Tengami

The true highlight of 'Tengami' is undoubtedly the visual presentation and the aesthetic that it achieves. The paper craft theme provides everything on screen with a crisp, clean look. The main character takes on the weight and solidity that is as thin as a sheet of construction paper. When turned sideways he practically disappears from sight.

The amount of detail included across the variety of landscapes is also quite impressive. Snow gently falling from the sky, leaves blowing in the wind, even minute ripples that form in the water when traversing a small lake, everything has been meticulously accounted for. The artists at Nyamyam should be proud of their accomplishments.

Composed by David Wise, most recognized for his contributions to the 'Donkey Kong Country Series', the soundtrack for 'Tengami' provides a near perfect blend of modern and Japanese instruments and further delivers a mood that is idyllic, soothing, and tranquil. It may be worth playing through 'Tengami' just to experience this audio bliss. Additionally, fans of this score have the opportunity to purchase the complete soundtrack from iTunes, Amazon MP3, and a variety of other stores as a digital download. Although it's rare that I add game music to my collection, this one has me seriously considering doing so.

'Tengami' is not a game for everyone. Although beautiful in its presentation, its basic controls, simplistic puzzles, and short experience may turn off a great many hard core gamers. Those looking for a unique game that results in a calm and relaxing experience need look no further. The fond memories it brought back from my childhood, combined with the lovingly detailed visuals and wonderful musical score, was exactly what I needed at that exact time. It's most certainly worth taking a look at, but ultimately I would suggest giving 'Tengami' a try on the iPad. The end result will be the same but come with a reduced price point and even better looking tablet screen visuals.