When your homeland is being invaded and the world is on the brink of destruction, the only thing left to do is squeeze your cute little hamster in your right hand and unleash its powers of mass annihilation to vanquish your country’s oppressors. If this oddly specific situation still seems a bit difficult to imagine, don’t worry, because Japanese independent developer Zxima has come out with a game that perfectly encapsulates…just that. Published by Kodansha, MOCHI-O is a chaotic doomsday shooting/pet-raising/adventure game starring the eponymous hamster. The game launched on Steam on January 19, to a Very Positive review score of almost 100 reviews at the time of writing.
In MOCHI-O, you become the new handler of a cute little hamster-looking creature named MOCHI-O, and just like in almost every pet-raising game, you have to take care of it, feed it and shower it with love. However, once invaders attack your country, leaving you with no option but to defend yourself from foreign forces, the little guy will come in clutch. The cute critter is actually a portable homeland security weapon, and by raising it, you’ll also be able to further unlock its potential for mass destruction and extermination.
The battles themselves play out in a shooter game-like format, where you literally have to hold your MOCHI-O in your right hand, aim at enemies, and shower them with bullets, rockets, and bombs. The game also incorporates some roguelike elements. By collecting enough sunflower seeds from enemy drops, you’ll be able to level up your MOCHI-O and gain randomized skills to help you defend your homeland more efficiently. As the cute little hamster becomes stronger, you’ll be able to unlock various new weapons like homing missiles and literal laser beams shot from space.
In addition to the cute pet-rearing gameplay that awaits you between each battle, the game also features many different interactions and dialogue between MOCHI-O, you (the player), and your mysterious superior dubbed “the Director.”
On a related note, MOCHI-O is just one game in developer Zxima’s series of “tender apocalypse” video games. Some of their previous endeavors include titles like Catastrophe Restaurant, Flat Machine, Scrap Friends and Parasite Days, all revolving around the similar blend of heartwarming themes and a doomsday/post-apocalyptic setting.
MOCHI-O is currently available for PC (Steam).
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