Light ’em up!
Welcome back to another Miketendo64 interview and today, we are once again joined by NAISU, talking about the upcoming Mokoko X. In the first part of our mini-series of Mokoko X interviews, we discussed game development and now we’re back with our second instalment and we’ll be discussing a range of things from cut content, a more colourful remake and more, but first, let’s welcome back Göksan Güner:
Naisu (Nice) to meet you, Göksan:
Miketendo64: Before we dive right into the probing questions, we always like to start things off nice and light. Therefore, would you be so kind as to introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
Göksan Güner: My name is Göksan, since from the elementary school I’ve wanted to make games. That’s why I majored in computer science. After I graduated, I started to work for companies making mobile games. I didn’t like it. I had no money. I thought instead of making a bad FPS, if I make a good jigsaw puzzle game it would be better. I did that while working in a mobile game company, which kickstarted me and I’ve become a full-time indie developer.
Before going full time indie, all the projects I’ve participated in for other companies failed badly by the way. I focused on cheap but good for its price games, always kept close contact with the players.
Doing that eventually made me earn more and I eventually released Mokoko X. I would have earned more if I were to work in some big game company for sure instead of insisting on staying indie. Each time I’ve just earned enough to expand one more step with my games.
Miketendo64: And now to follow-up, what is your role at NAISU and what is the extent of your involvement with Mokoko X?
Göksan Güner: I am the founder of NAISU, I can say that I am a still semi solo developer. I haven’t had the production money to make the games I wanted. The most important thing I did correct was knowing my strength. I have never underestimated or overestimated myself, I’ve made all the games knowing if I were able.
After I had started getting bored with jigsaw puzzle games, I did a small Kickstarter for Mokoko. We were able to collect around €2,000. Although, it may seem a small amount of money, it changed my life. Not because it is a large amount of money, but I’ve seen that some people approve of our work. We released Mokoko with very little production funding.
Then, after I got a permit from consoles for Mokoko, I decided to make Mokoko as I wanted with more economical freedom. So instead of releasing Mokoko immediately to consoles, I decided to make Mokoko X as a remake and then releasing it to consoles. The money I’ve earned from Mokoko, I spent more for Mokoko X as a remake. Because I had always thought Mokoko lacked the quality that it deserved. Mokoko X has around 15 times more production expanses than Mokoko. I can say that it is not a quick cash grab that many remakes or remasters do.
Cut Content and a More Colourful Mokoko X:
Miketendo64: How does Mokoko X’s play in terms of gameplay mechanics and are there any Do’s and Don’ts you would advise players to utilize?
Göksan Güner: Be patient, don’t go for big areas in one move. Trap or destroy the minions, because they become too annoying if you don’t get rid of them before at the end of the level.
Miketendo64: In terms of gameplay mechanics and difficulty, just how challenging will players find Mokoko X?
Göksan Güner: I believe easy and medium are OK, but they say hard is really hard and I like it when “hard” is hard like in the older games. In addition to the more ruthless enemy behaviours, we have randomly occurring traps in the hard mode as well.
If you have confidence, I would invite you to play hard mode. For players that like top scores in the online leaderboards, hard is very rewarding.
Miketendo64: Mokoko X is such a colourful and striking game. When designing Mokoko X, how many art styles did you experiment before ending up with the one fully realized in the finished version of the game?
Göksan Güner: We have two artists, and we agreed to make the game as colourful as possible. The original Mokoko seemed too dark for me even though I personally like darker games more. I thought Mokoko X deserved a more colorful theme.
Miketendo64: In terms of content, just how much time is needed for players to experience everything Mokoko X has to offer?
Göksan Güner: It really depends. Because we foregrounded the leaderboard feature (and we know from the experiences of the original game), some players like to compete for the top scores. Some players like the stories, and some players like to spend time with arcade mode. I can say that at least around 3 hours are required to experience the game in its entirety.
Miketendo64: Post-release, will Mokoko X be getting new updates and content at a later date? Be it new modes, such as a 2-player co-op, a competitive mode or something else entirely?
Göksan Güner: We have an arcade mode which unlocks after the story mode. In the arcade mode, you have to finish all the levels without a stop one by one like it used to be in the arcade saloons.
We’ve also implemented a two-player mode, which no one had requested in the original Mokoko, but because I didn’t see the basic implementation to be exciting, I removed it. Detailing some features is a lot harder than trying primitively in your project’s environment.
Miketendo64: Depending on how well Mokoko X is received, is this a game you could easily see yourselves continuing to expand upon, in the form of a sequel, and using the ideas you had to pass on the first time around?
Göksan Güner: No, I have no plans to expand on Mokoko X. There will not be a Mokoko Y or Z.
About Mokoko X:
About – Mokoko X was inspired from the arcade games from 1980s and 1990s, a popular gaming style back in the time. Mokoko X looks to resurrect the soul of the arcade genre while adding a modern touch. There are 32 levels in Mokoko X; each level has its own unique boss and minions. The main goal is assisting the unlucky girls that need help from the weird bosses. This is sometimes passing a mobile game level, sometimes helping out with the insects in the kitchen.
Gameplay – The main goal 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. 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 on your own areas as well. There are 3 difficulties in the game. The difficulty affects enemies, your shield, and the required conquered area percentage for the victory.
Key Features:
- 8 unlucky girls in need of help
- 32 levels with unique bosses and minions
- Absurd stories that will reveal details about the bosses and the girls
- Fully animated, Japanese and English voice overs for all the characters!
- Lovely graphics!
- Traps, towers, crates and bonus effects
- Arcade Mode
- Live high scores displayed for hardcore players
- Nostalgia remastered!
Stories – Have you ever asked these questions to yourself:
- How do you stop a heartless but not soulless emperor?
- Can someone be a gyroscope and a guard dog at the same time?
- Why do those ducks attack us?
- Are there really demonic headphones in the world?
- Why do lizardmen need a plastic toy for summoning their god?
- How do you become a villain after revolting against the ant queen?
- What do scientists want from Albert the wonderful sea creature?
Well, Mokoko X answers all these questions and more!
Here are some missions!:
- Help out Iren with her arachnophobia and fight with the imaginary spider Mr. Fyodorov.
- Protect Issa’s house from getting pillaged by the ghost pirates stuck inside the anchors. They were not the bane of Seven Seas – the crew was killed in their first naval battle.
- Toru wished to be a mosquito to annoy people. A local witch heard him, and transformed him into a mosquito. Now he causes trouble to people every night.
Fight against the weird enemies… and learn about their absurd stories!
The whole family can go on a spacey adventure; with its non-violent gameplay, incredible story, logical puzzles, and easy controls, Dexter and gang are sure to jump off the screen and into your heart.
Mokoko X releases on Nintendo Switch on April 7, 2022 and if you would like to know even more about this upcoming release, why not come back tomorrow for the next instalment?
