TEVI on PC
Video video games have lengthy since turn out to be one of the crucial moldable mediums of contemporary storytelling and world-building, and it might solely make sense that anime, one other in style medium with comparable traits, would come to mesh each collectively and create some exuberantly magical titles. To date we’ve seen all completely different sorts, from the emotionally riveting, to action-packed adventures, to the comedic and shamelessly whimsical. CreSpirit’s TEVI proudly embraces quite a lot of these massive traits in a fiercely tight, cheerful hug, and all of it works stupendously.
The impassioned builders behind TEVI, which embody Ein Lee, Waero, and GemaYue, are not any strangers to this eccentrically-styled area of interest of anime-inspired video games. Their artistic historical past is adorned with quite a lot of beloved titles comparable to Rabi-Ribi and Final Command. TEVI joins in with them as the most recent 2D, side-scrolling Metroidvania journey, and impressively the most important one but from this staff in nearly each sense. As followers need increasingly more high quality content material from these specific forms of video games, myself included, TEVI completely delivers it on a cute, animal-shaped silver platter.
The sport begins off by providing you with the choice to choose from a whopping six problem tiers, from ‘Cakewalk’ as much as ‘Knowledgeable’ in your first playthrough. The best problem is inaccessible almost definitely till you beat the sport a minimum of as soon as, per custom. Afterward, the sport opens with a mysterious flashback sequence on the burning Palace of Ana Thema, and rapidly establishes varied phrases for us to (hopefully) bear in mind, from the “Key of Mud”, to “Elysium”, to “Astral Gears”.
Oh and a land referred to as “Az” and an Empress named Dahlia. It’s type of so much to absorb so quick, however it’s a must to remind your self that at its core, this sport is supposed to be an thrilling, bullet-flashing joyride, so simply buckle in in the meanwhile and take the story because it comes.
![TEVI who is the character named Tevi](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/tevi-ribauld-convo.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
After a dramatic outro with the Empress, we’re then swiftly taken again to the current, and launched to a younger, quirky woman named Tevi (ahaa), who stands out not only for her humorous and mischievous character, however the undeniably lovely rabbit ears poking out of her outsized hat. Her complete, very cosplay’ready look definitely hearkens to the standard eccentric type aesthetics seen in anime, and belief me, this sport performs to it full power throughout the whole solid.
As we discover out, Tevi has purposefully gotten herself captured by a gang of bandits often called the Golden Fingers, and certainly one of their members named Ribauld makes his boisterous acquaintance, with a robotic arm and bear ears as well. Can’t say precisely how intimidating this makes him versus an precise bear, however the entire alternate between them is hilarious sufficient, with him obliviously revealing the placement of the key treasure that Tevi is definitely there on the lookout for. After he leaves, her intelligent ruse of the frightened and fragile woman rapidly drops, revealing one which’s as a substitute totally assured and unimpressed by the thugs who clearly can’t preserve a secret.
![TEVI how the gameplay in Tevi works](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/tevi-gameplay-2.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Tevi thus units out on her mission (now in lovely pixelated type) to seek out mentioned secret treasure, permitting the participant to take management from right here on out. Issues begin off easy sufficient, with determining the way to navigate the setting and carry out primary talents. Because the sheer variety of fight talents and different gameplay mechanics does add up over time, I discovered myself truthfully preferring the controller for this kind of sport over the keyboard and mouse. It in the end is dependent upon what you’re comfy with, however if you wish to keep on with the keyboard, chances are you’ll be spending a little bit of time remapping numerous issues.
Regardless of that, nevertheless, the gameplay itself feels remarkably clean and fluid for a 2D side-scroller with multi-tiered ranges to maneuver. Executing strikes and assaults in opposition to enemies feels polished and near-perfectly responsive, with little to no delay, which is a should in a sport with a mess of combos. The combos themselves are sometimes easy sufficient, and touchdown them in succession feels splendidly satisfying. Within the off-chance that you simply occur to neglect the way to do one although, there’s no want to worry as merely going to your character menu (“Choice” on controller; “Esc” on keyboard) shows the whole checklist of named combos you’ve discovered so far within the sport.
![TEVI how does the Character Menu work](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/tevi-character-menu.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
On that observe, the performance of the whole Character Menu system, particularly in a sport with so many interactive components and gadgets to make use of, is fortunately fairly easy. As seen above, you have got your character’s stage, primary stats (HP & MP), together with all of their unlocked talents displayed beneath with useful descriptions for what they do. As you carry extra occasion members on board, you’ll be capable to change characters as nicely to see all of their specs at any given time.
Alongside that’s your Gadgets (or Stock the place key gadgets, gear, weapons, and consumables are saved), your Sigils (these present varied perks to your character out and in of battle), your Crafting Menu the place you craft upgrades and prepare dinner up delicious desserts for buffs, your interactive Map which is a lifesaver, and eventually your Pocket book which catalogs occasions, areas, and lore you will have missed earlier than.
Quickly sufficient, you begin bumping right into a literal smorgasbord of characters that, whereas good friend or foe, are essentially the most colourful bunch you would probably consider. Simply on the visible aspect, every notable character is intricately designed with the trademark eccentricity that Tevi has, from their number of animal options to each element of clothes. Granted, not all of them have fluffy ears and a tail. People who do are often called Beastkin, whereas others embody People, Magitech, and so on. As for what Tevi is precisely, I’ll merely say that her bunny ears play a particular function.
![TEVI what are the characters in the game](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/tevi-celia-convo.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
The sport boasts a formidable roster of over 50 characters with voice acted dialogue, and all the ones I’ve heard thus far go above and past with their personas, particularly your two main sidekicks Celia (seen above) and Sable, in addition to Tevi’s father Zema. Each phrase is spoken with unwavering aptitude, and it retains your consideration fairly nicely, even within the extra long-winded conversations. It brings a much-needed character buff, so to talk, to characters who in any other case can come throughout as technically “flat”. That’s, whereas not essentially boring or uninspiring, flat characters are typically comparatively predictable in nature, and their private arcs have a tendency to not change a lot over the course of occasions. It’s by no means unusual within the realm of anime, so it’s not too shocking to seek out that right here.
Nevertheless, it’s one thing that truthfully doesn’t inhibit the sport all that a lot. If it have been a narrative-driven one, it might be a difficulty in that case, however that is virtually the antithesis of intimate storytelling. It’s an adorably humorous, fast-paced, bullet hell metroidvania romp that is aware of that it doesn’t must get dramatic, and admittedly it might be a bit bizarre if it did.
One other feather in its bunny cap is the fantastically artistic stage design. Each space is solely distinctive with completely different characters, enemies, interactives, and maybe better of all is that they’re all seamlessly interconnected. You’ll be able to actually step from one space proper into one other in a blink, and the map simply lets you realize which one is which, and even gives the general share that you simply’ve explored in each. To make issues even simpler, you should utilize teleport hubs that may take you to another hub you’ve a
If you happen to’re nervous that you simply’re going to expire of locations to see too quick, Tevi really has fairly the journey in entrance of her with over 40 completely different areas in all from begin to end. That scale of exploration, once more in a 2D sidescroller, is equal components spectacular and admirable. It exhibits that the event staff needed to go all out for Tevi’s journey, from the informal drop-ins at retailers to the deepest expeditions and fiercest of battles.
![TEVI how many areas are there in the game](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/tevi-winter-wonderland.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
On prime of all that, each space options its personal distinctive and memorable soundtrack piece that completely accentuates the given vibe. Even some cutscenes and boss fights get their very own musical quantity additionally, so regardless of the place you go or who you stumble upon, unbelievable tunes will comply with. The precise OST has over 70 unique tracks, which is a reliable accomplishment for a single sport.
As I progressed via the story, the expertise solely bought larger, flashier, and severely cooler. The boss battles scattered via do nicely to check you on the talents you’ve discovered, and push you to get strategic with every part. A few of them do get fairly difficult, and it might take just a few tries to seek out that excellent sequence of mixtures to clench victory.
![TEVI what is the game progression like](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/tevi-underwater-fight.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
When it comes to replayability, I do really feel like TEVI firmly checks that mark off as nicely. In fact with a number of difficulties, dozens of explorable areas, secrets and techniques to seek out and a lot extra all through the sport, that may be solely anticipated. It has to not solely be technically be replayable although, it has to really feel that approach, and TEVI has given me that feeling thus far. Whereas I haven’t closed the e book on my first run simply but, I’m anxious to find something I’ve neglected, and all the things that’s nonetheless ready to be discovered.
Not solely that, Tevi is truthfully a really pleasurable character to play as, with all her charisma, silliness, and naturally her bunny-tier agility and battle dexterity. A lot of the sport’s solid was very entertaining to look at and work together with, although I nonetheless felt like Tevi saved a superb chunk of the highlight all through, for higher or worse. A part of me needs that a few of them have been a tad much less trope’ish, and that some conversations felt much less like winded filler and extra significant to sit down via. I discovered it a bit ironic that even on the primary run, actually all dialogue encompasses a ‘Quick Ahead’ button, and even a ‘Skip’ button if the primary choice isn’t fast sufficient for you.
Nonetheless, TEVI isn’t solely a brilliant enjoyable and well-constructed addition to the metroidvania area of interest, I feel it’s additionally undoubtedly serving to to usher forth the modernized 2D side-scroller renaissance that’s respiration new life into essentially the most traditional format of gaming. Improvement groups throughout the globe are contributing increasingly more to it, and I’m so glad to see that CreSpirit is constant to do what they do greatest, and having little Tevi paved the way.
Professionals
Fantastically clean, responsive, and flashy gameplay that feels so satisfying.
Versatile scales of problem for these newer to the style.
Beautifully vibrant stage designs that urge you to discover and filled with distinctive characters, enemies, and executives.
Lovely and impressively numerous soundtrack that additional provides to immersion.
Unbelievable quantity of element and voice performing with so many characters helps the story really feel that a lot larger.
Cons
Controls can really feel tedious on the keyboard versus a controller.
Dialogue between characters can really feel winded, mind-numbing at instances, however fortunately (and paradoxically) skippable when wanted.
Some characters really feel ‘flat’ or trope’ish in character, and in a sport that postures so many, Tevi nonetheless outshines a lot of the time.
Launch Date
November 29, 2023
Developer
Ein Lee, Waero, GemaYue
Consoles
PC (Steam), Nintendo Swap (2023) PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X|S (2024)
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