TOEM 2 Review: Take A Picture, It’ll Last Longer

Ever since the halcyon days of Pokemon Snap, I have gravitated to just about any game that puts a camera in my hand. Which led me to the original monochromatic adventure, TOEM. 

A plucky little indie that made me fall in love with it’s cozy vibe and low stress puzzles faster than my camera’s shutter speed. Which, made jumping into the sequel a very welcome proposition. 

With the hope of capturing the natural anomaly that is TOEM once again. I set off with a camera, a can-do attitude, and an eye for a good snap. Hoping for an elevated experience that justifies all those long bus rides. 

Pics, Or It Didn’t Happen 

At the risk of giving anyway the general synopsis of the whole review, TOEM 2 is very much a ‘more of the same sequel’. Beginning from your grandma’s home, you’ll head off on an adventure punctuated my bus rides and layovers in towns and cities, where solving puzzles, helping the locals, and taking snaps as you go aid progression. 

All in the hope of seeing the natural phenomenon that is TOEM. It is pretty much note for note, the same old song and dance as the first game. Only this time, the natural phenomenon of TOEM isn’t the view from a mountain, but instead the shedding of the leaves in fall. Which, if you ask me, isn’t really worth the hassle of several connecting bus journeys. 

Thankfully though, while the core format hasn’t changed all that much, the places you explore, the zany backing tracks, and the people you meet certainly have. Culminating in a series of calm and cozy questlines to complete that give the fans of the original what they want. 

It doesn’t rock the boat, or reinvent the wheel, and for many that will be okay. As more of the cozy, camera antics of the original is hardly a bad thing. But, I couldn’t help but feel a touch short-changed by what was served to me through the lens. 

A good sequel, at least to me, is one that pushes the format a little further, or goes whole hog and reinvents itself, while retaining just enough core DNA as to not lose itself entirely. TOEM 2 is a sequel in the same way that ordering a second beer at the bar is a sequel to your first. It’s fine, it’s more of something you like, but if you’re honest with yourself, you know nothing will quite hit the spot the same way that first crisp sip did. 

A New Perspective 

In spite of the picture I’ve tried to hang in a frame for all to see, depicting this game as a carbon copy. I do have to concede that there has been some attempt to improve the core gameplay in this monochromatic second outing. 

Primarily, it’s a much more vertical experience, as you now have the ability to platform, climb and generally hop around each pocket-sized map in search of critters, characters and curiosities worth snapping. Something which should add a lot to the experience, but in truth, doesn’t really move the needle too much. 

Don’t get me wrong, being able to jump around is a welcome addition. But, it’s just not utilized in meaningful way often enough to make it feel like a mighty mechanic that helps justify a sequel. 

The same goes for camera-based mini-games and actions, like using a hammer to repair things, or a screwdriver for tightening some squirting pipes, for example. These effectively act as quick time events, but with no time limit, or fail states. Again, something that would have had the potential to make encounters with the world a little more memorable. But, ultimately an idea that isn’t executed all that well. 

Ultimately, the most standout positive difference between this sequel and its predecessor is how the game looks and feels to play. The original was a little more cumbersome and stiff to play, as assets were more aggressively 2D. TOEM 2 looks much more polished, gives you the freedom to move as you like through 3D spaces, and generally feels like it has invested in a more powerful lens, as it’s a sharper image all round. 

Is it groundbreaking, to the point that you would call this game the definitive way to experience the series? I would say, no. But, for what it’s worth, it’s a nicer looking iteration of TOEM with a few lackluster new bells and whistles. 

The only problem is, this new look and feel is let down ever slightly by aspects of the core experience that the original nailed. 

A Little Out Of Focus 

Ultimately, your enjoyment of TOEM 2 is going to come down to how much you enjoy the quests, and bite-sized camera-based puzzles. Something that I liked, but certainly liked a whole lot less this time around.

Admittedly, interacting with the world through the first person camera still feels brilliant. Allowing you to gain a new perspective, alter the state of the world, and take a little selfie if the notion takes you. So much so that, if you had never played the original, you’d likely have a blast. 

The issue is, I have played the original, and the constant thought in the back of my mind was ‘these puzzles just aren’t as good’. 

I want to immediately say, I am not looking for anything cerebral here. Blue Prince, this game is not. However, even though it’s an inherently chill, low stakes game, I still found myself stuck once or twice in the original, looking for the secret photo challenge op, or struggling to work out the logic of a NPC request. 

That never came close to happening in TOEM 2, as I ticked off every stamp before leaving each town with little issue at all. Secrets weren’t all that secret, puzzles felt more like light busywork, and the writing while fine, didn’t have that same charming, light humor that made me fall in love with the original. 

In short, aside from some nice movement improvements, and a visual face-lift, TOEM 2 feels like a safe sequel that actually feels like a minor downgrade in most departments. Making me wonder whether we really needed a sequel at all. 

Code provided by publisher, reviewed on PS5

7.0

TOEM 2 is the epitome of a 'more of the same' sequel. Minor tweaks have been made to the formula to add new puzzle possibilities and verticality to exploration. But, for all intents and purposes, this is Something We Made effectively running it back and doing the same thing over again. Thankfully, it's more or less as charming and chill as it was before. It's just not an overhaul that necessarily warrants a sequel.

Pros

1. Improved 3D visuals
2. Platforming adds an extra layer to exploration
3. maintains the original's cute and cozy charm

Cons

1. Puzzles are a little too simplistic
2. New mechanics don't elevate the experience

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