Tamarin

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 15
  3. Negative: 4 out of 15

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Twistedretro
    Sep 18, 2020
    5
    It looks gorgeous and the trailers may convince you that this truly is the return of good ol' Rareware 3D platforming, but unfortunately, this isn't even on the same level as Yooka Laylee.

    First and foremost, while the presentation tops that of any other indie 3D platformer currently available on the market, the actual gameplay is shallow and under-developed. Taramin isn't quite sure    It looks gorgeous and the trailers may convince you that this truly is the return of good ol' Rareware 3D platforming, but unfortunately, this isn't even on the same level as Yooka Laylee.

    First and foremost, while the presentation tops that of any other indie 3D platformer currently available on the market, the actual gameplay is shallow and under-developed. Taramin isn't quite sure what it wants to be- you have traditional platforming sections and sections where your adorable little monkey will be wielding a gun. Both are serviceable, but never reach their full potential. The shooting sections are simplistic as can be (even Conker's "It War" section required a bit more thought and strategy) and the platforming is extremely by-the-numbers. I even found a few sequence breaks without actively going out of my way to find them.

    I could honestly forgive how rushed this game feels if it weren't for the fact that this was in development for SEVEN YEARS and delayed numerous times. It was supposed to drop last year but the developer, Chameleon Games, decided to postpone that in order to "polish" the game. That would've been fine, but it just doesn't show in the final product. Not only that, but they got greedy and decided to up the original asking price by $10 (originally it was going to be $30).

    Ultimately, this is a "wait for the inevitable 50% off sale" kind of game. The production value is high and there's some fun to be had, but for now, you're better off playing something like Yooka or A Hat in Time for your nostalgia rush.    … Expand
  2. Zeydlitz
    Sep 13, 2020
    0
    Absolutely hell of the game! It 3d platformer part is broken and you kid will be mad, and there is challenges... Oh, one with coins and insane number of segments is definitely one of worts I ever saw (it reset challenge to starting point, as dumb designers usually do). Shooter part is simply bad, locking does not work properly and camera is insane.
  3. CheeseMaster14
    Sep 15, 2020
    8
    All in all a nice little indie game with a lot of polish when it comes to the mechanics. Almost no loading times in-game, and that's without SSDs or other next-gen shenanigans. World building and music is spot on and it's just fun to hop around and explore, main character is cute as can be. Only downside is a few missing options, and a bit clunky aiming in the shooting segments that needsAll in all a nice little indie game with a lot of polish when it comes to the mechanics. Almost no loading times in-game, and that's without SSDs or other next-gen shenanigans. World building and music is spot on and it's just fun to hop around and explore, main character is cute as can be. Only downside is a few missing options, and a bit clunky aiming in the shooting segments that needs some getting used to. Nevertheless, the good outweighs the bad by far, I thoroughly enjoyed this game, and can recommend it to any fans of classic-styled games!… Expand
  4. NalyoGaming
    Sep 11, 2020
    7
    Tamarin is a good family-friendly 3D Adventure game that I feel both Kids and Adults can enjoy. The world is colorful and vibrant although at the very start that is not the case. The game does have a specific look to it and I did have a bit of trouble getting used to the constant auto re-centering of the camera but the longer I played the more it became normal and soon it was no longer anTamarin is a good family-friendly 3D Adventure game that I feel both Kids and Adults can enjoy. The world is colorful and vibrant although at the very start that is not the case. The game does have a specific look to it and I did have a bit of trouble getting used to the constant auto re-centering of the camera but the longer I played the more it became normal and soon it was no longer an issue. The Weapon Gameplay is totally unique and I enjoy that it is different than the usual way we aim and use weapons. The character is very likable and the story is cute and well told. My only complaints are that this game does not offer any gameplay options. There is no option to invert the controls, no options to remap controls, no way to turn off auto re-centering the camera, or any other options which to me is a negative. It is my opinion that the good does outweigh the bad and I do suggest that this game is worth picking up for anyone that enjoys a good 3D Adventure-Platformer Game.… Expand
  5. Nello147
    Sep 14, 2020
    10
    This game is like good wine. The longer you play - the better it gets. Once you get into the controls, exploration and shooting are fun and satisfying. The difficulty is not too easy and you need to look for different collectables to continue instead of rushing through the game. The more doors you unlock, the faster you can travel with shortcuts and without loading screens. Though, a roughThis game is like good wine. The longer you play - the better it gets. Once you get into the controls, exploration and shooting are fun and satisfying. The difficulty is not too easy and you need to look for different collectables to continue instead of rushing through the game. The more doors you unlock, the faster you can travel with shortcuts and without loading screens. Though, a rough map would have been nice. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this world, which is a very good mix of nature and industrial buildings. The varied mood, combined with the superb soundtrack, makes it a joyful experience.… Expand
  6. jumpmanexe
    Sep 14, 2020
    10
    Tamarin is small and cute, it has a very particular charm to it. Even though the environments look nice and relaxing the game won't let you walk away without a bit of a challenge.
    The game is an interconnected world split into jet force gemini and banjo kazzioe styles of gameplay.
    The music is great, and the game fun to play, overall well worth your time, give it a shot if you are in the    Tamarin is small and cute, it has a very particular charm to it. Even though the environments look nice and relaxing the game won't let you walk away without a bit of a challenge.
    The game is an interconnected world split into jet force gemini and banjo kazzioe styles of gameplay.
    The music is great, and the game fun to play, overall well worth your time, give it a shot if you are in the mood for a classic 3d platformer/shooter from the n64 rare days    … Expand
  7. Usabell
    Sep 14, 2020
    9
    This game has a great atmosphere, runs smoothly and is lots of fun to play. Its world is interconnected, akin to Metroidvania games, but it offers two distinct playstyles that are often swapped between for more variety of gameplay, which is a refreshing approach not seen very often.

    I honestly didn't expect much after lots of indie 3D platformers tried and somehow failed to get the    This game has a great atmosphere, runs smoothly and is lots of fun to play. Its world is interconnected, akin to Metroidvania games, but it offers two distinct playstyles that are often swapped between for more variety of gameplay, which is a refreshing approach not seen very often.

    I honestly didn't expect much after lots of indie 3D platformers tried and somehow failed to get the feeling "right". I still wanted to try this out because I liked the trailers and I found the main character to be very likable.

    The whole presentation is very polished, especially for a small indie studio. Graphics are clean, sharp and nice with very nice lighting. You can almost smell the plants and earth, and feel the wet air in the shadow-covered parts. Very nice! Characters also look very nice, the main character has a nice glossy fur, similar to the main cast in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

    Music is really nice and atmospheric too, and lends a deep and whimsical atmosphere while exploring the beautifully designed interconnected world. The sound effects are also very fitting and nicely balanced. Nothing to complain here.

    Controls take some time getting used to, but in general are responsive and smooth, especially in the platformer sections. I really love all the moves the Tamarin can do in those, and it feels very precise and fun. Camera feels very smooth too, with a kind of "cinematic" recenter after a player movement. The shooter sections have a few problems like no stick sensitivity or inverted axis options, but as I said, once you get used to it, it's not half bad either. A few more options would be nice though.

    Difficulty throughout the game is average to hard, but the perceived difficulty gets less once you mastered the controls. After beating the first shooter stage, I was already quite used to how things work in this game. The later parts get a bit more difficult, but nothing too overwhelming for players who already played during the 90s, and I think this game is clearly aimed at this target audience.

    The game length is "just right", I'd say. Not too short but also doesn't overstay its welcome. It's something you can pick up and play for an hour or two, and it will last you maybe a week to finish the main story. If you want to collect everything, it can take much longer, depending on your skill level. There are some really hard challenges in there for the pros. I still didn't get them all yet, but will try to do so later.

    Overall, I'd recommend this game to anyone who likes this playstyle or early 3D platformer games like Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie or Donkey Kong 64. It's been a blast to play this game, and I'll make sure to get the platinum trophy on it. I can see myself playing this again like once a year, because it already feels like a new classic. So far one of the better indie 3D platformers available. I hope we'll see more from his team in the future!    … Expand
  8. Janni-avz
    Dec 4, 2020
    10
    Tamarin is a cute monkey game in combination with a shooter game.

    The graphics look great.
    The first game from Chameleon Games.
  9. Nobilis1984
    Nov 19, 2021
    4
    Another disappointment.
    Since Kena was nothing else than a playable Pixar film with boring and very repetitive gameplay, this is the little brother of it.
    It doesn't look that nice, but it plays just as boring. Nobody needs the graphic faders.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
40

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 16
  3. Negative: 10 out of 16
  1. DarkStation
    Oct 28, 2020
    50
    On the surface, Tamarin is a cute, beautifully-made action game with the most adorable of protagonists. However, while the game succeeds in its colorful aesthetics and enticing music, it lacks in its depth and storytelling. There is ultimately too much monkeying around and not enough substance. The game gets an A for effort when it comes to creativity, but ultimately the frustration outweighed the enjoyment.
    Read full review
  2. GameCritics
    Oct 23, 2020
    50
    Overall, Tamarin is an admirable attempt to bring back a type of game not widely popular in modern times. However, despite my love of old-school experiences, this sticks too close to its roots in the worst possible ways — this adorable monkey can’t save shoddy, outdated game design.
    Read full review
  3. Gaming Age
    Oct 13, 2020
    0
    On some level, I guess, Tamarin is sort of amazing, in that I can’t think of when I last played a game that was this much of an outright disaster on every level. I’ve played plenty of terrible games recently, but at least in those cases you could see what they were going for, and you could imagine what good versions of those games might look like. In Tamarin, the game is an absolute fiasco at a conceptual level. That doesn’t mean you should play it, of course, but the game gets points for effort, if absolutely nothing else..
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »