History VideoGame / WonderMomo

Released by [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]] in 1987 as an arcade title, ''Wonder Momo'' is a BeatEmUp about fighting off baddies as Momo Kanda, a HenshinHero spoof who fights with kicks when un-powered, and a special "wonder ring" when transformed. The first game was framed as the set of a hero stage show, where "Momo" was really an actress playing out the in-universe character's fictional exploits. It was Namco's final 8-bit arcade game, and was notorious at the time for its {{fanservice}}; a major gameplay mechanic involves cameramen in the audience trying to take pictures of Momo's panties. The game was eventually ported to UsefulNotes/PCEngine in 1989, followed by the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}'s UsefulNotes/VirtualConsole in 2007, and the Platform/PlayStation4 and Platform/NintendoSwitch via ''Arcade Archives'' in 2022.

Released by [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]] in 1987 as an arcade title, ''Wonder Momo'' is a BeatEmUp about fighting off baddies as Momo Kanda, a HenshinHero spoof who fights with kicks when un-powered, and a special "wonder ring" when transformed. The first game was framed as the set of a hero stage show, where "Momo" was really an actress playing out the in-universe character's fictional exploits. It was Namco's final 8-bit arcade game, and was notorious at the time for its {{fanservice}}; a major gameplay mechanic involves cameramen in the audience trying to take pictures of Momo's panties. The game was eventually ported to UsefulNotes/PCEngine in 1989, followed by the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}'s UsefulNotes/VirtualConsole in 2007, and the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch via ''Arcade Archives'' in 2022.

Released by [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]] in 1987 as an arcade title, ''Wonder Momo'' is a BeamEmUp about fighting off baddies as Momo Kanda, a HenshinHero spoof who fights with kicks when un-powered, and a special "wonder ring" when transformed. The first game was framed as the set of a hero stage show, where "Momo" was really an actress playing out the in-universe character's fictional exploits. It was Namco's final 8-bit arcade game, and was notorious at the time for its {{fanservice}}; a major gameplay mechanic involves cameramen in the audience trying to take pictures of Momo's panties. The game was eventually ported to UsefulNotes/PCEngine in 1989, followed by the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}'s UsefulNotes/VirtualConsole in 2007, and the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch via ''Arcade Archives'' in 2022.

Released by [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]] in 1987 as an arcade title, ''Wonder Momo'' is a beat-em-up about fighting off baddies as Momo Kanda, a HenshinHero spoof that fought with kicks when underpowered, and a special "wonder ring" when transformed. The first game was framed as the set of a hero stage show, where "Momo" was really an actress playing out the in-universe character's fictional exploits. With a humorous angle and a bit of fanservice on the stage, Momo's adventures were eventually ported to PC Engine in 1989, as well as the Wii's Virtual Console in 2007. The arcade game was Namco's last 8-bit title.

Momo's legacy was revived as a webcomic in 2012 for Namco's comic hub Platform/ShiftyLook. Fully titled ''[[https://web.archive.org/web/20141020130729/http://shiftylook.com/comics/wondermomo/ Wonder Momo: Battle Idol]]'', the comic is a comedy and action based series with ongoing story arcs. Rather than be an actor, Momo instead is a struggling idol that gains Wonder Momo's powers by accident, meaning this time, she has to fight the monsters off for real. It’s later revealed that this Momo is, in fact, the daughter of the original Momo.

* AttackItsWeakPoint: The only way to damage the FinalBoss is to hit Mozuu's floating brain while dodging attacks from his robotic tank body.

** ''Wonder Momo'' was one of the first arcade games to have fanservice as an overt selling point, with interstitial scenes showing Momo in a swimsuit, lying prone in a towel, taking a bath, and so on.
** One that figures into gameplay as well: some photographers in the audience will try to get a peek at Momo's panties. If one succeeds, she gets temporarily stunned.
* ItsAWonderfulFailure: If Momo takes one too many bumps from her fellow actors, she'll enter a sobbing fit, prompting the stage curtain to [[WeAreExperiencingTechnicalDifficulties descend down and abruptly conclude the show in an awkward attempt to help Momo save face.]] The cutesy/ fanservicey designs of Momo on the stage curtain [[GameOverMan only accentuate the awkwardness.]]

* MaleGaze: In-universe. A game element used to stun the main character is a photographer in the audience who tries to get a shot of Momo's panties.

* BoyfriendBlockingDad: Gender-inverted. Momoko's mom is none to pleased when she learns that Natsuhiko has been investigating Wonder Momo, especially when he refers to her as "his angel". [[spoiler:Given her own past experiences with [[CameraFiend photographers like him]], it's understandable why she'd think he's a perverted stalker.]]

* ClarkKenting: Averted; when the original Wonder Momo appears, Momoko is immediately able to tell that it's her mom.

* GenerationXerox: Present day Momo looks just like her daughter Momoko, the current Wonder Momo. She looks different in flashbacks, though, due to the different artstyle (Momo as a teen has the EightiesHair that Momoko does not).

* ShoutOut: When Momoko asks why her suit has a 4 minute time limit, Glooder states it was an upgrade from [[Series/{{Ultraman}} the 3-minute model]].

Momo's legacy was revived as a webcomic in 2012 for Namco's comic hub Website/ShiftyLook. Fully titled ''[[https://web.archive.org/web/20141020130729/http://shiftylook.com/comics/wondermomo/ Wonder Momo: Battle Idol]]'', the comic is a comedy and action based series with ongoing story arcs. Rather than be an actor, Momo instead is a struggling idol that gains Wonder Momo's powers by accident, meaning this time, she has to fight the monsters off for real. It’s later revealed that this Momo is, in fact, the daughter of the original Momo.

* DistressedDamsel: The {{Joshikousei}} kidnapped by Warudemon in Volume 3. Amazona makes her first appearance disguised as her before attacking Momo. The girl herself is rescued at the end of the volume.

* [[OverprotectiveDad Overprotective Mom]]: Momoko's mom is none to pleased when she learns that Natsuhiko has been investigating Wonder Momo, especially when he refers to her as "his angel". [[spoiler:Given her own past experiences with [[CameraFiend photographers like him]], it's understandable why she'd think he's a perverted stalker.]]

* CelebrityVoiceActor: Creator/HalkoMomoi, who sang an official cover of the game's theme music, also voices the original Momo in the ONA and ''Spiral Chaos''.

** The whole game is one to ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'': Momo's time limit, space theme, and energy weapons are all based on aspects of the series. Momo can also perform a Specium Ray to fight off enemies if she doesn't have her hoop on her.

* TheHerosJourney: The plot of the webcomic can be summed up as this.
** Wonder Momo even experiences a [[spoiler:symbolic death twice in succession, first Robo-Momo ruins her reputation, then the attempt at splitting the power orb and returning Aki's powers results in the orb being discharged Momoko then experiences apotheosis during the Waru attack on Momo-palooza when she refuses to run away despite having no powers and, in the process learns what it means to be a hero. This act is what then causes the world to love Wonder Momo again, recharging her power orb allowing her to transform into Wonder Momo (and Aki into Amazona) again to defeat the Waru.]]

* PaperThinDisguise: Glooder is an alien resembling a humanoid, shell-less turtle. He blends in with humans by wearing... a wig and a high school student's uniform. Glieger's been living on Earth for a lot longer and doesn't even go that far.
** Though at this point it seems likely that the people around Momo know Glooder's an alien, but are polite enough to not say anything about it.

-->''"EPIC RIVAL CLASH!"'',''"PAINFUL LANDING!"''

* EightiesHair: Momo has huge, fluffy '80s bangs as part of her signature look. It carries over to when he see her in the webcomic, though not in the present day.

* EightiesHair: Momo has a pretty wild mane of fluffy hair as part of her signature look. It carries over to when he see her in the webcomic, though not in the present day.

** DualBoss: Crab Fencer, Junk Rock and Acroball, as part of their DegradedBoss shtick, are often fought in pairs. Cannon Potter, a boss from Vol. 2, makes one of his two return appearances alongside a twin as the boss of Vol. 4-2.

Released by [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco]] in 1987 as an arcade title, ''Wonder Momo'' was a beat-em-up about fighting off baddies as Momo Kanda, a HenshinHero spoof that fought with kicks when underpowered, and a special "wonder ring" when transformed. The first game was framed as the set of a hero stage show, where "Momo" was really an actress playing out the in-universe character's fictional exploits. With a humorous angle and a bit of fanservice on the stage, Momo's adventures were eventually ported to PC Engine in 1989, as well as the Wii's Virtual Console in 2007. The arcade game was Namco's last 8-bit title.

In terms of crossovers, her only other video game appearances were as a playable character in ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom'' and ''Anime/QueensBlade: Spiral Chaos'', followed by several years in limbo. Things weren't all bad for Momo after that-- Bandai Namco and [=ShiftyLook=] briefly brought back the character in 2014 with an anime series based off of the webcomic continuity, consisting of five 7-minute ONA anime shorts by Creator/{{Graphinica}} streamed via Website/NicoNicoDouga with a simulcast on Website/{{Crunchyroll}}. In addition to this, the sequel game ''Wonder Momo: Typhoon Booster'' was developed by Creator/WayForwardTechnologies that same year for Android.

* BadassAdorable: Wonder Momo. Especially her ''Bravoman'' cameo.

* HenshinHero: Momo, Momoko, and Amazona change from regular girls to armored action heroes [[note]]except in the arcade game, where Momo simply changes into a pallet swapped version of her normal outfit, along with a helmet and boots[[/note]].

* TheRival: Amazona.

!! The Original Arcade and PC-Engine Games provide examples of:

** The stage curtains between each act sometimes show Momo lying prone in a towel.

* KickChick: Momo only attacks using (very) high kicks and splits kicks.

* RecurringBoss: A fair number of them.
** DegradedBoss: Crab Fencer, Junk Rock and Shamoan (the first three bosses of Vol. 1) and Acroball (the boss of Vol. 2-1) all make return appearances as {{Mid Boss}}es multiple times throughout the game.
** DualBoss: Crab Fencer, Junk Rock and Acroball as part of their DegradedBoss shtick. Cannon Potter, a boss from Vol. 2, makes one of his two return appearances alongside a twin as the boss of Vol. 4-2.
** MidBoss: Amazona's two appearances in Vol. 3-3 and 4-2.
* [[ShowWithinAShow Show Within A Game]]: Instead of playing a superhero fighting the forces of evil, the player plays as a girl who plays one in a live stage show.

!! The Web Comic provides examples of:
* ActionMom: Original protagonist is the mother of the main character and was also able juggle being a mother and taking care of Momoko when she was young.

* AlphaBitch: Akiho Matsuo, aka Amazona.

* AndTheAdventureContinues: The comic was in the middle of a storyline which saw Momo and her friends and family against the newly appointed Waru Princess who sends robot duplicates of Momo to attack them. However Namco decided to close up Shifty Look. So the story was hastily finished with the heroes managing to easily beat the bots and the Princess beating a hasty retreat. After which we get an epilogue from Momo about how un-normal her life is but she will continue the good fight. End comic.
* ArtShift: When in flashback to the Original Wonder Momo the art (provided by guest artist Jeffrey "Chamba" Cruz) more closely resembles the official art of the game.

** MustHaveCaffeine: Glooder tasks Yumi with getting some iced coffees [[spoiler:which become how Yumi takes out the green Robo-Momo when she spills them over the robot, causing her to short circuit and explode.]]
* ClarkKenting: Averted, when [[spoiler:the original Wonder Momo]] appears, Momoko is immediately able to tell that it's [[spoiler:her mom.]]

** QuirkyMinibossSquad: The Robo-Momos that the Waru Princess sics on Momo's mom and friends also apply.

*** Glooder's Robo-Momo is Green [[spoiler:but we don't get to see IT'S power, just hinting she's more a hand-to-hand robot, before Yumi's spilling iced coffees on the robot causes it to short-circuit and explode]].
* CutShort: As stated, it was in the middle of the Waru Princess arc when word come down from Namco they were ending the Shifty Look brand. So the writers had to hastily finish up the storyline.
* DaddysLittleVillain: The Waru Princess.
* EvilCostumeSwitch: From the incident on the Waru homeworld to the resolution of the Robo-Momo storyline, Momoko had a distinctly different "Dark Momo" costume due to [[spoiler:absorbing the powers of both her mother and Akiho]]

* GenerationXerox: Present day Momo looks just like her [[spoiler:daughter Momoko, the current Wonder Momo. Averted in the flashbacks though since Momo as a teen had the EightiesHair that Momoko does not]].

* GloryHound: Akiho. [[spoiler:She ends up with the film role of Wonder Momo, and seems intent on rubbing it in the real Momo's face! Doesn't work out when Robo-Momo makes Wonder Momo look like a villain...]]
** LaserGuidedKarma: [[spoiler:When the Robo-Momo trashes Wonder Momo's good name, the film winds up getting shelved much to Amazona's annoyance.]]

* LegacyCharacter: Momoko is given an upgraded version of the Wonder Momo power suit by an alien who mistook her for the original (despite being two decades younger). Turns out Momoko is [[spoiler:the daughter of the original Wonder Momo.]]

* MeaningfulName: [[spoiler:In context, Momoko basically means "Momo's child/daughter"]].

** The original game's premise of being a [[ShowWithinAShow stage play within a game]] is referenced as the first actual invastion by the Warudemon forces happening during a high school stage play, something constantly {{lampshade|Hanging}}d by the narrator.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Several times.

* RedEyesTakeWarning: [[spoiler:"Dark Momo"]].
* RedeemingReplacement: Akiho as Amazona.

* TeenIdol: Akiho. Momoko's attempts to become one are met with failure prior to becoming Momo.

* UnexplainedRecovery: [[spoiler:Akiho]] refuses to talk about how [[spoiler:she]] survived getting blown up on the Waru homeworld.
** TheUnreveal: And due to the comic's premature ending. We'll never know as well.

* YouWannaGetSued: [[http://www.shiftylook.com/comics/wondermomo/big-jump This comic]] almost referenced Franchise/{{Superman}}.

* RingsOfDeath: Momo's Wonder Ring (a glowing hula-hoop), which is also her WeaponOfChoice.

* ItsAWonderfulFailure: If Momo takes one too many bumps from her fellow actors, she'll enter [[CryCute a sobbing fit]], prompting the stage curtain to [[WeAreExperiencingTechnicalDifficulties descend down and abruptly conclude the show in an awkward attempt to help Momo save face.]] The cutesy/ fanservicey designs of Momo on the stage curtain [[GameOverMan only accentuate the awkwardness.]]

*** KnifeNut: The Yellow Robo-Momo has this as her weapon and skill against Aki. [[spoiler:Becoming her Amazona form, Aki then uses her own LaserBlade to gut the robot.]]

* [[OverprotectiveDad Overprotective Mom]]: Momoko's mom is none to pleased when she learns that Natsuhiko has been investigating Wonder Momo, especially when he refers to her as "his angel". [[spoiler:Given her own [[PantyShot past experiences]] with photographers like him, it's understandable why she'd think he's a perverted stalker.]]

* PantyShot: A game element used to stun the main character is a photographer in the audience who tries to get a shot of Momo's panties.

* DangerouslyShortSkirt: Momo's outfit.

Momo's legacy was revived as a webcomic in 2012 for Namco's comic hub Website/ShiftyLook. Fully titled ''[[https://web.archive.org/web/20141020130729/http://shiftylook.com/comics/wondermomo/ Wonder Momo: Battle Idol]]'', the comic is a comedy and action based series with ongoing story arcs. Rather than be an actor, Momo instead is a struggling idol that gains Wonder Momo's powers by accident, meaning this time, she has to fight the monsters off for real.

** DualBoss: Crab Fencer, Junk Rock and Acroball as part of their DegradedBoss shtick. Cannonporter, a boss from Vol. 2, makes one of his two return appearances alongside a twin as the boss of Vol. 4-2.

* WidgetSeries

In terms of crossovers, her only other video game appearances were as a playable character in ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom'' and ''Anime/QueensBlade: Spiral Chaos'', followed by several years in limbo. Things weren't all bad for Momo after that-- Bandai Namco and Shifty Look briefly brought back the character in 2014 with an anime series based off of the webcomic continuity, consisting of five 7-minute ONA anime shorts by Creator/{{Graphinica}} streamed via Website/NicoNicoDouga with a simulcast on Website/{{Crunchyroll}}. In addition to this, the sequel game ''Wonder Momo: Typhoon Booster'' was developed by Creator/WayForwardTechnologies that same year for Android.