“There are some flowers you only see when you take detours.”
This isn’t a quotation from a literary masterpiece or a well-known person, in fact, this quote has its roots fixated in one of the sports anime I’ve ever seen. However, Toem’s general philosophy is beautifully aligned with this particular tidbit of wisdom. Taking inspiration from Scandinavian scenery, players take on the role of an adventurer armed with nothing more than a regular camcorder as well as a music player.
It’s not uncommon for titles to have a photographic feature since the introduction of New Pokémon Snap has sparked an increase in photography-themed titles. Toem, on the other hand, does so much more than just take images of critters and add them to your collection.
Say Cheese, Please!
You begin your journey in your native hamlet of Homelanda, which has a moniker that well reflects its location. The time has nearly arrived for you to embark on your adventure to witness the phenomena described as ‘Toem,’ and you’re ready to do so. When our Grandma presents us with a photo from our scrapbook, we’re intrigued with what precisely Toem is, however the camera shot cleverly hides it from the protagonist’s view.
We boarded the tram to Oaklaville, armed with our Hikelady (a pun on the Sony Walkman) plus our reliable camcorder. Toem’s town-to-town journey necessitates a specific quantity of stickers on your communal id. It is possible to gain these badges by performing tasks given to you by non-player characters (NPCs). There are a wide variety of missions available, ranging from capturing images of rare species of plants or animals to spotting a suspect individual for a classified government agency. Everyday photos, nothing special about it at all or is it?
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You begin your journey in your native hamlet of Homelanda, which has a moniker that well reflects its location. The time has nearly arrived for you to embark on your adventure to witness the phenomena described as ‘Toem,’ and you’re ready to do so. When our Grandma presents us with a photo from our scrapbook, we’re intrigued with what precisely Toem is, however the camera shot cleverly hides it from the protagonist’s view.
We boarded the tram to Oaklaville, armed with our Hikelady (a pun on the Sony Walkman) plus our reliable camcorder. Toem’s town-to-town journey necessitates a specific quantity of stickers on your communal id. It is possible to gain these badges by performing tasks given to you by non-player characters (NPCs). There are a wide variety of missions available, ranging from capturing images of rare species of plants or animals to spotting a suspect individual for a classified government agency. Everyday photos, nothing special about it at all or is it?
You receive a complimentary trip to another settlement after you have collected sufficient stamps. Even though it’s a clever approach to restrict gameplay, there are still plenty of attractions to visit in every town. As you go through the game, you’ll unlock additional clothing items and gadget attachments. The camera bell accessory was my personal favorite. By shrieking at wildlife or splitting up glaciers, it was designed to bring up new routes for exploration.
The Little Things’
I really appreciated the little tidbits of facts that the game gives you if you take your time. To unlock the computer, you only have to honk at it. The snowflakes that accumulate on a camera lens in Kiiruberg’s frigid location, the cat perched on an electrical wire. These facts reveal that the game’s development team put a lot of thought and affection into it.
It’s clear in Toem’s hand-drawn artistic approach that he cares and loves. All of the creatures and humans are drawn in two dimensions. You’d think they’d appear out of place in the game’s 3D scenes, particularly since the perspective can be rotated, but it really fits beautifully and is a well-executed design decision.
The game’s soundtrack is a mix of generally calming tunes and a few zany ones, all of which fit well with the game’s mood. With the Hikelady, you can listen to your favorite tunes wherever you go, just as you would with a regular music player. Listening to music on loop or remix is also an option. Instead, you may just listen to the sounds around you without playing anything whatsoever.
Toem might have a monochromatic vibe to it, however, there is never a boring time in the gameplay. You may dine at an establishment owned by squirrels, interact with a household of chatting bubbles, or even go out on a date with a spirit (who I wound upbringing to a landfill by mistake). I apologize, dear spirit, you didn’t get what you deserved) That nonsensical speech reminiscent of Animal Crossing is both adorable and unusual.
The few issues I encountered during my time aren’t worth mentioning since they’re so tiny. Since the shoes you got were mostly just for show and didn’t really assist you to speed up, I wish there had been a “run” option or something similar available. The camera’s recognition of specific items while snapping pics isn’t always correct, so even if my image had the essential item, it may have been too distant or obstructed by other factors to be the main focus. I really wish that motion controls were incorporated while utilizing the camera on Nintendo Switch. Again, they have little impact on the overall experience.
The Verdict
In the conclusion, I ignored all of the game’s warnings to take some time away and spent most of my time playing the whole adventure in one session since I was so enamored with collecting the badges. While exploring, Toem kept me excited about the possibilities that lie in wait.
For the 6 or so hours I spent playing the title, I was thoroughly entertained and left craving for more. The Toem phenomena were as amazing as the videogame claimed it to be when I experienced it. I won’t tell you what it is because I want you to discover it for yourselves. Toem is now available on PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5!
The player takes charge of a teenage photojournalist in the videogame who must climb a hill in order to observe the "TOEM" phenomena. The protagonist travels through several places and villages across Scandinavia, where many NPCs will approach them for assistance as the player advances through the story.
