Steam] Did you miss out on anything?　These 3 new Steam games released in September!

Dear readers of Akiba Research Institute, how are you doing? I am Nero Hyakkabe, a writer who buys too many games. It was so hot just a little while ago that I was thinking, "Isn't this summer too long? It was so hot until a little while ago that I was thinking, "Isn't this summer too long? On the other hand, in the video game industry, many noteworthy titles were released one after another, both in the consumer and indie markets. In this issue, we would like to introduce a selection of recommended indie titles, focusing on new games released in September.

Collect and raise mysterious creatures called "Temu-Temu!
Pokémon-like MMORPG "Temtem" with fun strategic battles

• Temtem" (Crema)
• Genre: RPG
• Release date: September 7, 2022
• Price: 4,950 yen (as of September 21, 2022)
• Copyright: (C) 2022 Crema

Have you ever played an MMORPG?　MMO is an acronym for "Massively Multiplayer Online," which means a massively multiplayer online game. As the name suggests, MMORPGs are RPGs in which many people gather in a single online location.

Temtem" is another such MMORPG title. This title was released in early access in January 2020 and was a hit, selling 500,000 copies in its first month. It was officially released on September 7, 2022, and is now available for various consumer consoles such as PS5 and Switch in addition to Steam. The game is an MMORPG with a "Pokémon"-like system in which players capture and train creatures called "Temu-Temu" while adventuring around the world. The setting of the game is a small town in the middle of nowhere.

The setting of the game is the Aerial Islands, where the mysterious creatures "Temu-Temu" and humans coexist peacefully.
The main character, an apprentice Temtem tamer, receives a Tempedia from his mother, which contains information about Temtem, and a Temtem from Professor Konstantinos, who gives him his first partner, a Temtem. The Temtem given to you by the professor is one of three animals to choose from: a crystal-type "Kristol," a hide-and-seek-type "Smudgee," and a psychic-type "Hookick. Each system has its own strengths and weaknesses in relation to the other systems, such as the Crystal system being strong against Electricity and Seishin, and weak against Honoo and Daichi. Although the names are different, the feel of the system is also Pokémon-like.

After receiving the temtem from the professor, the adventure finally begins. When you go out into the field and move, one of the Temu-Temu in your hand will follow you. This is a nice touch that makes you feel like you are adventuring together.

In addition to yourself and NPCs, you can see many other characters running around with their Temtem in the field. Yes, this is the reason why this is an MMO: these are the other Temtem tamers who are currently playing "Temtem. The discovery of unknown temtems among the temtems they have with them is one of the interesting points of this MMO.

When you encounter a wild Temtem in the grass on the field and an NPC on the field challenges you to a battle, the battle begins. You can use up to four different techniques to fight the wild Temu-Temu. Wild Temu-Temu can be captured and turned into friends by using "Temu-Cards" on weakened Temu-Temu. The system is familiar from the "Pokemon" series, but the battles in this title are basically 2 vs. 2 tag-team battles. Some of the moves are support moves, such as boosting their own stats or inflicting abnormalities on their opponents, so players can fight in such a way that one player supports the other while the other concentrates on the attack. The ability to enjoy deep strategies unique to tag team battles is an appeal unique to this title.

In addition to the tag team style, other battle elements unique to this title include "STA (stamina)," "Tamewaza," and "synchronization.

STA is a so-called MP-like status that is consumed when Temu-Temu uses a technique. The stronger the technique, the more STA is consumed, and a small amount is automatically recovered each turn. This is a very unique point. For example, it is possible to use a technique that consumes more than the amount of stamina possessed, such as using a 20 STA technique while possessing a 10 STA. However, in this case, Temtem will take recoil damage and be unable to act on the next turn. Therefore, it is basically recommended to use techniques within the range of the remaining STA.

On the other hand, Tame-waza are techniques that cannot be used until a certain number of turns have passed. Since many of these techniques have powerful effects, they should be used at the critical moment.

In addition, "tuning" is a technique that activates an additional effect when an allied Temu-Temu has a specific lineage. The additional effects include increased damage and improved support effects, which can significantly advance the battle, so it is important to consider party compositions that make "tuning" as effective as possible.

Elements such as stamina management, taunt moves, and synchronization moves all add depth to the battles in this title.

Another feature of this title's battles is the elimination of the element of luck.
Many RPG battles have various elements of luck, such as the hit rate of moves, critical hits, and the success rate of abnormal status attacks such as sleep and poison attacks.

In the battles of "Temtem," however, there is no such element of luck at all. This system is quite revolutionary for today's RPGs, but because of this, the player must think carefully about the turn ahead and choose his or her actions accordingly. The battles in this title, including the aforementioned stamina management element, require a lot of thinking, so the overall difficulty level seems a bit high.

While battling, collecting and training Temtem is fun, I feel that the biggest appeal of "Temtem" is the MMO element. The players are not just there to play with each other on the field, but to interact with each other.

You can request to fight or trade with other players at any time, and you can also request to be friends or play cooperative games with other players. It is a great way to advance the story while cooperating with friends, such as catching Temu-Temu together or battling Temu-Temu leaders in various locations. There are also emotes for communication, a guild-like "club" system, and many other elements for interaction with other players. This is not just an RPG, but an MMORPG in which players from all over the world play at the same time and in the same space, and it is full of fun elements made possible by the fact that this is a game that can be played for a long time without getting tired of it.

Temtem" offers Pokémon-like monster collecting and training elements, challenging battles, and plenty of MMO elements. This title is recommended not only for Pokémon lovers, but also for those who want to play online with friends and those who want to play a strategic RPG in a relaxed atmosphere.

2. Connect the train tracks and go around the world!
Railbound" is a fun and relaxing train-connecting puzzle game.

• Railbound" (Afterburn)
• Genre: Puzzle
• Release date: September 6, 2022
• Price: 1,320 yen (as of August 22, 2022)
• Copyright: (C) 2022 Afterburn

Trains are an indispensable means of transportation in our daily lives. It is said that railroads, in which trains run on rails, originated around the 16th century when horse-drawn transport vehicles were used in mines.

The image is clipped from the official trailer.

Railbound" is a railroad-themed puzzle game for one player. The game is characterized by its gentle and warm graphics, and just looking at it is somewhat relaxing and soothing. Many railway-themed games are simulation-type games, which have a bit of a hardcore image, but this game has soft, picture-book-like visuals that will probably appeal to people who do not usually play games.

The game is a stage-clearing puzzle game with very simple rules. The game is a stage-clearing type puzzle game, and the rules are quite simple: place the track panels on the empty squares, and launch the carriages with numbers written on their roofs, and connect them to the locomotive at the goal.

The controls are also simple: click on a selected square to place a track, and drag it in the direction you want it to turn. At first glance, the game looks simple, but the number of rails that can be placed is fixed for each stage, and the direction of the carriages is also fixed, so you must think carefully before connecting them to the locomotive. However, there is no limit to the number of times you can start over or the time limit, so it is nice to be able to take your time and think things through while repeating trial and error.

As mentioned earlier, the carriages are numbered on the roof, and the reason for this is that multiple carriages may appear during a stage. In such cases, the locomotives must be connected to the carriages in the order of their numbers to complete the stage. For example, if there are carriages 1 and 2, the stage is cleared if they are connected in the following order: locomotive, carriage 1, carriage 2, and so on. This rule is easy to understand, but it is quite difficult, and requires a lot of thinking, not only about connecting the tracks, but also about how to make the first train move forward, and conversely, how to slow down the second train. In some stages, the third and later carriages also appear, so you may have to think so hard that your head almost boils, making for a very challenging puzzle experience.

As is standard in this type of stage-clearing puzzle game, new gimmicks appear one after another as you progress through the stages in this title. There is a wide variety of gimmicks, such as a tunnel that warps when entered and a circuit breaker that opens and closes when a switch is pressed, all of which have their own peculiarities. It is important to understand the characteristics of each gimmick, and to think flexibly to find the answer. New gimmicks appear each time the player advances to a new area, providing motivation for the player to continue on to the next stage.

Another motivation for players is the illustrations that can be seen after clearing each area. This is a so-called "reward" element, but in fact, the game has a loose story of "two dogs on a train on a round-the-world trip," and players can see a glimpse of the story through the illustrations as they clear each area. The illustrations are like picture books, and they are all very heartwarming, soothing the brain after a long day of puzzling. Another interesting point is that there are no dialogues or sentences, so you can imagine the story from the expressions and gestures of the two animals.

Railbound" combines the simple rule of connecting tracks to reach the goal with various gimmicks that add depth to the puzzle and gentle, picture-book-like graphics. If you are interested in this puzzle game, you may purchase it and enjoy it leisurely in the long autumn nights.

3. A life-threatening takoyaki party!
Unique survival action game "Takopa Survival" with online support

• Takopa Survival" (KIMIDORI SOFT)
• Genre: Simulation
• To be released on August 27, 2022
• Price: 310 yen (as of August 22, 2022)
• Copyright: (C) 2022 KIMIDORI SOFT

Takoyaki is Osaka's soul food. I moved from Tokyo to Osaka last year, and despite my expectations, I was shocked to find takoyaki being sold casually all over the city. Thus, "Takopa Survival," which I will introduce to you, is a work on the theme of such takoyaki.

This title is a unique survival action game set at a takoyaki party, called "Takopa.
The only other "tako-yaki survival game" that is not a survival action game is "Lost Egg," in which the player becomes a raw egg rolling across the stage to reach the goal of a frying pan, and "Tumbleweed Destiny: Destiny of the Child," in which the player adventures through the wilderness as "Tumbleweed," a mysterious rolling ball-shaped object often seen in western movies. The game is produced by Kimidorisoft, which has released a series of low-priced games with a unique sense of style, such as "Ano no Shukubyo no Shukubyo" (The Fate of the Child). As of this writing, "Takopa Survival" is also reasonably priced at 310 yen, which makes you smile at how easy it is on the wallet.

When players start the game, they are confronted with a takoyaki cooker, which is commonplace in every household in Osaka. In front of the takoyaki cooker is a container with creamed batter, a container with skewers, sauce, a boat dish to hold the takoyaki, and four small plates with four different ingredients. What you do with these, of course, is to cook the takoyaki. The dough is poured into the holes of the takoyaki cooker, the ingredients are added, the takoyaki is flipped over, and when it is done cooking, it is taken to the boat dish and eaten with sauce. The player handles all of these processes one by one. The feel of the game is similar to that of a cooking simulation game.

If this were all, it would be just another takoyaki-making simulator, but as the title says, this is a "survival " game. The four colored gauges on the lower left of the screen represent energy, protein, carbohydrates, and fat, respectively, which decrease rapidly as time goes by. If any one of the three nutrients reaches zero, the player loses his or her life with the message "YOU ARE DEAD" displayed on the screen.

To beat this tragedy and survive as long as possible, the player must, of course, continue to cook and eat takoyaki. All of the ingredients in the game have a set amount of nutrients that can be obtained, so players must constantly check their nutritional deficiencies and cook takoyaki with the right ingredients. The question is: "If you don't want to be undernourished, why don't you just eat something other than takoyaki ......?" This is a no-no. In the world of " Takopa Survival," there is nothing but takoyaki!

Although we say "......", there are various ingredients other than octopus, such as sausage, cucumber, chocolate, fried chicken, etc., so technically, there are also other ingredients than takoyaki. You put those kinds of ingredients in! I mean, how do you physically put them in?" I mean, how do you physically put them in? In this world, anything goes!

The other parameter, "energy," refers to calories, but in this work, energy is a kind of satiety level, and if this gauge exceeds a certain level, you will not be able to eat takoyaki. When the gauge reaches a certain level, the takoyaki can no longer be eaten, and the game is over. This is where "squatting," indicated by the white humanoid icon on the green background in the lower left corner of the screen, comes into play. During the takoyaki party, players can perform squats by hitting the space key repeatedly to burn off the calories they have accumulated. In other words, the basic flow of survival in "Takopa Survival" is to grill, eat, squat, grill, eat, and squat repeatedly. It is so stoic and healthy (?) to eat and exercise repeatedly. It is a very stoic and healthy (?) survival life. However, you cannot keep squatting for a long time because there is a cool time after squatting. I have to eat or I will die!　But I can't eat because I'm full of calories!　I want to squat!　Let me squat!!!!" And so, the bizarre phase of eagerness to squat often arises.

Despite the friendly motif of the takoyaki party, the game is busy, but there is also an "all-you-can-eat event," a system that gives players an advantage. During the all-you-can-eat event, you can eat as much as you want with zero calories!　During the all-you-can-eat event, you can grill and eat as much as you want and consume more and more nutrients. The all-you-can-eat event is another interesting element that adds to the slapstick atmosphere of the game.

The setting of this work is a takoyaki party called "Takopa. A "party" is a time for many people to get together and have a lot of fun. This is why this title supports online multiplayer. In fact, this is the very heart and soul of the game. Up to four players can gather around the takoyaki cooker and grill and eat takoyaki just like a real takoyaki party. The other players' nutrient gauges are also displayed on the screen, so you can play cooperatively to cook and fry takoyaki with the necessary ingredients for a player who seems to be in trouble, or you can play against other players by stealing their takoyaki and eating them, or by cooking takoyaki with no ingredients and zero nutrition. The game can also be played in a competitive style.

The simple rules of the game, however, allow for as many different ways of playing as there are players, which is one of the unique attractions of this game. Incidentally, the simple chat function of stamps makes it easy to communicate with a stranger in a Quick Match. However, you may be too busy making takoyaki for survival to use the stamps...

Takopa Survival" is a survival game and party game with a unique worldview of "survive even one day longer by cooking and eating takoyaki. The game is a title that can be played for a long time, as there is a challenging element of strengthening one's skills using the points earned according to the number of days of survival. Since the game can be purchased for a low price, we recommend that you use the Steam feature to give this game to your friends and play online together.

Did you find any recommended September Steam titles that caught your attention?

So, we have introduced three recommended new Steam titles released in September.

This time, we featured three titles from a wide variety of genres: MMORPG, puzzle, and party action. If you find a title that interests you, please check it out as a fun companion to enjoy the long autumn nights.

Author: Nero Hyakkabe

Freelance writer who buys too many games. I currently have more than 300 games in my stack. Also a novelist. His works include "Yubisaki Kaidan: 140 Scary Stories" (PHP Kenkyujo) and "Goa-ken Unrated Edition" (Kodansha).

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