Tengami
- January 15, 2015
- Nyamyam
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"Tengami is a single-player action game set in a Japanese pop-up book with a marvelous atmosphere, featuring sensational graphics and a masterful soundtrack. Players fold and slide the paper world to solve puzzles and uncover secrets, immersed in an authentic and intricate representation of ancient Japan. The unique pop-up book gameplay makes for a serene journey filled with dark forests, abandoned shrines, and tranquil waterfalls."
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Mac OS
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Reviews
- Visually stunning with beautiful artwork and a unique pop-up book style.
- Soothing music and sound design that enhances the calming atmosphere.
- Simple yet engaging puzzles that encourage exploration and creativity.
- Very short gameplay, typically completed in under two hours.
- Slow character movement can lead to tedious backtracking and pacing issues.
- Lacks a substantial story or narrative depth, making it feel somewhat hollow.
- music183 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and calming qualities, enhancing the overall immersive experience with its soothing soundtrack that complements the stunning visuals. While many players appreciate the atmospheric and culturally inspired compositions, some note issues with abrupt cuts in the music, which can disrupt the flow. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's relaxing and meditative ambiance.
“The music and art are exceptionally gorgeous, and contribute really well to the atmosphere and energy.”
“The music is very calming, the sound effects are spot on, the visuals are perfect (pagoda & torii gates especially) so if you're looking to relax for a while, this is the next best thing to meditating.”
“The music perfectly matches with the game design, and creates a good atmosphere for the game.”
“The music was uninspired and could have been so much more.”
“The only small issue I had was with the music, which would sometimes stop abruptly when reaching a point of interaction.”
“Very little of the music actually has a Japanese song structure, or even melodic structure: it's western music in a vaguely Japanese scale on a synth koto over soft breakbeats.”
- graphics150 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning beauty and unique pop-up book aesthetic, drawing strong inspiration from Japanese culture. Many reviewers highlight the intricate artwork, calming color palette, and harmonious soundtrack, creating a relaxing and immersive experience. However, some note that while the visuals are captivating, they can overshadow the gameplay, which may feel simplistic or tedious at times.
“One of the most visually beautiful games I've played - the artwork is truly stunning.”
“The graphics are amazing with lovely details and colors.”
“The artwork is beautifully done and the 'popup' paper paradigm is quite unique.”
“Unfortunately, the idea, aesthetics, and atmosphere are stronger than the game itself as a whole.”
“As loathe as I am to say this, I think this is a game that's far better enjoyed when viewed rather than played, as its beauty lies almost solely in its visuals and little else.”
“The main strength is the art style, but that isn't enough to hold it up.”
- story96 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in Tengami is often described as minimalistic and abstract, with many players noting its lack of a traditional narrative structure. While some appreciate the poetic and artistic presentation, likening it to a pop-up book, others find it insufficiently engaging, feeling that the puzzles overshadow any meaningful storytelling. Overall, the game offers a short, reflective experience centered around themes of nature and renewal, but many reviewers express a desire for a deeper, more compelling plot.
“A story ancient, subtly told.”
“The story is conveyed through a pretty unique pop-up book origami style of artwork and puzzle craft along with some musical, calligraphy, and a few other styles of puzzles.”
“It's a short but sweet game with moderately challenging puzzles, great looks, and a story told through haikus.”
“There doesn't seem to be much of a story, and many of the puzzles lack both clear logic and directions, leaving you floundering to figure out what exactly you are supposed to do.”
“There is no real plot or story line to speak of; the primary focus on this game was the artistic design, and the secondary focus was the puzzles.”
“Gameplay is strictly linear and puzzles are pretty easy; on top of that, I must sadly say there is little to no story at all in this game, really rather sad in my opinion.”
- gameplay79 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as simplistic and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting its short duration (around 1-2 hours) and a focus on aesthetics over engaging mechanics. While the unique pop-up book style and some puzzle elements are appreciated, the overall experience is often seen as underwhelming, with easy puzzles and limited interactivity leading to a feeling of missed potential. Many players recommend it for its artistic qualities rather than for a compelling gameplay experience.
“Beautiful short puzzle game with unique mechanics.”
“The puzzles were well thought-out and use the folding-book mechanic to great effect.”
“I absolutely loved every single thing about it; the music, the artwork, the game mechanics, and the puzzles aren't too challenging.”
“The 'drag one glowing thing at a time' gameplay comes across as overly simplistic on PC, and the lack of clarity between what is set dressing and what is interactable (e.g., decorative 'stairs' that look exactly the same as the climbable stairs) makes it feel a bit too janky for me to enjoy as a simple turn-off-your-brain kind of game.”
“It's pretty and atmospheric, but you would imagine that with this peaceful atmosphere the gameplay would be peaceful as well, but I found the puzzles painful and not relaxing at all.”
“The biggest gripe being expressed is that there isn't much to this paper-thin game in length, making people want so much more than what is offered; the flimsy message conveyed is flat, simply making a bow to the eastern concept of reincarnation, and the puzzle mechanic is insubstantial, blank in any real challenge.”
- atmosphere48 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming and beautiful qualities, enhanced by stunning visuals, fitting sound effects, and a serene soundtrack that evokes a peaceful Japanese setting. Many players appreciate the artistic pop-up book style and the immersive experience it provides, although some note that the slow-paced gameplay can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a relaxing and atmospheric experience, despite its brevity and occasional gameplay frustrations.
“Thanks to the calm atmosphere, it's a great game to relax with; I can easily recommend it.”
“A melancholy adventure with a beautiful atmosphere.”
“The music and sound effects set the atmosphere well and make the game quite relaxing.”
“Unfortunately, the idea, aesthetics, and atmosphere are stronger than the game itself as a whole.”
“The character moves painfully slowly, which starts out fine as it allows you to really take in the visuals and atmosphere.”
“And as for the music - it's supposed to add to the atmosphere, but just when the theme music starts (and it's good) it suddenly cuts out and goes back to the generic ambient experience.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with slow movement between objects contributing to a dull experience. While the beautiful art style and enchanting music are praised, many feel that the enjoyment diminishes over time due to the lack of satisfying gameplay and the presence of overly tedious sequences. Overall, the game may appeal to those seeking a slow-paced experience, but it risks losing engagement due to its grinding elements.
“It looks and sounds nice, but holy hell, it was the most dull and tedious experience of my life.”
“I really want to give this game a positive recommendation but, it starts out great and you are wowed by the beautiful graphics and atmospheric setting and slowly but surely from there it just becomes somehow tedious.”
“That said, however, some sequences are tedious and repetitive and could have been left out.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, fostering family connections and providing a touching experience. Its beautiful and relaxing music enhances the overall atmosphere, creating a profound and artistic journey that resonates with players long after they finish.
“This game brings the family together and is still emotional.”
“Touching, for me, at least.”
“It's a deep, artistic, and emotional experience that will stay with you.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game has been noted for its enjoyable style and writing, but it lacks significant replayability due to its short length, with players able to complete it in about 90 minutes while achieving all objectives in a single playthrough.
“I can highly recommend this game for its style, writing, length, replayability, and all-around enjoyment.”
“It doesn't have replay value.”
“Because the game is very short - I finished it in one sitting of 90 minutes, getting all the achievements - and has no replay value.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by playful and lighthearted moments, as exemplified by witty dialogue and amusing references, such as the mention of "p-chan." Players appreciate the blend of humor with other elements like adrenaline and deep meaning, enhancing the overall experience.
“If you are in need of an adrenaline fix, deep meaning, humor, or cathartic hack-and-slash, continue your journey, oh digital wanderer.”
“Ukyo: [laughing.] Just don't turn into P-Chan in the middle of it.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, including frequent bugs and problematic sound quality, which detract from the overall gameplay experience. Additionally, the gameplay is described as slow and repetitive, leading to frustration.
“$10 for one hour of gameplay (click, wait, click, wait, drag) and the sound is extremely buggy.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant lag and glitches that ruined the overall experience.”
