This game in some hands would have been a draggy, 2D platformer where the hero had some blaster and collected items to win points, unlock doors, anything. Instead we have a very sweet, age-appropriate romp that involves some learning and thinking. Thinking at a kid level, not an adult gamer level. So often we see the syndrome of developers playing into the conventions of the seasoned gamer, not realizing that some devices like crates have become old and that not everyone instinctively knows to do certain things without being taught. A large number of games are too complex for many gamers.
The story of Juka is about a boy who is a practicing Alchemist and can combine ingredients to make magic potions. When the balance in the land is upset, Juka goes on a series of quests that will set things straight and teach him new things in the process. The alchemy trade only works when you find ingredients, so you have to help Juka gather ingredients of different colors and types. Over time, Juka learns to combine ingredients by following recipes to create potions. Some potions may unlock doors and others may help Juka against enemies. Initially, I thought the potions would all just be one-time solutions but there are a lot of challenges that come up again and again. One neat thing about the game is how it teaches subtle lessons about managing resources. Use too many ingredients against enemies and you'll find yourself short when you reach a critical puzzle. Trying to avoid enemies without using potions may mean you never even reach the puzzle in question.... There are interesting choices to make during the game and lots of territory to explore.
The enemies are a fairly non-threatening lot, more silly than scary. In a neat gameplay device, you don't attack enemies directly. Each enemy throws objects of different shapes and colors at you, in a pattern. You can use a Sound Staff to collect and reflect these objects as long as you catch them in a specific sequence. You can also collect objects and turn them into energy for your shields. Monophonic Menace becomes almost like a rhythm game during battles. There are interesting combination battles that require potions as well as wielding the Sound Staff. Battles can get somewhat repetitive, so there are challenges in mini-game form that crop up during the game as well. More variety in the style of battle would have been welcome, but Monophonic Menace is fairly fast-paced.
