SEGA returns to classic side-scrolling platformer form with the release of Tembo: The Badass Elephant. This next-gen platformer starring an soldier elephant, developed by famed Pokemon devs Game Freak, has clear Sonic the Hedgehog inspirations , and is damn fun, albeit a little difficult to cover the entire map of a single level.

Tembo: The Badass Elephant is an 2015 2D side-scrolling, platformer. It is developed by Game Freak, and published by SEGA.

Tembo is Rambo if he was an animal.

Tembo: The Badass Elephant, is Game Freak’s first non-Pokemon title since the 90s, and their first non-Nintendo title in just as long. The military trained elephant tackles bad guys as it rescues survivors of a war in Shell City. You go through the levels collecting peanuts and apples for lives and healths, respectively & face bosses as you progress through each ‘zone’ in classic Sonic the Hedgehog style.

Tembo takes out multiple enemies.

THE GOOD: If you’re a fan of the SEGA classic Sonic the Hedgehog, then you’ll love Tembo: The Badass Elephant. Full of classic side-scroll platforming charm, Tembo has very familiar gameplay for those of us who grew up playing console games in the early 90s. Tembo even features the trampoline jumps that was heavily featured in platformers of that era.

Tembo can destroy the surrounding environment with his athleticism.

THE BAD:  While fun, each level of Tembo is relatively short, only last a few minutes in length. It was also confusing understanding how to completely cover the level in order to rescue every citizen, often times leaving you with one or more unsaved. There’s also no real story present beyond it being a parody of Rambo.

Tembo preparing to save a citizen.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Tembo: The Badass Elephant is an fairly decent side-scroller, reminiscent of the classics like Sonic the Hedgehog. He uses his body as a weapon to defeat enemies and save the citizens of Shell City in the midst of an continuing war. Full bosses, destructive environments, and peanuts (yes peanuts), Tembo brings the goods of the old, however the levels can be really short lasting no more than maybe 10 minutes, and it was a hassle finding every citizen due to the different directional paths in each level, meaning you were bound to skip a few.