Technical Information

Developer: Rimatoad
Publisher: Rimatoad
Release Date: December 3, 2021

Momotype is a short visual novel about an experiment in which you are selected to participate.
Virtual creatures called monotypes are like virtual pets, and your goal is to care for one until its last day.

Final Considerations – Analyzing the Game as a Whole

Graphics and UI

The art is done in pixel art and is very simple. Only three colors are used in the illustrations: brown, yellow, and a light beige tone.
I didn’t quite understand why these specific colors were chosen.

There is no animation, everything is static, and the scenes change according to the dialogue. This doesn’t make much difference, as the focus of the game is on the narrative.

Despite its simplicity, I felt that the elements in each scene were well chosen. Since there aren’t many color options, composing the images becomes more challenging because excessive detail (and sometimes even a moderate amount) can clutter the image, making it difficult to understand what is being shown.
There is a good balance between the scenery, the protagonist Momo, and the camera angles.

In some ways, I found this aesthetic similar to milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk.

The interface follows the game’s aesthetic, using a pixelated font (which shows there was at least some thoughtful consideration in the visual design haha).

The menu is easy to understand and the interaction is very intuitive, eliminating the need for a tutorial.

Soundtrack and Sound Effects

The music is quite pleasant, and the entire game features only one sound effect.

In more tense moments (I wouldn’t say exactly suspenseful, but perhaps moments of anticipation, when you sense that something unexpected might happen next), the music shifts to a slightly more sinister tone. This was another aspect that reminded me of milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk, as it sounded very similar.

Gameplay

This is a narrative-driven game where you care for a virtual pet.
You can show love, indifference, or disdain, and depending on your attitude, Momo (the pet) reacts and develops in different ways.

It’s quite interesting how the game touches on concepts related to artificial intelligence and machine learning by describing the behavior of monotypes, while also mixing in philosophical questions such as the meaning of life, what it means to be human, and how every action we take causes a reaction in something, or someone.

This is the type of game you should play calmly, taking time to digest the dialogue and reflect on the metaphors.
It’s a more philosophical experience… It encourages reflection.
After finishing a run, it feels like getting a “second chance”. You start again, but it’s as if your character carries previous experiences subconsciously. There are three runs in total, and each one includes some changes in events.

Momotype does not have manual save slots. The progress is saved automatically. If you want to restart a run, there is an option to reset.

The game supports controllers. I played with a PlayStation 4 controller and didn’t encounter any compatibility issues.

One thing I didn’t quite understand was the name of the game.
The “virtual pets” are called monotypes, your monotype is named Momo, and the game is titled Momotype. I found this somewhat confusing.

Replayability and Game Retention

The three consecutive runs are already a strong incentive to keep playing and see each ending.
Changing your attitude toward Momo also affects how he reacts, and experimenting with different choices can extend your time with the game.

Overall, the game is quite short. It’s possible to see all the endings in about an hour.