TEVI review

Every bunny loves a sprawling adventure.

Over the last decade, the metroidvania has grown ubiquitous. On Steam, there are over a thousand different games that use the descriptor. As such, fatigue is understandable, if not inevitable. But if you haven’t completely exhausted all appreciation for action-driven exploration and impassioned boss battles, CreSpirit’s (Rabi-Rabi, A Light in the Dark) latest effort might just reinvigorate your stance toward the popular genre. It’s a devilishly cute, fun, and wonderfully autonomous adventure.

Sadly, TEVI’s early exposition isn’t all that enjoyable, due to a sluggish introduction and a script that’s a bit too flowery. But give the storytelling a bit of time, and you’ll warm up to bunny-eared protagonist Tevi and the banter between the aloof and angelic Celia and naïve demon boy, Sable. Both accompany the lead character while housed in technology known as orbitars, Pokéball-like spheres. Eventually, topics like intolerance and a power-grab between three different factions come to a healthy simmer, so you’ll probably want to resist skipping the dialog. By the end of the 25- to 35-hour adventure, the writing team just might pluck a few heartstrings.

Bosses Get Their Own Badass Songs

But that’s hardly TEVI’s only agreeable attribute. Occasionally, there’s some suggestive banter that might bring a few laughs. And there are about 50 NPCs that help flesh out the plotline- most brought to life with professional voice acting. Pleasingly, the soundtrack is just as prolific as the cast. Each area of TEVI’s vast map has its own melodious harmony, while driving riffs complement each of the game’s intense boss battles.

But when compared to most metroidvanias, TEVI’s sense of freedom is one of the game’s strongest attributes. You’ll begin with a standard four-hit combination as well as ranged attacks they come courtesy of Celia and Sable. Soon, you’ll acquire Metroid-like bombs that can destroy environmental obstructions as well as stun-lock foes. Gratifyingly, the action is consistently responsive yet also amazingly variable, with new moves given at steady intervals. Should you forget any new additions to your arsenal, the game’s modern-looking menus allow you to review your moveset.

Ears to You, TEVI

But the real fun starts once you start accumulating sigils, which are gained through exploration, purchased in shops, or given as rewards for surviving showdowns against elevated enemies. Using her allotment of EP points, Tevi can create a custom loadout of active and passive perks, and well as custom assists. Here, you can effectively build your own bunny girl, favoring traits like extended combos, health replenishments when you’re almost defeated, or charged ranged attacks. Arguably, TEVI is one of the most malleable Metroidvanias around.

The game also scales difficulty exceedingly well with options for challenge settings that range from “Cakewalk” to “Expert” that becomes accessible after you beat the game. Here, the descriptors are remarkably accurate, allowing players who struggle with the bullet-hell projectile patterns of bosses to enjoy the story. Meanwhile, the game’s toughest difficulty means you’ll have to be careful when confronting even basic foes, altering the flow of TEVI’s trek.

Yes, There’s Even a Jetpack

Agreeably, the game resists staunch linearity. If you want, you can wander off the beaten path, facing bosses in an alternative order. Sure, they’ll test your reflexes, command of buffs and debuffs, and ability to recognize and adapt to status ailments. But TEVI is exceedingly tolerant, offering a health refresh if you’re up for a fight and a save point to retreat from if you concede defeat. Similarly, if you find yourself outmatched by a properly ordered boss, you can scavenge the nearby area for aid- like the food crafting items left behind by defeated enemies.

TEVI isn’t your average metroidvania. Instead, its trek through an expansive assortment of biomes is elevated by rich characterization and a satisfying sense of autonomy. Much like CreSpirit’s Rabi-Rabi’s boss battles are eye-playing spectacles, filled with creative attacks patterns and swirls of projectiles. Despite the genre’s overabundance, TEVI’s modernizations make it well worth your time.

TEVI was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.