Like a lot of the biggest franchises, Pokémon has become more than just a monster-catching title. It’s the monster-catching title. Super Mario Kart was the game that created the kart racing genre, Doom marked the birth of the FPS as we know it, and Pokémon is the series that all monster catching and collecting RPGs are inevitably going to be compared to.
As you’ve surely noticed, Temtem is the new kid on the block, and it’s starting to make a real name for itself. The Early Access title makes no effort to conceal its obvious Pokémon inspiration, but how are things shaping up at this early stage? Here are some of the best and worst things about Crema’s new MMO so far.
10 BEST: It’s Got So Much Potential
Yes, the game is in Early Access, and it definitely shows. There’s a lot of polish to be applied and placeholders on the map to be filled in, so players aren’t getting close to the final, full experience if they hop in right now.
That’s the whole point of Early Access, though. The important thing is, lots of players have fallen in love with this futuristic, Digimon-esque take on the whole concept, and the potential it has for long-term support and expansion is very exciting.
9 WORST: We Don’t Yet Know If That Potential Will Be Realized
You know how things can be, here in the gaming industry. We’re a fickle bunch, as liable to hop on board a title and make it a viral phenomenon overnight as we are to abandon it. It all depends on developer and publisher commitment to the project.
While Temtem has the potential to really catch fire, it could also fizzle out like the tail of a sad Charmander caught in a rainstorm (sorry, wrong franchise). It’s up to the team to take hold of the game’s early momentum and really utilize it. Does it have the legs to go the distance? Only time will tell.
8 BEST: Some Of The Designs Are Fantastic
When it comes to Pokémon-like games, one factor is always going to be absolutely crucial: are the critters involved well designed? We need to get ourselves invested in this world, after all. If there isn’t a good variety of powerful, adorable, unique creatures, why would we bother to collect and raise them?
How have the Temtem designs we’ve seen so far been received? Well, much the same as any new generation’s crop of Pokémon will be: a mixed bag. However, the likes of Platypet and some earlier evolutions should give Pokémon fans hope that there’ll be some creatures worth hunting in Temtem too.
7 WORST: Some Of The Designs Are More Than A Little Generic
On the flipside, of course, it’s impossible to please everyone with this sort of thing. In the Pokémon universe, it seems that Game Freak struck gold with the original 151 critters, with everything that’s been released since proving derisive. Ice creams, literal garbage bags… we’ve all heard the complaints.
In the very early stages, then, Temtem is still very much experimental. They’re trying to create unique new creature designs for themselves, which is a tall order with so many Pokémon already in existence. As such, some seem a little bland. While that’s completely understandable, it’s vital that this first crop of Temtem draw new fans in and build on the game’s success.
6 BEST: It’s Not Stuck On A Nintendo System
Of course, Pokémon is often considered one of the biggest IPs Nintendo has to offer. It isn’t Nintendo-developed, true enough, but the franchise sells their hardware like few others. Game Freak’s efforts are crucial to the company, there’s no doubt about that.
That’s all well and good, but it also means that those gamers who don’t own Nintendo systems miss out, while those who do are limited by the constraints of their hardware. Temtem has no such issues, landing first on PC. With the technical wizardry of the most powerful gaming machines in the world behind it, there’s potential to make this title something spectacular.
5 WORST: Stamina Makes Catching A Chore
As closely as Temtem apes the Pokémon franchise, it’s still making an effort to forge new ground in some areas. To that end, the mechanics are a bit of a departure, especially when it comes to the stamina system.
Instead of the familiar PP (Power Points) mechanic, Temtem attacks consume stamina. When a Temtem’s stamina gauge is depleted, they enter a state of Overexertion, which causes them to take damage on attacking. There’s potential here for much more recoil damage that Struggle ever caused, which could prove super frustrating when it comes to capturing monsters. ‘Legendary’ Temtem battles will not be fun unless the team tweaks things a little here.
4 BEST: It Doesn’t (Seem To) Hold Your Hand Like Pokémon Does
As any veteran Pokémon player will tell you, one of the most frequent complaints about the series is the way it insists on babysitting you. Nobody wanted Pokémon Sun and Moon’s Hau to interrupt them with unsolicited advice every two yards they walked, but there he was to do it anyway.
Naturally, Temtem is only in Early Access so things are subject to change, but the new game doesn’t seem nearly as patronising. It allows you to freely set off, explore and discover new things for yourself, which is refreshing.
3 WORST: Perhaps A Little Too Vague
So, yes. It’s a huge boon to be able to get started in a new adventure without unnecessary cutscenes and explanations of how completely foolproof things work constantly ruining the flow. Even so, it may be possible that Temtem has gone too far in the opposite direction.
Again, as an Early Access title, Temtem is more concerned with the basics of how things run at the moment. It’s totally possible that detailed tutorials and explanations might crop up in the future. As of right now, though, there isn’t too really any guidance or aim to proceedings. A quick rundown of the interactions between different Temtem types would be appreciated early on, bundled in with other things. This is completely alien to us, after all.
2 BEST: It Could Be The Pokémon MMO We’ve Always Wanted (Without The Pokémon)
As we saw earlier, there are a number of caveats that come with Pokémon making a home for itself on Nintendo systems. The Japanese giant is infamous for being well behind the curve when it comes to online functionality, meaning that MMOs and the like are hardly their speciality.
This is one area where Temtem could really fill a void. How long have fans been clamoring for a Pokémon MMO? Forever, that’s how long. No, we don’t know whether Temtem will pan out, but it really could, and that’s an exciting enough prospect in and of itself.
1 WORST: It’s A Bit Too Pokémon-Esque
There’s a fine line between intentional homage and outright imitator. How far has Temtem taken its Pokémon inspiration? Well, Nintendo’s battalions of angry, winged lawyer-monkeys haven’t quite made their minds up on that one yet.
One thing we can tell you is that similarities are beyond blatant at times. From the Temtem ‘Tamers’ to the patches of long grass, the game doesn’t just wear its Pokémon influences on its sleeve. It wears them on a sandwich board around its neck, written with fluorescent marker pen in block capitals. Some will frown upon that, while others might well do a lot more. Tread carefully, Temtem.
NEXT: 10 Pieces Of Pokémon Fusion Fan Art That We Wish Were Real
