Tembo the Badass Elephant

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 510 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
Tembo the Badass Elephant Game Cover
A platformer in the mould of the Sonic-games of old, and as such, well worth your time and money.
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In "Tembo the Badass Elephant" , the city of Shell City is under attack by the destructive forces of PHANTOM, and it's up to Tembo, a peanut-chomping, villain-stomping elephant, to save the day. Aided by his sidekick Picolo, Tembo uses his powerful abilities to jump, smash, punch, and butt stomp his way through 18 side-scrolling levels filled with deadly enemies and challenging obstacles. With its unique comic book style art and intense action, Tembo promises a heavy dose of fun, weighing in at around seven and a half tons.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 510 reviews
graphics62 positive mentions
grinding22 negative mentions
  • Tembo the Badass Elephant features charming graphics and a unique comic book art style that enhances the overall experience.
  • The gameplay is fun and engaging, with a variety of moves and mechanics that allow for creative destruction and exploration.
  • The game offers a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic platformers like Donkey Kong Country and Sonic the Hedgehog.
  • The controls can be awkward and imprecise, leading to frustrating moments during gameplay.
  • The game features a gating system that requires players to collect a certain number of points by defeating enemies and rescuing civilians, which can feel tedious and forceful.
  • Some levels become overly challenging and can disrupt the flow of the game, particularly in the later stages.
  • graphics112 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant, cartoonish art style reminiscent of 2000s cartoons, with smooth animations and engaging comic book elements that enhance the overall experience. While the visuals are considered stunning and lively, some players note that the gameplay can become frustrating, detracting from the otherwise impressive graphical presentation. Overall, the game's aesthetic is a highlight, combining colorful designs and clever visual storytelling that captivates players.

    • “The cartoony, comic strip-like graphics and character designs are incredibly charming, and the main character controls very smoothly.”
    • “Graphics are amazing, the comic-like scenes make everything so alive that you want to explore the stages.”
    • “I totally love the graphical style, it's cartoony in a way you would expect to be flat and 2D, but it's beautifully fleshed out into 3D while retaining its sharp, hand-drawn look perfectly.”
    • “The art style, animations, and visual effects are fantastic, but the gameplay itself leaves a lot to be desired.”
    • “There is no graphics options menu; you can only choose between 3 presets.”
    • “Using the controller, just tapping the jump button makes the character fly off the screen or out of graphical frame... and this is just the first seconds of the game.”
  • gameplay112 mentions

    The gameplay of "Tembo the Badass Elephant" is characterized by a mix of fun mechanics and charming visuals, but it suffers from inconsistent level design and awkward controls that can lead to frustration. While the game starts strong with fast-paced platforming, it often shifts to less engaging gameplay, resulting in a blend of enjoyable moments and tedious sections. Overall, players appreciate the unique concept and art style, but many find the gameplay ultimately lacking in polish and variety.

    • “The mechanics are well tuned so that it's hard not to be charging through a level with a smile on your face.”
    • “If you're looking for a new platformer that combines retro difficulty with modern graphics and mechanics, then I'm sure you'll have a great time with this.”
    • “The art style is fantastic, the sound design is spot on, and the gameplay is quite fun.”
    • “But while the first 30 minutes of the game manages to make the player think highly of it, it doesn't take long for it to change the gameplay in a way that sucks the fun out of it.”
    • “But as mediocre and repetitive as the gameplay is, the horrible game decisions make it worth a hard pass.”
    • “The controls tend to be somewhat awkward, the humor is meh tier fast, and from what I've seen of gameplay videos and streams, the game tracks your deaths even if you close the game, but it doesn't track your checkpoint.”
  • music44 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its catchy and fitting orchestral score that enhances the whimsical atmosphere, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety across levels. Many reviewers appreciate the sound effects and overall audio presentation, but some find the music bland and not memorable, with a desire for more diverse tracks. Overall, the soundtrack complements the game's colorful visuals and playful tone, though it may not leave a lasting impression.

    • “Anyway, the sound effects compliment the visual presentation very well and the orchestral score with memorable themes is exactly how video game music should be done.”
    • “Goofy story, epic music, and animated graphics give it the feeling that you're playing through a Saturday morning cartoon.”
    • “The game is pretty outstanding, it's as colorful as the screenshots are showing, the animations are so good and the music is intense, didn't expect less from a Sega published game, it reminds me of Sonic, due to the whole 'dashing through enemies' thing.”
    • “The music is extremely bland.”
    • “Boring music (and extremely repetitive): really, every world has like 1 song for the 5 levels in it and the 'song' is a 5 seconds loop.”
    • “Both the music and sound effects are too quiet.”
  • story43 mentions

    The game's story is presented in a charming comic book style, featuring humorous and inspiring vignettes about a heroic pachyderm and his general, which many players find appealing. However, the gameplay mechanics can detract from the narrative experience, as players often face tedious side missions and repetitive tasks that can hinder story progression. Overall, while the story has its strengths, the execution can be frustrating for those seeking a more streamlined experience.

    • “What really stands out are the little story vignettes featuring this valiant pachyderm and the general he served with during a past war; incredible stuff, both funny and inspiring.”
    • “The entire story is played out via a comic book strip in between levels and it does it really well.”
    • “Goofy story, epic music, and animated graphics give it the feeling that you're playing through a Saturday morning cartoon.”
    • “Levels feel similar; you use the same 2-3 buttons, there's no story.”
    • “You have to get an outrageous number of kills to progress in the story.”
    • “I played 3 levels and was already gated off from further in the story, and instead of wasting another 30 minutes of my life replaying levels I beat to search out random guys for no reason, I gave up.”
  • humor28 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players finding it funny and charming, particularly in the story vignettes featuring the elephant character. However, some reviews note that while the game attempts to be humorous, it doesn't always hit the mark, with mixed feelings about the overall execution of the humor. The art style and entertaining cutscenes contribute positively to the comedic experience, making it a highlight for many players despite some gameplay frustrations.

    • “Hilarious and fun :d”
    • “What really stands out are the little story vignettes featuring this valiant pachyderm and the general he served with during a past war; incredible stuff, both funny and inspiring.”
    • “It has high production values, looks great, controls well, and has a nice sense of humor.”
  • grinding22 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly when aiming for 100% completion or specific achievements like collecting 99 lives. The necessity to repeatedly play through levels to gather collectibles detracts from the overall enjoyment, with many noting that the grind can feel mindless and frustrating, despite some enjoyable gameplay moments and fluid mechanics. While grinding can be done passively, it significantly extends the game's length and can lead to a decline in fun as players encounter poor level design and cheap deaths.

    • “But those who want to go for a 100% completion are in deep trouble, as the process of finishing all of the side missions and achievements for this game is a tedious one.”
    • “Meanwhile, if you're achievement hunting, then a much bigger problem is grinding up to 99 lives, which more than doubles the length of the game in a mindlessly repetitive way.”
    • “Levels are not fun to play and it's all about collecting, and if you don't collect enough then it won't let you proceed, so you end up repeating the same tedious levels over and over again.”
  • optimization18 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with players noting significant performance issues on consoles despite its simple graphics, leading to frustrating framerate drops. While PC users report smoother gameplay, even on older systems, the overall experience is marred by clunky controls and a lack of polish. Many players express disappointment, especially given the game's potential for speedrunning and optimization strategies.

    • “On PC (and probably PS4 Pro/Xbox One), it can run smoothly.”
    • “I will be watching the news for optimization updates.”
    • “On consoles, the game had performance issues in spite of its simple looks.”
    • “Performance: simply put, a 2D game like this has no business having framerate drops in 2015.”
    • “I'm really not sure why there's performance issues in a 2D platformer, but there is.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous players reporting significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, especially at the start. While some users note that the tutorial has improved, many still experience issues such as being unable to collect items or getting stuck during movement. Overall, the game's stability detracts from the otherwise enjoyable experience.

    • “This game itself has very fun gameplay, but the map layout is not working to Tembo's abilities. There are numerous glitches that have happened to me and others who have played. Maybe a sequel will be better.”
    • “Umm, I can't play this game for some reason. It's a buggy, glitchy mess. Each time I try to move, I am stuck. I jumped and got stuck in the jump, and I can't get out of the bugs. Please fix this game.”
    • “For many people, this game glitches out right at the beginning.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    The game offers enjoyable controls and action, but its replayability is hindered by bland level design and a short playtime, leading to a sense of wanting more. While there are hidden secrets and some replay value, many players feel that the game lacks depth for repeated playthroughs. Overall, it may be worth purchasing on sale to enhance the replay experience.

    • “The game has nice controls, tons of action, replay value, and is easy to pick up and play.”
    • “That way there's a lot more replayability, and there can be a community.”
    • “Tembo moves fluidly and is a joy to control; delightful stage design offers a lot of variety in play, with lots of hidden secrets and replay value.”
    • “Amazingly put together and constructed, but lacking any real replayability, and leaving the player wanting more, much more!”
    • “There's a decent amount of gameplay and a little replayability for the price, but I'd say get it on sale if you can.”
    • “The game wants you to go fast at times, but in doing so you will miss countless secrets as some clever way to artificially inflate this game for replay value.”
  • character development4 mentions

    The character development in the game is highlighted by its charming, cartoonish graphics and smooth controls, which enhance the appeal of the main character. The art design, reminiscent of comic strips and animated shows, adds depth to the characters, making them engaging and visually delightful.

    • “The cartoony, comic strip-like graphics and character designs are incredibly charming, and the main character controls very smoothly.”
    • “I adore Tembo's art design, rich with cartoony animations and Regular Show-esque character designs.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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Play time

15hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
15-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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