In January 2020, Temtem was released to the world on PC via Steam Early Access. It was an obvious competitor or homage (depending on who you ask) to the monster collecting games of the past, but now it’s online with cross-play and cross-progression. This means you can take your pocket monsters (or Temtem) with you wherever you go, but how do you face the rich history of digital monsters so far? Simply put, Temtem is fun. , while pushing the boundaries of what was previously possible, is a bit of a misunderstanding of what makes those games so special.
At its core, Temtem is an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game). This is an online monster catching game that tells a very familiar story where children receive an interactive index of monsters, starter monsters and items that help them catch new creatures. in the wild. There are classic rivals to fight along the way, dojos to complete, and villains of Clan Bersoth to stop along the way. It’s all very cookie-cutter in a way that can feel soulless and generic. The upside is that it really rushes the introduction until you get to the core gameplay. It only takes a few minutes from the start of the game to the first battle, which is refreshing in the age of long RPGs. The capture system is similar to other games. Find wild monsters in random encounters, attack them until they’re low on health, and throw capture cards so you can follow up.
The 164 Temtem are mostly unique while you feel at home in the world of Digital Monsters. The design starts off basic but really starts to stand out as you progress through the game. As your creature evolves, so does its design. I was hesitant at first, but in the end I was impressed. Our journey begins at Zadar’s beachside estates but eventually escalates to lava-spewing volcanoes, mines, peaks and shrines. The locales are diverse and relatively complex, but get old quickly with the need to revisit these locations frequently without means of fast travel.
Many of these presentation issues may seem daunting, but Temtem has some big differentiators. The biggest difference is the combat system. Battles of Temtem are fought 2v2. Having two Tem teams for him opens up a whole other level of strategy depending on his ability and elemental type. Combining the right tems will lead to stats and attack boosts. Abilities like Chain Lightning can even hit multiple targets. There is also an additional wrinkle for the stamina system instead of MP. Spent stamina is fully restored at the start of combat, but you can still use abilities at the cost of health if your stamina is low during combat. Otherwise, you can rest your Temtem for 1 turn to restore stamina. There was a real risk-reward system at work, and I always suffered from rolling the dice and hurting myself for the final fatal blow, or playing conservatively. Items can also be equipped on creatures for strategy.
The base game structure is set in the classic style of roaming the lands of the Airborne Archipelago, completing quests, capturing new monsters, and battling in Dojos to prove you’re the best Temtem Tamer. This is a tried and true template that is almost indistinguishable from the classic. It wears its influence on its sleeve, but the online nature of the world makes it feel bustling. There are temtem trainers. Although they may be difficult to access, there are also general and trade chats for those looking for tips and conversations, as well as an auction house for rare temtems.
The real appeal of Temtem isn’t necessarily in the main 60 hours of story. The appealing part is in the endgame content. Repeated Dojo battles increase the difficulty of rare items, fierce competition in the online scene (remember, it’s cross-platform), breed Temtem, and even have extras to build your own home he space. Comes with a roguelike tower that rewards great loot. There’s also a battle pass (obviously), but it’s a bit of a boot-up struggle to complete. For a long time, Pokémon fans have been listening for updates, supported competitive scenes, and rich endgame content. Now in a cross-platform, cross-progression format, there are options for those who want more.
Temtem proves that there is still room for competition in the monster catching and combat arena. There’s also evidence that games like Digimon and Pokémon do a lot of things well while leaving a lot on the table, and that’s where Temtem shines. Easy to play, but the addition of co-op battles, deep synergistic combat mechanics, and rich endgame content make it a true diamond in the rough for those who find the missing competitor. may be corny, but for hardcore fans looking for something deeper, Temtem might be what you’re looking for. Temtem is better or worse than the opposition, and that’s fine.
