Competitive multiplayer Temtem battles

Humble Games announced today that their battle focused Temtem: Showdown is now available to download for free on Steam. The game is essentially a standalone variant of the Pokémon-like Temtem that released out of early access last year. You do not need to purchase the previous Temtem game in order to access Temtem: Showdown.

[caption id="attachment_388841" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Humble Games[/caption]

Gotta battle em' all!

Temtem: Showdown takes out the taming and leveling from the base game, and focuses purely on the combat. Dubbed a "free multiplayer battle simulator", players can build a team in seconds and dash into ranked matches with players from all over the world. At its core, Temtem's battle system features action-packed 2v2 battles. It'll feel familiar to anyone who's played a bit of doubles in online Pokémon matches.

Competitive play seems to be a huge part of the game, featuring a climbable ranke?d ladder system. Furthermore, the game will have community-run tournaments as well as an official esports circuit called TemCS. According to to the Steam page, the circuit will reward huge prizes.

Seasons will also be a thing in Temtem: Showdown. There ??will be a new season every few months, changing up the meta and introducing new combinations to play with when do?ing battle.

I haven't got a chance to play Temtem yet, though it's in my backlog to play on PS5. I have heard great things about its battle system though, so this seems like the right idea to make it accessible to more players. While Temtem is available on PC, Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, it looks like Temtem: Showdown is only available via Steam for now.

If you want to give the game a try, you can check out Temtem: Showdown now for free on Steam.

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September 6

Temtem is out in September, according to publisher Humble Games, and it'll arrive on the PC, Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X platforms. A collector's edition has also been announced, and will fe?ature a statue of the three starters, a card set, pins, patches, and a collector's box.

If you've never played or heard of it before Jordan has a great writeup here, but suffice to say it's essentially a different take on the Pokemon formula. You play the role of a tamer [trainer], and attempt to catch creatures an?d battle them.? The studio calls it a "massive multiplayer creature-collection adventure."

Billed as the "1.0" edition following a lengthy early access period, the story campaign involves "six vivid islands," with a narrative involving the "evil Clan Belsoto." Of course, there's chilling involved too, with activities like fishing and hanging around the open world. Unlike Pokemon, the team has embraced online play, and allows you to "see other?? tamers around" on the map and fight in co-op form. Player housing is in too, as well as outfit customization and ??competitive elements (which involves a round of bans and picks until you square off in a 5v5 format).

New stuff that's coming to Temtem 1.0 includes seasonal updates and a battle pass system, with free and premium tracks. There's also a "final endgame island," which has new vendors, places to ex?plore, and more battle opportunities. Quests will be updated "weekly and regularly."

With the level of success this game has reached before 1.0, it stands to reason that it'll be supported for some time after Temtem is out in September.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfMsEm9K0cE

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The PS5 version plays well but it's still unfinished

It's worth stressing a few things about Temtem upfront now that it's released on PlayStation 5.

If you're burned out on Pokémon in general, there's a decent chance Temtem won't do enough to differentiate itself, and that's kind of where I fall. But if your love/hate relationship with Game Freak comes down to very spec?ific gameplay criticisms �or a perceived lack of difficulty �it might just click. Besides its "familiar but different" learning curve, there's a real effort to push back and test players.

On the one hand, it feels great to be challenged again �to have to consider a bunch of short- and long-term factors and truly think t??hings through in any given battle. On the other hand, the grind is no joke.

It's also worth noting that Temtem is still in early access on PS5. It's in a good spot, but it isn'?t done.

First, the good news: the PS5 port of Temtem looks sharp in 4K, it runs smoothly at 60fps (minus some occasional seemingly network??-related hitches), it's snappy to play on a gamepad, and the load times are pretty short. This version is my first time with the game in general, so I'm thankful I missed a lot of the online-only woes that affected PC players during the original early-access launch period on Steam.

I would've liked to see more bells and whistles with the DualSense controller �it sounds as if haptic feedback support might come later �but I appreciate that the controls are remappable. Th?e early access version on PS5 is priced fairly �it's $37.49, the same as the PC edition �and it'll go up to $44.99 when the 1.0 rollout happens. Currently, there aren't any trophies, and the Activity cards are minimal.

Content-wise, there's a hundred creatures to collect, dozens of hours of main-story questing, player housing, and ranked multiplayer, with 60+ more Temtem, two more islands, and additional features on th??e docket. Crema has already gotten PC/PS5 cross-play up and running, so you'll see Steam players running around the routes, chatting, or hanging out in popular places like the Breeding Center.

Side-note: Temtem is also coming to Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, but not PS4 or Xbox One.

Is it fun to play? Does it stack up against a series as iconic and long-running as Pokémon? Yes and no.

Temtem can't compete on monster designs (they're hit-or-miss), and it's aiming for an older and/or more ex??perienced audience whereas Game Freak is perpetually looking to bring in all-new fans. Crema borrowed a lot of concepts that work well, slightly tweaked others, and came up with some fresh ideas, including a stamina-based system for moves that meshes we??ll with the two-on-two battle format.

Aside from learning Temtem's eerily similar type-effectiveness chart and realizing that this game is not afraid to wipe out your team with run-of-the-mill trainers (to say nothing of the Dojo leaders), the other early hurdle to overcome is the flow of battle. Unlike Pokémon where you're given ample opportunities to use your most-lethal moves and can easily tag healthy creatures in, there are dire repercussions to consider. More powerful moves use up extra stamina, and if your Temtem go overboard, they'll hurt themselves �e?ven to the point of a self-inflicted KO. There's this mental tug-of-war between trying to take out dangerous Temtem asap and staying patient so you can squeak out a meticulous win.

I genuinely dig this design, and it's my favorite part of Temtem by far, right up there with the vibrant floating-?island world. There's also a ton to dig into for stat-obsessed players and breeders. If you're more relaxed, you might be put off by the challenge, but I found it rewarding? more than frustrating.

That said, after a weekend with the PS5 version, I'm probably good for now. I'll circle back when the game is out of early access. I'm not necessarily looking for a grindy creature-collecting RPG at the moment, but if you are �plenty of you will be! �this is the Pokémon alternative to consider, for sure.

_{[This impressions piece is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Crema posted the 2020-2021 development roadmap

There's a long road ahead of Temtem's 1.0 launch. Crema pulled off a strong Steam Early Access release just over a month ago, and it's picking up fans who are down for an alternative take on the Pokémon formula, but the real trick will be keeping players?? engaged in ?the months to come. Early Access is hard!

Today, the team shared its vision for the rest of Temtem's year. It's a roughed-in 2020 roadmap – not every feature is "100% confirmed," and dela??ys and date swaps are expected – but here's the schedule.

In short, you can expect the first p??ass at ranked matchmaking plus in-game chat, spectating, player housing,?? tournaments, achievements, new islands like Kisiwa and Cipanku, 50 new Temtem, and the first Mythical Temtem. Under the current schedule, those additions will be out by the end of 2020.

"We??'re not really big?? fans of having public dates for everything, they add a lot of unnecessary pressure on the team and they make making changes and swapping features around a very difficult task. We know everyone else likes dates though, so we've decided to include open dates for each block of features. Take them with a grain of salt and expect delays and features moved around dates."

In? a blog post, Crema gave more specifics about what's ahead including auto-scaling for the ranked queue, and overall balance, which wil??l stay not-so-perfect "until the Temtem roster is complete."

You might also want to know how housing will work in Temtem. The Atoll Row area will be "infinite," so player housing won't suffer from scarcity problems. "You will be able to decorate your house using furniture bought and earned in-game, and every furniture store in the Archipelago will open the??ir doors and will showcase different furniture in each island." You can invite players inside your home, too.

The team also has "id?eas to include useful furniture" like an incubator and a fruit tree. Sounds cozy.

[Update: Crema also shared the second-?half of its roadmap that bl??eeds into 2021.]

Most notably, Temtem is expected to hit its 1.0 launch on Steam and also release on Nintendo Switch, Pl??ayStation 4, and Xbox One in spring 2021. Also cool: Nuzlocke mode is planned for summer 2021.

Crema is looking into cross-play and cross-save support for the console versions of Temtem, but they aren't a sure thing? yet. That said, the team hopes to "achieve ?cross-play on every platform we launch."

As for Nuzlocke runs in Temtem, they're mo?re involved than you might have expected. Not only will you "only be able to capture one or two [Temtems] per area," if they fall in battle, they're gone for good.

"Nuzlocke players will play on a different instance of the server, and they will only play around other Nuzlocke players. Trading will be limited due to the Nuzlocke rules, but PVP will not. So if you’re brave?? enough, you will be able?? to duel other players and face a permanent loss..."

I can alrea??dy picture the crush??ing on-stream defeats.

Talking a bit about the future of Temtem [Crema]

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Critter Crackdown

[Update: As noted by Eurogamer, Crema is choosing to relax its ban policy a little following yesterday's announcement. While the developer insists every single ban implemented to date is le??gitimate, going forward banned players can log an appeal against their prohibited status at support@cremagames.com.

Crema remains steadfast in its mission statement toward those who would hack or exploit Temtem, saying, "Don't trust cheaters. They just want to know more info about the ban in order to avoid it next time they're using cheats. They will lie about everything in order? to get more info... If you play in a regular?? way you're OK. We've made 100 percent sure before doing any bans and every data we've checked confirms that."]

Crema - the developer of recently released Temtem - has made its presence felt regarding its zero-tolerance policy against cheaters. Posting on Twitter, the studio announced that 900 Temtem p??layers have already been permanently banned from the game, with many more already in the studio's sights.

"We just completed our first batch of banned users," declared Crema. "Almost 900 players have been permanently banned from Temtem... Bans are final, we won't answer or review any ban appeal. We've made ?100% sure that every banned user is either a cheater or has abused exploits intentionally."

Though it's understandable to take ??a hardline approach, some players have expresse?d concerns that the inability to appeal could ruin the game for players mistakenly or "wrongfully banned." Clearly Crema is very confident in its ability to root out those who genuinely hack or otherwise exploit the creature-catching title in their favour.

Temtem is currently available in Early Access on PC.

Temtem bans almost 900 users for chea??ting, will not review appeals [Twinfinite]

We just completed our first batch of banned users. Almost 900 players have been permanently banned from?? Temtem.

Ba??ns are final, we won't answer or review any ban appeal. We've made 100% ?sure that every banned user is either a cheater or has abused exploits intentionally.

— Temtem (@PlayTemtem) February 3, 2020

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My favorite pastime

I've had my fill of creature collecting this year – or have I? Not a chance. There's always room for more. The monster-battling RPG Temtem is next on my list with a January 21, 2020 launch on PC via Steam Early Access. It's like Pokémon, but with a shared island world and the ability t??o team up in co-op.

"The days of traveling solo are over; in Temtem the world is a m?assively multiplayer one," according to game develo?per Crema. "Tamers from around the world can join and you will be able to see them around you, living the adventure with you and fighting to become the best Temtem tamer."

It's a mix of the familiar – routes to explore, "dojo" leaders to face, and a sketchy criminal enterprise to take down – mixed with new elements like homeownership that we just aren't getting out of Pokémon.

The Early Access build has a 20-hour campaign, 76 critters to collect and breed, PvP battles, and three islands. Furt??her out, Crema wants to add "50% more story content," "up to 161+ Temtem," and events.

While Temtem?? will be a PC-only release to start, other versions are planned including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. I wanna be the best Temtem tamer who's ever tamed a Temtem.

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And yes, there's a Switch goal

Temtem caught my eye last month with its promise of creature collecting, trading, and battling in a world in which you can see other players run around with their monster of choice. The initial tease was leading up to a Kickstarter campaign, and that's now live as of today. The pitch has me on board.

Crema is?? looking to pull in $70,000 for its base funding goal, though more money coming in will enable the studio to work on a Nintendo Switch version as well as PlayStation 4 and Xbox One releases.

Along with the shared-world approach, I'm also way into the idea of a Pokemon-like game that lets you play through the story in co-op. "You will be able to join forces with a friend any time and work together towards your next goal," writes Crema. "Catch new Temtem, complete a Route, or face off against a Temtem Leader; all?? while fighting alongside your fri??end in dual battles!"

Speaking more generally about Kickstarter, the team says that with its last game, a throwback shooter called Immortal Redneck, "it became clear that we should have involved the community early on in development and not have waited for the game's release to start rece??iving feedback. We made some assumptions that led to us not putting enough effort into certain areas of the game, and that ended up hurtin??g the game's perception by the public and got us off to a not-so-great start."

If all goes well with the production of Temtem, Crema will run alphas in November 2018, April 2019, and August 2019, followed by an E?arly Access launch in September 2019 and a full release in May 2020.

"This is our first Kickstarter ever, but we've been developing games for over five years, and in that time we have delivered five games for different platforms with increasing scope and budget. Temtem is our biggest production to date, but we have th??e team and the expertise require??d to make it happen."

Assuming fans pledge the $250,000 needed to hit the Nintendo Switch stretch goal, the aforementioned timeline means Temtem won't beat Pokémon to the system, so it'll really have to stand on its own feet. For its part, Crem?a says it hopes to use crowdfunding and open development as a way to "expand the well-known franchise and add features requested by its users for years."

Temtem [Kickstarter]

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Please turn out well!

I've dreamed of a shared-world Pokémon game since I was a kid, and even now, the shelved thought resurfaces every time Nintendo shows off a new installment. Maybe one day Game Freak will get there. I can only hope. In the more immediate future, Madrid-based studio Crema has announced its take on the idea with Temtem, an upcoming "massively?? multiplayer creature collection adventure."

Today's video is just a tease leading up to a reveal next month??, but I'm listening.

"Catch every Temtem, battle other trainers, custo??mize your house??, join a friend's adventure, or explore the online living-world," reads the summary.

While the name Crema might not immediately ring any bells, the team's last project, Immortal Redneck, turned out well. As Chris said in his review, "anyone looking to temporarily transport themselves back through the ages of FPS-dom without making concessions should give it a cha??nce."

Crema plans to run Temtem through Kickstart??er on May 29. I'm cautiously opt?imistic.

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