It’s always a treat to see a niche indie title get a sequel, as some video games leave more of a mark than others, but every game needs to sell well to get a second iteration. One such game would be Toem: A Photo Adventure, from developer Something We Made. There was just something about picking apart each diorama and the several “a-ha!” moments that game evoked from me that stuck in my mind for all this time. So when Toem 2 was announced, I was excited for another photo-puzzling adventure to embark on. Is it as memorable as the first?

Toem 2 starts you out with your grandma’s camera, handling with the same mechanics as its predecessor. You’ll hit a button to swap from traversing to photographing, as you point-and-shoot your pictures to earn stamps to explore new regions on your way to Whirlhill for the blooming of the Whirling Birch, a magnificent sight to behold. Along the way, you’ll help out individuals of a forest, medieval town, and a modern city to earn the appropriate amount of stamps to let the bus take you ever-closer to your final destination.

Taking on the tasks in Toem 2 is bound to have you travel from spot to spot, with a massive amount of backtracking. Thankfully, due to its succinct areas, moving across each area takes mere seconds. Additionally, your handy journal keeps track of every quest you’ve accepted, so you’ll never feel too overwhelmed. Especially appreciated is not being tied down to time limits or any fail states, so you can explore without constraints and even go back to previous levels if you’re ever stumped. I would have liked to see the quest descriptions be a bit more informative, but just speaking with the quest-giver can still set you on the right path.

It goes without saying that the charm from Toem is still present in Toem 2. I loved talking to goblins, worms, businessmen, and everything in-between. The voice acting being jumbled English is usually good for a laugh, and the character designs fit like a glove in their respective environments. Getting my bearings with the new tools, like the hammer and the scissors, made the interactivity with each world a pleasure. I would always tie up loose ends before traversing to the next level, even with the knowledge I could come back, as I loved seeing things through and seeing these characters get giddy with each new resolution.

Toem 2 is a delight that adds just enough to warrant a purchase from fans of the first game. The elephant in the room is that the game is easily completed in the span of 3 to 4 hours, with no indication of replayability. What it lacks in quantity, it more than makes up for in quality, and I don’t regret spending my day powering through this photographic pleasure. Toem 2 is best picked up on a sale from its regular price of $20 USD.

A PC Review Copy of  Toem 2 was provided courtesy of popagenda for this review

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Toem 2

$19.99

8

Score

8.0/10

Pros

• Open World Bliss
• Bursting with Charm
• Great Use of Mechanics

Cons

• Only 4 Hours
• Vague Puzzle Descriptions