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Before everyone makes a hubbub and says that Persona 4 should be the one on top, I will say - only if you're in Europe. Although this years releases for the Vita while not all that robust have been steady, I'm pleased. Sony is gradually utilizing the Vita's potential in a way that leaves me eagerly awaiting for what 2014 has in store. And for anyone that wants a reference for that development, I only need to point out Killzone: Mercenary and it's adaptation as a great handheld FPS that was able to capture the tone and true elements of the genre into something portable.
Having little attention toward the ever friendly LittleBigPlanet series despite playing LBP2 and mildly enjoying it, I had no intention of buying Media Molecule's Tearaway. However it was a friend who coaxed me into trying it and I don't regret it for a second.
Tearaway is about a messenger on a mission to deliver a unique message to the player, referred to by in-game characters as "the You" with yourself frequently appearing via live video (thanks to the Vita’s front camera) – as a quasi sun-like deity that floats in the heavens above a land of paper creatures. At the beginning of the game players can choose whether to play as the male character, Iota, or the female, Atoi, and navigate through a world constructed from paper to deliver the message. The player uses of many of the Vita's features to guide Iota or Atoi, and must battle with scraps, small enemies that try to prevent the delivery. They are quite aware and even a bit scared of the mysterious you, yet Iota/Atoi travel on an epic adventure nonetheless. During their travels they come across many inhabitants of this colorful papery world that need your help.
Everything about it is magical, entertaining and a true spectacle to behold. Not only are there so many things to be done within the game itself but Tearaway also blatantly shows off the creativity in taking the awkward uses of the Vita and flipping them in on it's head, especially the backscreen touchpad. It pulls everything to it's advantage, which is simple storytelling and a touch of bubbly, gameplay with a personality.
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There's so many aspects of this delightful game that I could point out - from finding hidden storages of confetti (the currency of the game) to creating your own virtual papercrafting with scissors and layering to make complex creations. But the most important and highly satisfying one of all would be discovering white objects around the world filled with no detail, these items can be "brought to life" so to speak through the use of using Iota/Atoi's camera and taking pictures of them. These pictures become blueprints and instructions on how to make real life replicates of them that can be downloaded in PDF form. Through this you can make an actualized physical art project that goes beyond the game itself. You can create characters and background props from Tearaway and I'm interested in finding other peoples innovations and sharing my own.
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Conceptually, Tearaway deserves a perfect score however they were a few gripes in terms of frame rate when it came to too many objects floating on the screen, and a couple dips in motion sensing - though not at all game breaking. If anything, I would complain that the game is too short (roughly 6 hours long) but that would be pushing it.
All in all, it's a remarkable game that every Vita owner should own and every platformer fan should play. A true testament to emotion and adventure that is for everyone. From graphics, narrative and music; Tearaway is awe inspiring and my favorite Vita game of the year.
Rating: 9.6/10
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Assassinita, Mary Ann or simply Nita for short is your average Canadian lady incognito who loves hockey, traveling and a good laugh. With a playful personality and capricious hobbies, it's not hard to keep this one satisfied. But watch out for the blade, the bloodlust can make even the sweetest go mental...