Tearaway Impressions

'Play' has traditionally been the de facto verb to describe the act of video gaming, but few titles stay true to the child-like sense of wonder that such a word implies. Tearaway, Media Molecule's recent Vita exclusive origami-styled platformer, is one of the few that does.

Taking its cues from other heavily stylized indie titles that make up the bread and butter of the Vita's content proposition, the DNA of stablemate, Little Big Planet, is omnipresent from the start. Indeed, both titles share the same quaint, British irreverence that gives the treasured childhood institution that is CBBC its universal appeal.

Though a painfully basic platformer at heart, Tearaway successfully sidesteps any accusations of mediocrity by drawing you in with its captivating visual style and then keeping you engaged with tons of side activities and gameplay quirks that make a point of using the Vita's unique features as much as possible; the touchscreen, rear touchpad and front and rear cameras are all utilized heavily throughout the adventure in ways that feel organic to the experience, rather than like tacked-on afterthoughts.  There's also a concerted effort to break the fourth wall through collectible printable templates for real-life paper models of the game's characters, allowing young children to carry on the adventure after the credits roll should they so desire, and adults get some free quirky game-related ornaments out of the deal, completely gratis.

This is Media Molecule's most important contribution to the Vita thus far, and a stunning example of what the handheld is capable of. More than just a competent port of a beloved franchise traditionally more at home on Sony's full fat hardware such as Killzone: Mercenary, Tearaway was clearly built for the Vita from the ground up, and is an essential purchase for any handheld Playstation gamer.