Ondeh Ondeh Instantly Evokes The Charm Of No Straight Roads
Metronomik’s next adventure, Ondeh Ondeh: Kaya’s Tasty Tale, arrives with a fresh musical twist.
The studio’s debut, No Straight Roads, earned acclaim for its rhythm‑driven combat, according to The Gamer.
During a Bandai Namco preview event, Metronomik confirmed it was only developing No Straight Roads 2, a fact that surprised many observers.
The September Nintendo Direct debut of Ondeh Ondeh showed a choppy trailer, but hands‑on footage from the same event revealed a polished experience that surpasses early impressions.
Musical Puzzles And Exploration Are Ondeh Ondeh’s Main Focus
Kaya, daughter of the world‑building giants Selera, steps onto the stage on her birthday to prove herself, a narrative premise described by The Gamer.
The game’s witty dialogue, highlighted by Kaya’s boundless enthusiasm, mirrors the charm of No Straight Roads’ Mayday, the publication notes.
Ondeh Ondeh derives from a traditional Malaysian sweet and represents the musical flavors Kaya perceives through synesthesia, as explained by The Gamer.
Kaya’s first steps in becoming a worldbuilder have her chasing after a dog, Biri‑Biri, to put him in a hotpot, which she was surprisingly surprised to hear, according to The Gamer.
The gameplay retains the rhythmic focus of No Straight Roads but shifts toward puzzle and exploration, with actions timed to a constant beat, the article states.
In the first area, Salty Village, players step on pressure plates for precise durations, stomp to move platforms, and arrange bleating sheep into specific note patterns to collect musical sheep for Biri‑Biri’s back, The Gamer reports.
When Kaya ventures into a forest to find the last lamb, she encounters the Salty Ondeh, which raises blocks on each beat; players must position sheep to create platforms and clear paths, a mechanic that becomes increasingly intricate, The Gamer explains.
Combat remains minimal; Kaya executes a beat‑matched combo while wolves attack in rhythm, providing a brief respite from puzzle solving, the preview notes.
Kaya’s Tasty Tale Is Shaping Up Well, As Long As It Doesn’t Hold Back On Depth
The demo’s final moment featured a boss battle against a large wolf, which, while less energetic than Sayu, demanded precise beat timing and the use of a sheep and Salty Ondeh to topple the enemy, showing thoughtful design compared to No Straight Roads, according to The Gamer.
Although the fight was not completed, the encounter demonstrated a balanced blend of musical elements and gameplay, the preview suggests.
If the full release deepens the Ondeh mechanics and adds tougher puzzles, Ondeh Ondeh could become one of 2027’s most charming titles, the preview indicates.
Released: 2027
ESRB: Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Language, Crude Humor
Developer(s): Metronomik
Number of Players: Single-player
Steam Deck Compatibility: Unknown