Line #19 VideoGame/TOEM


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hero_1.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:A Photo Adventure]]
3	''TOEM'' is an Indie adventure puzzle game developed and published by ''Something We Made'' for UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch and PC, released in 2021.
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5	In ''TOEM'', the player takes the role of a character who, after being shown a photograph of the legendary [[TitleDrop TOEM]] phenomenon that occurs in the Kiiruberg region, decides to take a photograph-taking journey on their own. However, instead of paying for a ride, they must use their camera to perform good deeds and help the communities they pass through in order to gain Stamps and upgrade their bus pass. The game has casual elements so the player can play the game at their own pace and the game's art style is a hand-drawn monochromatic environment that fits the casual gameplay.
6	----
7	!!The game provides examples of:
8	* AmbiguousGender: The main character is not specifically stated to be male or female.
9	* AndYourRewardIsClothes: You can collect various outfit pieces throughout the game, most of which have at least one purpose (such as a reporter hat for a quest where you take a photo for a newspaper), but some are purely decorative.
10	* CasualVideoGame: The game can be played at a very slow and relaxing pace and incorporates a dull hand-drawn and monochromatic art style.
11	* CreatorCameo:
12	** If you stare long enough at the ceiling of the Oak Hotel's lobby, a photo of the developers with googly eyes will appear as the hotel's centerpiece, replacing any previous photos installed.
13	** Additionally, all the developers' pets can be found in various locales throughout the game. Getting a photo of every pet in your compendium will earn you an achievement.
14	* DeliberatelyMonochrome: The game's art style is black & white so the game can be as simple as possible. [[spoiler:The exception is the TOEM, which emits an aurora of color.]]
15	* ExcusePlot: There's a vague, mystical thing called TOEM. In order to reach it, you need to do a bunch of tasks that all involve photography. Have fun!
16	* FirstPersonSnapshooter: Progress is made by taking photographs of things and people.
17	* GameBreakingBug: You can accidentally softlock the game by attempting to rearrange the stamps you find at [[spoiler:the Kiiruberg mountain tops where TOEM is found--because while the mountain top has its own community card, there are no associated stamps to go with it]].
18	* GottaCatchThemAll: The game's main collectable is Stamps, earned by completing various photography tasks, as progress to new areas is locked until enough Stamps are collected. However, you don't need ''all'' of the stamps to reach the final area.
19	* MonsterCompendium: Although the game doesn't have any enemy encounters, your photo album has a special section that keeps track of every pet and wild animal species you photograph.
20	* PictorialLetterSubstitution: In the title logo, the "O" is a camera.
21	* PostEndGameContent: The game's credits roll when [[spoiler:you photograph TOEM and return home]], but there's some quests that can't be completed until afterwards, such as [[spoiler:photographing all the cave paintings for a Kiiruberg historian, as one is in the final area]].
22	* PowerGlows: The game starts with the protagonist's Nana showing off pictures of the TOEM that they took in their youth; although the player can only see the back of the photo album, its pages emit a notable glow.
23	* SplashOfColor: [[spoiler:When the TOEM activates, it emits a bright aurora of colors that stands out against the otherwise monochrome environment.]]
24	* TitleDrop: The titular TOEM is [[spoiler:a giant colorful crystal]] at the top of Mt. Kiiru that the protagonist photographs at the end of their journey.
25	* VacationEpisode: After completing the main game, the protagonist is invited by their Nana to take a vacation over in the tropical Basto region. It proves to be a BusmansHoliday as the region has its own community card challenges, achievements, and creature compendium entries for them to complete.

Context VideoGame / TOEM