Developed and published by Swedish indie studio Something We Made, TOEM is a simple and stylish game that received strong reviews when it was released last year. It tells the story of a cute, inquisitive protagonist who is looking to climb a mountain in order to witness the mysterious phenomenon of TOEM. To do so, he must travel through various zones, taking photos and collecting stamps until he makes his way to the summit. TOEM is a unique experience that provides a brief respite from the world of action-packed, adrenaline-fueled video games that people are often accustomed to.
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TOEM Is a Refreshing Change of Pace
Games like modern Assassin’s Creed titles are often excessively long and can feel bloated, so seeing a game like this through to its conclusion is a huge commitment of time and effort. TOEM is at the other end of the spectrum, as it can be finished in one sitting. There’s something refreshing and rewarding about this skew that really adds to TOEM’s charm.
Photography is the core element at play, with users primarily asked to take a range of different photos. While this is not a new concept, as there are plenty of other photography-based video games such as Pokemon Snap, the simple black-and-white pop-up book visuals are unique, and full of little details to spot. Gamers are given tasks to accomplish in each zone, from photographing certain things to simple fetch quests, that will help them progress. While the game unfolds in third-person, switching to the camera mode moves to first-person. Nothing is complicated, as even taking photos is a remarkably simple mechanic.
TOEM’s NPCs are charming and lively, and they all have something interesting to say. The game never asks players to speed up, everything can be done at a relaxing pace, free from the heart-in-mouth moments associated with action-heavy video games like Uncharted. This works in harmony with the game’s soundtrack, which is beautifully tranquil throughout.
Not every game needs to be a Dark Souls-style test of skill or a high-octane bullet hell title like Doom. This is something TOEM is all too aware of, and it offers the player a more therapeutic alternative. While it certainly won’t be for everyone, developer Something We Made has crafted a rich, detailed world full of fun characters and quests. For what is essentially a black-and-white pop-up book, that is quite a feat, and PlayStation users shouldn’t pass up the chance to check it out while the game is available for free on the PS Plus Essentials tier.
TOEM is available now for PC, PS5, and Switch.
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