Developer: Media Molecule
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Platformer
Platform: PS Vita
Release Date: 20 November 2013

Story: 8/10
Design: 10/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Presentation: 9.5/10
Overall Score: 9.4/10

The fact that Media Molecule has crafted a little piece of videogame magic yet again should come as no surprise, especially for fans of the puzzle-platformer, LittleBigPlanet – which happens to be one of the most delightfully quirky games ever released. Now, following the success of LittleBigPlanet 2, the British video game developers are back with another triumph, this time in the shape of their latest enchanting platformer, Tearaway, which excitingly blends our real world with its charming virtual paper world.

Tearaway is the exclusive title that PS Vita owners have been long waiting for. Not only is the game a joy to play through, but it utilises almost all of the Vita’s hardware features in a meaningful manner. In fact, it utilises the Sony handheld’s hardware so well that it would be impossible to imagine Tearaway existing on another system.

But this title feels fresh in other regards as well. At first glance, the game appears to be a regulatory three dimensional sandbox adventure, peppered with small flakes of action. But scratch lightly beneath the surface, and one realises that Tearaway is a deeply creative title featuring one whimsical surprise after another.

Yes, with such creative excellence, it isn’t a wonder that Tearaway leads the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2014 awards with five nominations, including the richly deserved Innovation Award.

Plot

When the game begins, you are introduced to a paper world which is in dire need of a hero. Well, two heroes to be exact. The two heroic characters in Tearaway are you, appearing directly in the game via the PS Vita camera, and your messenger. The messenger, depending on who you pick, is either the male character Iota or the female character Aoti, while you (referred to by the game’s characters as ‘The You’), appear in the centre of the game world’s sun like some deity. Of course, ‘The You’ doesn’t have to be you exactly – substituting for me was my cat Butters on many an occasion.

As a gamer, you are in control of both ‘The You’ and your messenger. As ‘The You’, you are able to manipulate the environment to assist the messenger character whom you control, as he travels through Tearaway. The messenger’s mission is to deliver a secret message to ‘The You’, which amusingly enough, is contained in his paper head that is actually shaped like an envelope.

Not long after the game begins, the world of Tearaway faces an invasion from creatures called ‘scraps’, who function as your enemy. Who are scraps? Well, they happen to be little paper-box like beings that are disrupting the lives of the characters in Tearaway. Little else is known about these pesky creatures, except that they came from The Yous’ world, so shame on you and your kind for bringing scraps to Tearaway!

As you battle scraps while your messenger traverses through the world, you realize that they are a bit like pestering little pets gone wild. Amusingly, the scraps go through cute visual upgrades with the progression of the game, and soon, you are fighting against black scraps, scraps on stilts, and ultimately, flying scraps.

Along the journey, your messenger also encounters countless other paper characters that often provide amusing side quests. An example is when we came upon a pink chirpy squirrel which when given a new crown, proceeded to pose with it like a supermodel, with his back arched stylishly and buck teeth protruding. Overall, the narrative of the game flows with quirky humour that helps the storyline feel accessible to adults and young gamers alike.

Visuals and sound

To describe the world of Tearaway as simply a paper construct would be misleading. Quite often, the world of Tearaway feels like a colourful living breathing origami world, thanks to its beautiful art direction. Helping breathe further life into Tearaway are the amusing sound effects and voiceovers, which in typical Media Molecule fashion are charmingly tongue-in-cheek.

Gameplay

Tearaway’s first surprise was delivered when my messenger Iota needed assistance battling some nasty scraps. Here, I pressed my fingers into the rear touchpad of the PS Vita, and the virtual fingertips of ‘The You’ tore into the world of Tearaway, knocking the scraps for a loop. At that moment I was overcome by an odd feeling that I had not experienced since I had first played Black & White on the PC. Yes, I felt like a deity.

During such moments, when you are playing as ‘The You’, Tearaway’s controls take a non-traditional turn, although to Media Molecule’s credit, retain a very natural feel. The rear touchpad is used not only to melee the enemy, but is pivotal to solving the game’s simple navigation puzzles. Meanwhile, the front touchpad is used for solving other types of puzzles and finding secret areas by manipulating the environment. The PS Vita’s tilt function is also useful in later stages, though this, like some other functions, feels a little undercooked.

When you are controlling your messenger, the game has the comfortable feel of a platformer. The analogue sticks, triggers, and buttons help you move your messenger and manipulate the camera quite easily.

In true Media Molecule fashion, you can also customise some visual aspects of Tearaway. The game’s currency, which is earned when finding presents or defeating scraps, can be used to help you customise your messenger. On the design table, using the touchpad, you can create fun objects that help you make your character look uniquely yours.

Final words

It’s unfortunate that Tearaway isn’t as challenging as it could have been, and that the adventure ends so soon after it begins. Ironically, in terms of the length of the main storyline, Tearaway is paper thin. On the other hand, the game’s soulful world offers loads of enjoyable content that can be explored long after the messenger completes his mission. All in all, this is a heart warming game that has earned its place as one of the games of the year.