Because Tearaway Unfolded has many points in common with the PS Vita episode released in 2013, we strongly recommend that you read – or re-read – carefully our test published at that time. Indeed, for its passage on PS4, the Media Molecule studio has decided to use the same structure, the same storyline but also all the gameplay, which relies heavily on the tactile features of the DualShock 4. It must be said that at the base , the title was developed especially for Sony's mobile console, which offered us an incredible and refreshing experience, thanks first of all to its universe made entirely of paper and which unfolded as our messenger progressed. . Like the PS Vita version, the player has the choice of his character. If he wants to play with a boy, he will meet Iota, while if he prefers to be in the company of a girl, Atoi is waiting for him. That said, whatever your choice, the objective will remain the same: try to make contact with the Vou (who is none other than the player and who can be seen through the hole that tears the sky if the 'we have the PlayStation Camera), thus breaking the fourth wall and helped by the voice of two narrators who will make the link between the two universes.
FROM PS VITA TO PS4
If Tearaway was so acclaimed by the press and players at the time, it was mainly thanks to its gameplay completely designed for the different features of the PS Vita. Whether it's the touch screen, the rear keypad, the two cameras, the microphone or even the gyroscopic capabilities of the console, everything was put to use with such intelligence that we wondered how the developers were doing. manage to offer us a similar experience on PS4. It was obviously without counting on the DualShock 4, also equipped with a touchpad allowing it to adapt the gameplay of the game. If we find more or less the same sensations controller in hand, we nevertheless regret the absence of the rear touchpad which allowed the player to enter directly into the heart of the game by making their fingers appear on the screen to help our message to get rid of recalcitrant enemies. To overcome this lack, Media Molecule had the very good idea of using the DualShock 4's light bar to illuminate the world around you. With a simple press on L2 or R2, it is therefore possible to swing a light beam which has this particularity of hypnotizing anyone, and therefore the Scraps, these enemies who tend to annoy Iota / Atoi a little too much. Associated with the gyroscopic possibilities of the controller, you can even move the beam to direct the enemies towards an abyss and see them commit suicide quietly. But the light also has another function, more vital this time, that of restoring color to parts of the decor that have been soiled and emptied of all their soul following the passage of Scraps.
The other great novelty offered by the DualShock 4 is the possibility of playing with the wind. We could have thought of an interaction with the microphone by blowing on it, but the developers preferred to opt for a movement of the finger on the touchpad, allowing to create a gust in the desired direction. It is then possible to clear a path, make bridges appear by unrolling tabs, drop the Scraps or even reveal secret passages. In short, with the light beam, the wind will be your permanent ally to advance Iota / Atoi in his adventure. Among the great interactions offered by the first Tearaway on PS Vita, there was also all the drawing and photography aspect that we also find in this PS4 version. If taking photos is still just as easy (and helped even more with the PlayStation App, which allows other players to also send additional photos), the drawing and cutting workshop is even less practical with the DualShock 4 ; the fault is the tiny size of the touchpad and the not really optimized recognition. It is then necessary to go back to it several times before obtaining a result close to what we tried to do. It's quite tense, even frustrating, like this camera which unfortunately tends to stall by trying at all costs to fixate on a specific point of the action, when it is supposed to be manual. This sometimes results in placements that are not really very practical, forcing us to refocus it from time to time. Nothing very dramatic either, but it was important to underline it.
FULL BOX
Despite these few pitfalls, Tearaway Unfolded retains all the charm that made the reputation of the original title released on PS Vita. Certainly, those who have already had the opportunity to travel the world of Iota / Atoi two years ago risk finding an air of deja-vu and deja-played, and it will therefore be necessary to think twice before start a new purchase, while the others who have missed it must get to know the latest work from the creators of LittleBigPlanet, if only for its video game culture. Because believe me, Tearaway is likely to remain a major work of adventure and platform gaming thanks to all the qualities that we listed for you during this test. Knowing now if the game will be a hit with the general public is a whole other story...
