TemTem Review – Gotta Catch Tem All!

Temtem is a fun but slightly repetitive RPG that injects some interesting new ideas into the Pokémon formula while creating its own identity as a game. If you’re itching for some creature-catching fun and can’t wait for the next Pokémon game, Temtem is a safe bet.

Temtem
Developer: Crema
Price: $40
Platforms: PS5 (reviewed) and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review

I’m a big fan of Pokémon, so Temtem being touted by players as the spiritual successor to the franchise certainly caught my eye. I think there’s a lot of potential in this early access title, and though it stumbles a bit here and there, I think this is a strong start for a new potential Pokémon alternative.

The story of Temtem is a simple and familiar one, which works perfectly for what the game is going for. You’re a young person who is about to embark on a journey into the world of Temtem. You’ll tame Temtem and battle the villainous Clan Belsoto as you travel across a variety of atmospheric lands to find new creatures. It serves its purpose and thrusts you into the world of Temtem without taking up too much of your time, which works well for the game.

Temtem plays like other games of its ilk, with a semi-top-down perspective in the overworld and turn-based battles between Temtem and other Temtem tamers. Temtem all have different elements that are super effective against one another, with attacks that share their different elements. The advantages and weaknesses between elements make sense and are easy to remember, making battles feel natural and straightforward. It feels like there are a few too many battles in each area though, as the game begins to feel repetitive when you run through a larger location.

“With the wide variety of creatures that are eventually presented to players, everyone is sure to have a few that they find quite appealing.“

Combat is very similar to that of Pokémon and the Digimon Cyber Sleuth series, where you and your opponent take turns attacking one another with damage-inducing moves and stat buffs and debuffs. Unlike other series, however, Temtem has a few little additions that make it stand out as its own thing. Most battles are double battles instead of singles, and you can fully heal your party anywhere once after each visit to a healing center, which reduces how often you need to deviate from your journey to heal. Temtem also evolve after obtaining a certain number of levels from after you tame them, instead of having set evolution levels. This gives you adequate time with each creature design, which results in a strong feeling of camaraderie with your Temtem companions. It’s a lot of fun overall, as these changes make things a bit smoother, and cement Temtem as its own thing.

Temtem looks great, as its vivid and lively colors make its world feel exciting and adventurous. The creature designs for the various Temtem are quite well-done, as there’s a lot of creativity put into how they look. With the wide variety of creatures that are eventually presented to players, everyone is sure to have a few that they find quite appealing. The amount of customization available for your avatar is also quite impressive, as you can give your character a wide variety of different looks. I do wish the music was a bit more memorable though, as it rarely stands out when exploring or battling. Being able to see other players at all times while wandering around the world also adds to the feeling of adventure, as it makes the world feel truly populated.

The Final Word
While occasionally repetitive, Temtem is an overall fun and well-designed creature-collecting RPG that emulates the successful aspects of Pokémon while adding its own twists that make it feel unique. If you’re looking for a game to fill the void that the between-Pokémon time period provides, Temtem is a strong choice.

MonsterVine Review Score: 4 out of 5 – Good