Had I less of a gameplay-focused mindset for game design, I could much better appreciate what the game is trying to do in connecting to its player. The developers clearly had a specific goal for Tearaway, and it frequently clashes with the game's status as a competent platformer in some more core 'game design-y' respects. Tearaway is an endlessly inventive game that tries to include the player in some intriguing ways, as an extension to the slightly cutesy and creative approach they took to player agency with their LittleBigPlanet series. It's rather telling that I use words like 'axiom' to describe my perspective on the matter, as if that is the only worthy take to consider. Specifically, it ties in to two semi-recent screeds I wrote about what I consider paramount to game design - specifically, the importance of not dropping the ball for the completionist set and the importance of not wasting the player's time unnecessarily - both of which are axioms (well, in my eyes) that Tearaway and developers Media Molecule have opted to scorn.Īt the same time, it's depressingly easy especially in the midst of frustration to throw shade at game developers.

I'll expand on that more when I cover it at the end of this summary update, but it and I have fundamental differences when it comes to game design approach. These thoughts were spurred into being by Tearaway: Unfolded, which I'm finding that I dislike quite a bit. Negative in tone, that is, not criticism of minimal informational value there's an important distinction to be made there for another time. This week I've mostly been pondering negative criticism. It's another Sunday, which means it's time to do some summarizing.

Tearaway unfolder differences