Tearaway

About Tearaway

Tearaway launched on November 20, 2013 as a single-player adventure platformer built exclusively for the PlayStation Vita by Media Molecule. This title brings their distinct crafty style from LittleBigPlanet into a new format where the game world literally sits in your hands. You play as Iota or Atoi, a papercraft messenger sent from another dimension to deliver a message to the Face in The Sun. The story begins when Atoi gets attacked by Scraps and you must intervene immediately. From there, a Guide directs her path toward Wassail Orchard and the sky itself. It is a clever technical feat that uses every sensor on the Vita to make paper feel tactile and alive without needing a massive budget for graphics.

Gameplay

You control your papercraft character while using the Vita's touch screen to manipulate the environment. Your fingers can fold paper, create bridges, or summon objects from your own inventory to solve puzzles. The camera angle often shifts so you see the game world from above as if looking down at a diorama on a table. You tap the screen to open doors or blow through the microphone to move wind-sensitive elements. Combat involves dodging Scraps and throwing paper projectiles back at them. Sessions usually involve finding hidden Scrap pieces while navigating levels filled with interactive cardboard textures. The controls feel responsive because the touch interface lets you grab items directly rather than just pressing a button.

What Players Think

Players rate this title very highly, holding a Metacritic score of 87 out of 100. The community moods lean heavily toward delight and nostalgia whenever people discuss it. Most users spend around 6 to 8 hours completing the main story, though completionists who hunt every hidden Scrap piece often log over 12 hours. Critic reviews praise the unique presentation, with many noting how the touch mechanics feel natural rather than gimmicky. Achievement hunters find that unlocking all collectibles requires patience since some items hide in plain sight or need specific paper folds to reveal. Review snippets frequently mention how the game makes you feel like a god looking down at a miniature world you can reshape with your own hands.

PlayPile's Take

This game is for anyone who enjoys tactile puzzle solving and does not mind a shorter runtime. The price point on the Vita eShop often drops, making it an easy buy for collectors. You earn achievements mostly by finding every Scrap in the world rather than mastering difficult combat. It is not perfect because some puzzles can feel repetitive after the first few hours. The controls are specific to the Vita hardware, so you need that handheld device to play properly. If you want a game that treats your controller like a piece of paper instead of just plastic buttons, this title delivers exactly what it promises without overcomplicating the experience.

Storyline

Atoi is created from an envelope and some paper. Now she's on an adventure to reach the Face in The Sun to deliver her message! Oh, wait, she's being attacked by Scraps, and You need to help her! After you help her, she has to find hidden Scraps that are shadowing the sky. She finds a Guide that is asking Atoi to move into Wassail Orchard to reach the Sun.