Sometimes you need a break from all the action and drama to play something that’s simple, uncomplicated, and of course, fun. After grabbing the platinum trophies for Bishoujo Battle Cyber Panic! and sister series Pretty Girls Panic! with their iconic brand of cute anime girls, I wondered if we’d ever see a return to this somewhat rare ‘puzzle-panic’ arcade genre, or whatever it’s called.
Introduction
Mokoko X was inspired by arcade games from the ’80s and ’90s, including Volfied, Qix and Gals Panic, a popular puzzle-like gaming style back in the day, however Mokoko X looks to revive this genre while adding not only modern touches, but enhancements not seen in rival games, such as the Pretty Girls Panic! series. The game released as a PS4/PS5 cross-buy title on 11th October, 2024, published by NAISU Games.
Like its rivals in the genre, Mokoko X places a great deal of emphasis on its pretty cast of anime cuties and even has hentai origins in the form of an optional hentai mod patch available exclusively for the original Steam version of the game. The console version of the game also removes the stripping ‘ecchi’ components, leaving us with a far more family-friendly title.
The Meaning of “Mokoko”
The underlying story of Mokoko X is told through its level bosses, background dialogue and unlockable scenes. At first, it may appear that the levels you’re playing have no connection at all, with the on-screen text and banter being irrelevant nonsense told in the style of hyper-eccentric Japanese surrealism, but when you place multiple stages one after another and put the pieces of the puzzle together, a darker picture gradually becomes clear to those with open minds.
There’s a recurring theme in place here, as the girls behind each stage are targeted by a variety of strange creatures in a predatory manner. Each girl is the unfortunate victim of some form of invasion of personal boundaries, and it’s the player’s job as an unnamed ‘savior’ to save the day. The main goal is assisting the girls that need help from weird bosses which can take many forms; Some are disgusting insects, some are ominous avatars, and all are dangerous in their own way. Only by saving them all will we learn the meaning of “Mokoko”.
Divide and Conquer
The main goal of the game is conquering the bigger portion of the screen. While you are in your own area, you are safe from the enemies until your shield depletes. You conquer new areas by drawing out of your area, cutting away the background panel to gradually free the trapped girl beneath. Drawing, however, deactivates your shield and exposes you to danger. Your shield decreases constantly. If you do not conquer at a certain frequency, your shield will burn out and you will not be safe in your own areas as well.
There are 32 levels in Mokoko X containing 8 girls in need of your help, and each level has its own unique boss and minions. The main goal is assisting the unlucky girls that need help from the eccentric collection of bosses. There are 3 difficulties in the game. The difficulty affects the aggression and abilities of enemies, your shield duration, your available extra lives should you be attacked, and the required conquered area percentage for the victory, varying from 70-75%.
A Significant Graphical Evolution
The presentation of Mokoko X features a significant evolution over its rivals. Girls are no longer reduced to still images and are now fully-animated and will react to your performance. Struggling players will notice the girls panic, cry and run away, while defeating enemies will see the girls cheer you on and jump for joy. Animations are bold, over-the-top gestures, full of detail and colour.
Some pleasant, upbeat tunes will play in the background during stages, though there are performance issues as some of the later tracks ‘jump’ frequently, not unlike a cheap ’90s CD player. The girls themselves are voiced in both English and Japanese, which is a very welcome surprise in a budget arcade game. While you’re unlikely to recognise the voice actors on staff, each does a decent enough job and delivers the on-screen drama well.
Replayability/Trophies
There are two game modes to choose from, Story mode, which you’ll be playing through initially, stage by stage, followed by Arcade mode which is unlocked after finishing Story mode. Arcade mode has you play through every stage consecutively in a continuous, non-stop gauntlet run. Defeating each enemy in both Story and Arcade mode will unlock a trophy for you each time, and see you well on your way to the platinum trophy. Live high scores are displayed online for the most successful of players.
Hello Censorship, My Old Friend…
As fun and addictive as the gameplay is, games of this genre are really supposed to be about the girls, yet the removal of the hentai and even ecchi elements don’t let us experience these characters with any significant level of intimacy, and this feels like something of a mixed message; if we take the story at face value, the predatory are punished while the patient are unrewarded.
Saving each girl from the assortment of baddies available is quite fulfilling, and each girl seems suitably grateful for the rescue, appearing mildly enamored with the player after defeating each boss. It is a rewarding experience, yet this is delivered with a generous selection of trophies bombarding the player, rather than traditional sexy content.
There is depth here as we uncover the fears, phobias, and anxieties of each girl, yet the game frequently backtracks on its agenda by making light of the situation at hand, and this is most prominent in the pages of the ‘Mokoko’ story which unlock throughout the game, taking a harrowing story about sexual assault and turning it into a bad ’90s joke.
Unfortunately, our old nemesis censorship raises its ugly head here and leaves us with an experience without the cheeky dating mechanics we’ve come to expect. It’s odd that even partial nudity is a no-go area here, while the story suggests snippets of sexual exploitation is going on. There is a not-so hidden message here about crossing personal boundaries; The game might as well be part of an advertising campaign for the ‘No Means No’ movement back at the turn of the millennium.
Conclusion
Mokoko X delivers its message in the quirkiest of ways, teasing you initially with the appearance of enemy ghosts and insects, before deepening the scenario by having you face off against online trolls and even oppressive government officials. There’s something deliciously apt about a bitter, jilted lover being compared to a blood-sucking mosquito.
However, as it stands, Mokoko X is mechanically one of the better arcade puzzle panic games out there; The challenges are fair and the stages workable, and the experience is elevated by a visual animation upgrade and the rare inclusion of English voice acting. Sadly, having a serious story that can’t be taken seriously in such a bizarre telling makes for a tale that’s a little rough around the edges.
Joys
- Fun, simple gameplay
- Quirky animations
- Decent English voice acting
Cons
- The story is difficult to follow and forgets its place
- Some jumpy music tracks
- Feels heavily censored
