying 10-hour main campaign that encourages players to revisit it without feeling like a time investment.

    • “There is a variant mode available after beating the game once that I haven't tried, and plenty of ways to challenge yourself if you're looking for more replayability. The main game, coming in at around 10 hours, is well worth it.”
    • “The sigil system is really fun, the boss fights are cool, and the level design is great albeit linear. I don't think there was a single room I hated. It's short enough to have great replay value while not feeling like a waste of time.”
    • “After your first playthrough, you unlock some game modes which I haven't had much time to play yet, but so far it seems like a good challenge and offers great replayability.”
    • “There is a variant mode available after beating the game once that I haven't tried, and plenty of ways to challenge yourself if you're looking for more replayability, but the main game coming in at around 10 hours is well worth it.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, user experiences with stability are mixed; while some report smooth controls and no glitches, others describe the game as a "bit of a mess." Notably, it runs well on both Proton and Steam Deck, indicating good performance on those platforms.

    • “Runs great on Proton as well.”
    • “I'm glad to report that it runs great on Steam Deck!”
    • “While I will give this a recommendation due to art and being solid/bug free, this game is a bit of a mess.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game is praised for its excellent optimization, featuring impressive graphics and tight controls, with users reporting smooth performance and no bugs, even on the Steam Deck.

    • “The game is really well done, with incredible graphics, tight controls, and good performance overall. I played the entire thing on the Steam Deck and never experienced bugs of any kind.”
    • “The optimization is top-notch, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
    • “I appreciate how the developers focused on performance, ensuring that the game runs flawlessly across various platforms.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

82% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
4-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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