Do you remember those pop-up story book your parents would read you as a child? Well, apparently the developers at Nyamyam did, and they created Tengami as a result. Does Tengami hold that wonderful sense of atmosphere, though, or does it fall flat?


           You start the game by flipping open a story book -- and already, this is where the game starts to actually feel like a Japanese pop-up story. You slide your finger to open the book, as if you were turning the page of an actual book. Much of the game is like this, with a tap leading the character to a location and a slide used to flip pages or reveal smaller foldable areas. In fact, the entire game can be played entirely and only on the GamePad alone (you can view it on the TV, but the only way to move your character or flip a page is with the GamePad, making this a great off-screen experience). This unique way of movement is just one of the ways that Tengami develops its specific feel, though.

           You role in this game is never plainly stated, but your goal is to find three cherry blossoms and return them to a tree that it devoid of life. When you do find a cherry blossom, you’ll be rewarded with the tree gaining some flowers and a short poem (they’re not all Haikus, some have varying syllable counts). You can also attempt to find Miiverse stamps -- and you probably will, since this the only side thing you can do/collect in the game. While this formula is an extremely good fit for this game, this is essentially all there is to it.


           This is where Tengami’s biggest flaw comes in. The game itself is practically flawless, but this amazing experience only lasts for one to two hours, plus maybe half an hour at most if you’re going for all the Miiverse stamps and didn’t get them all the first time through. As a result of this combined with the wonderful atmosphere in the game, you’ll likely have no problem with replaying the game and experiencing for a second time the mood and environment of the game, but the game is still incredibly short and feels like it could’ve been extended a bit more. The $9.99 pricetag on this game could also make one question how much they truly want this game.

           Regardless, if you’re a huge fan of atmospheric game, you’ll adore the Japanese-styled music by David Wise that truly helps to captivate you and pull you into the world of Tengami. The visual are some of the most unique and spectacular we’ve seen in a game in a while, with the paper looking incredibly realistic and every corner folded perfectly. This attention to detail and visual masterpiece of the game once again pulls you into the world of the game so as to make you feel as if you are actually reading a Japanese picture book.


           While you may want to consider the length and price of Tengami, it’s definitely worth a download if you’re into atmospheric games. Tengami is one of the games that we’d point to when someone asks us if video games can be considered “art,” because it truly is a masterpiece. If you love games with a wonderful atmosphere and can get past the length and price of the game, you have absolutely no reason to not pick up this gem.



Review copy provided by Nyamyam.