Tearaway Review

Let’s be honest, the PS Vita hasn’t had the best line up of games since it’s inception. Which is a shame because the console itself is a lovely piece of hardware that does a whole host of great things. Wouldn’t it be great then if a game came along that used all those features to great effect… Enter Tearaway, the latest creation from Media Molecule – the UK based studio known mostly for the Little Big Planet games. This game takes the Vita and strains every single drop out of the consoles mix of features and what’s more it does it to great success.

Tearaway takes place in an unusual world where everything is made from paper, you take on the role of Atoi or Iota (depending on gender) a glorified envelope with a face, arms and legs. Their mission is to deliver themselves to the ‘You’ or ‘Your face plastered on the Sun’ if you like and in order to do this you’ll have to journey through the wonderful world that Tearaway presents. So let us begin by talking about that world, it’s a world where almost everything is made from paper (or it’s closest allies cardboard and glue). What drew me in the most was just how creative they have managed to get with it all, waterfalls are made from strips of blue, wind rustle with white swirling strips and structures pop up made from newspaper. It’s an incredibly interesting world and one that constantly makes for interesting viewing when you see how they have interpreted different everyday items. One of the big aspects do the world though that really shines is just how engrossing it all it, I would sit there entranced by the very nature of it. This is partly helped by a great soundtrack that creates a whole heaping of unique atmosphere. I feel it needs to be said here, if you’re thinking of playing this game do so with headphones, it really helps the experience.

How you play Tearaway is part of what makes the game so great, it makes use of almost every single input option the Vita posses. What’s amazing about this is that it manages to do this in a way which never feels too gimmicky or really overstays it’s welcome. Everything from tapping the back touchpad as a drum or recording a roar with the mic to using the camera to create textures for the variety of creatures in the game is encompassed. It’s part of what gives the game so much charm as each area of the world incorporates a different method of input to give it a certain play-style. Added to this the game has a variety of ways to create a unique world for each player. At certain points in the game you’ll be asked to create flat paper creations using the games creation tool a sort of virtual paper cutting exercise. It allows you to create almost any shape bring that into the game in a whole host of different situations, from a kings crown to the look of the snowflakes. What’s amazing is seeing your creations plastered all over the world as you run through it really gives the whole thing a personal feel.

Tearaway is a fantastic and unique experience for the Vita, one that any owner really should look into picking up.