Despite Toem’s relatively small scope, developer Something We Made has made the most of its novel premise. The end result is a relaxing, joyful adventure filled with charming characters.
You set off on a pilgrimage to find the titular phenomenon atop a mountain. You’ll explore a series of adorable locations, earning stamps and a bus ride to get there. The game is presented in black and white, but it’s still full of charm and memorable moments despite the lack of colour. With your camera — which gets upgraded as you progress — you’ll need to assist dozens of characters. The objectives are wonderfully creative and never repeat; the entire journey presents you with new things to see and do, such as spotting scouts hiding in the woods, fixing a generator, and taking a ghost on a date.
When taking photos, you’ll go from an isometric view to a first-person one, giving you a different perspective on the world and allowing you to see things you otherwise couldn’t. Each environment is full of cute and fun things to photograph, and you’ll also discover secrets as you go. There’s only one restriction: the capacity of your photo album. Plus, there’s no pressure to complete – in fact, you’ll probably just take your sweet time soaking it all in with the game’s chilled out music and backtracking ability.
Despite being a simple game, it’s a satisfying, imaginative, and endlessly pleasant adventure while it lasts.
Pros:
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A simple but satisfying photo game.
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A fun and creative puzzle.
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There are lots of charming characters.
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Relaxed atmosphere.
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Great music and visuals.
Cons:
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It’s over too fast.
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Sometimes environments are confusing.
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DualSense not supported.
This game gets an 8 out of 10.