Temtem officially launched in early September 2022 and as of the time of writing, is at Version 1.1. While its collecting and fighting creatures feel slick, there are some aspects that clearly show this game still has plenty of room to grow. A good example of this is the overall aesthetic of the game. Of course, art is subjective. But personally I find the combination of low contrast colors, lack of textures and pastel palette to make up Temtem Looks like it’s in beta. However, its music and combat animations are of very good quality. They almost feel like something from a modern JRPG.
I don’t want to compare this with Pokémon much. I don’t think it’s fair. However, mentally, the divorce between the two properties is quite difficult. Temtem begins in a very similar way to Pokémon anime. Your mom wakes you up, and then scolds you for sleeping in because you have to go see the professor. At the professor’s house, you meet your dark and arrogant rival. You then choose your starting Temtem from a set of three. Max then mops the floor with you with his Temtem, and then you start your fun adventure. Your goal is around fighting in all the Dojos, which will then turn into weekly bosses. Defeating each Dojo will grant you an item to help you explore. An opening that is so familiar that it almost invites comparison unequivocally.
Something do Temtem What stands out is how Temtems evolved. There is no set level as in Pokémon. For example, if you catch a Poliwag at level 30, it will immediately evolve into Poliwhirl in the next battle. This is because Poliwag usually evolves at level 25. However, in Temtemthey grow based on the number of levels they reach after you catch them. No problem level a Kaku is that once you catch it, you still have to level it up 11 times for it to turn into Saku. That’s not a bad mechanic, as it gives more time per evolution stage. But I hope they make a way to check when you first meet Temtem. I don’t know how many levels up the given Temtems need.
Temtem is a surprisingly challenging game. Even as a Pokémon veteran, I found myself pushed to the limit a few times (although this may be due to my stinginess when it comes to buying and using healing items). Wild Temtems on the field aren’t too bad, but tamers and long dungeons can get pretty tough. Instead of PP, you have Stamina, which heals at the end of each battle. Using too much of your Temtem will damage your Temtem, which means it limits the number of powerful skills you can let Temtem learn. It also prevents you from using one of Temtem’s strongest skills per turn.
Even with over-leveled Temtems, I had to really use sick conditions and take advantage of type weaknesses to keep my best Temtems relatively healthy in long dungeons. This is the opposite of Pokémon where Vulpix can still mop the floor with Squirtle because there is a significant level difference. Depending on the set of Temtems you have, some moves can be buffed by relationships. This adds an extra layer to how you organize your party, as well as what moves you keep. Pokémon Players who have grown bored with some of the series’ simpler implementations can find joy in exploring and exploring the depths of the game. Temtemof elemental combat.
That being said, there are some quality of life features that I hope the developers will patch into the final game. One of them is a handy chart type to use in combat. It can be difficult to remember what type of Temtem is, as well as the weaknesses and strengths of the elements. Another way is to add more necessary information to your Temtem status screen. I want to know my Temtem species instead of scouring Tempedia, as well as their level upon joining (to calculate when they will evolve). The map is probably the biggest problem. While the game has a navigation system for missions, there are no arrows on your minimap that indicate which direction you should go. It is also difficult to know what each part of the map is, since there are no names for the places.
From an MMORPG point of view, this game really doesn’t require you to talk much to anyone. I only see one conversation in all my playtime, and it’s a very friendly exchange between strangers. The connection is really good, with minimal lag and no stutter. You can play the entire story solo or team up with a friend if you have one. I don’t have any friends who play Tempem. However, I never felt like I was missing out on a fun experience. The last part of the game doesn’t have co-op dungeons, but I still don’t get it. There are also more competitive online options, which I haven’t tried yet.
Temtem doesn’t feel like it’s hiding Pokémon human condition, with a degree of similarity in both aesthetic and narrative. However, it never makes me want to put it down to play Pokémon instead of. Its inherently strategic combat system means you can’t always be violent your way through encounters, which is a challenge for players like me who regularly level up monsters. their object. However, it lacks some basic quality of life options like a better navigation system that will hopefully come later.
Temtem available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, PS5 and Windows PC.
