Creating a captivating, family-friendly adventure title that appeals to everyone is no easy feat. On its surface, one need only take out the swears, create some light-hearted quests and dialogue, and keep the visuals bright and cartoony. That’s all well and good, but can these adventures maintain an adult’s attention? That’s the secret to TOEM’s success, and TOEM 2 seeks to capitalize on that very same formula.
Once more, our hero must embark on a journey to a far-off town to witness the TOEM. Cheeky references to this nebulous magical phenomenon litter here and there throughout the adventure, but the real meat of TOEM 2 is helping people at each town after getting off the bus. Why not just take several buses to the ultimate destination in one go? Because good will is the currency in this world. I guess.
Collect enough stamps and our hero can get back on the bus. Each location offers a series of subtly titled quests to accomplish, but most players will be able to just wander around and help people without relying on the journal. In addition to the quests, players can find a key landmark to photograph, fill up a codex with photos of critters, and simply enjoy wandering around these delightful mini-worlds.
Each location is comprised of segregated squares of varying elevation, width, and length. Click the arrow at the edge and move on to the next section. A handy minimap at the top-right assists with navigation, making exploration a snap. Most sections have a character or two to talk to, a house or cave to enter, and a whole lotta charming scenery to take in and enjoy. Sometimes a square doesn’t have a whole lot going on, but I also enjoyed these breezy asides as they contributed to the atmosphere of chill, low-stress adventuring.
And that’s what TOEM 2 excels at the most. While checking off boxes on the list is gratifying in itself, so many games already offer that. What games like TOEM 2 don’t always accomplish is the easy-going, whimsical adventuring. We’ve experienced this in games like A Short Hike, but TOEM and TOEM 2 seem to do this the best. Substantive at about five hours yet simultaneously light-hearted, TOEM 2 never feels like it hits the gas, and that’s exactly what you want from a game like this.
In truth, the relaxing atmosphere is a brilliant combination of airy, simple music; gorgeous, unique visuals; and NPCs who are charming in that the sky seems to be falling over a skinned knee or a lost key. These simple tasks are clearly no cause for concern to us, but helping the panicked denizen makes us feel like true heroes. As if small acts of kindness can really make a difference. Maybe that’s the lesson here.
As impressive as the chill vibes are, though, I have to be honest about some shortcomings. More-of-the-same isn’t all bad when a sequel follows a strong predecessor, but that can only carry a game for so long. I went into TOEM 2 saying, “If this is just TOEM all over again, I’ll be happy.” And I am happy, but could I be—happier? Undoubtedly, TOEM 2 is a facelift in the visuals department—and some new mechanics show up to offer some simple puzzling—but this just feels like TOEM all over again. That’s good, but it’s not great.
Most quests involve fetching items, engaging in some easy platforming, and photographing some noteworthy macguffins. On rare occasions, the game will throw a quirky curveball, like hopping into a dream, but even a relatively sizable quest like this is a matter of fetching a photograph of something. The point isn’t the challenge, but the relaxing atmosphere of it all; after a while, though, even the visuals lose their luster in the face of yet-another-fetch-quest. That’s why I found TOEM 2 better to play in small bites, with my seven-year-old daughter alongside me.
From a child’s perspective, TOEM 2 hits all the right notes. My daughter couldn’t get enough of the wacky characters, cute creatures, and low-stress questing. She had quite a bit of difficulty with the platforming and some of the puzzles, but that didn’t deter her. We enjoyed the story together, and she was always asking for another session of TOEM 2.
If you’re seeking a reliable, breezy adventure behind a shutter, look no further than TOEM 2. Despite its simple execution and overused quest design, TOEM 2’s visuals and crazy characters make for a joyful romp. I hope Something We Made, the developers, continue to work on this series, but I hope they take it in a bold direction—not in the Dragon Quest XII sense, but maybe with a significant change in game design.
