PS4 Chinese version of "Tearaway: Unpacking": Creative and rich handle features show new fun

At the end of this year when many console blockbusters are released, even the Chinese version is not willing to be left out. On December 3, the PS4 exclusive game "Tearaway: Unwrapped" developed by Sony's first-party game studio Media Molecule also passed the review and landed on the Chinese version of the PS4 platform.

I got this game, which will be available on the PS4 in China, before its official release. Facing the fun game "LittleBigPlanet 3" which was also developed and produced by Media Molecule in the Chinese market, what kind of creativity can "Tearaway: Unwrapped" show this time?

The essence of origami

As a work from the same production team, "Tearaway: Unwrapped", like "LittleBigPlanet 3", has made extreme use of materials.

This game is made entirely of paper. The landscapes, characters, scenes and even the weather are all presented in various forms of paper. The game screen combines newspapers, colored paper, cardboard, papier-mâché and other paper materials, as well as paper cutting, origami, paper tearing, paper sculpture and other paper arts, and flexibly uses the physical form of paper to make this virtual game world full of vitality.

Although the whole game is more of a fairy tale type, the graphics style is completely different from the previous "Little Big Planet 3". The cute image of the rag man is gone, and the character modeling is redefined, allowing ugliness and cuteness to coexist on the same character without any sense of incongruity.

Excellent experience of PS4 controller features

As early as when the PS4 was first released, players were curious about the LED lights on the PS4. Although Sony announced that it was to match the future VR products, this seems to make this design tasteless. However, this design got a chance to show off in "Tearaway: Unwrapped".

In the game, players can press L2 or R2 to turn on the special effects of the LED light in the game, and then use the semi-perceptual operation method of moving the handle to clear obstacles or even eliminate opponents. When you use the light bar of the handle to illuminate the darkness in front of the protagonist, you will find that this design is not just for saving electricity.

At the same time, this game makes rich use of the handle. During the game, there are many puzzles that require players to complete them through the special method of drawing. The use of the touchpad greatly increases the player's new experience in the operation of this game.

Later in the game, players can also use the touchpad to hit the drum surface to jump, or create a gust of wind to blow away and disrupt the enemies. Compared with the touchpad that can only serve as buttons in many games, this novel operation method of drawing operation is indeed very interesting.

Easy process and fun game mode

Media Molecule Studio designed a simple storyline for this game, in which the little postman overcomes numerous difficulties and crosses dimensions to deliver letters to players.

The overall game is basically similar to "LittleBigPlanet 3". The tutorial part at the beginning is a bit lengthy, without any tension or other sufficient stimulation. Although it is classified as ACT, it does not have a design of fighting and killing.

At the beginning, players only need to control the protagonist to solve some very simple puzzles through simple climbing, jumping, and throwing. As the game progresses, the difficulty of the game will continue to increase, and players will also gain more skills.

The game process is not long, and it can be completed in about ten hours, but a large number of collection elements greatly extend the game time. The scraps of paper collected through decryption and treasure chests are used as consumables here, and you can buy a lot of clothes or decorations to fully dress up this colorful origami world. Of course, this setting also adds a creative mode of the character creation system to the game.

However, the most eye-catching thing is that, in the game, although all things are made of paper, the designer has given them vitality. When the player controls the character to walk, the approaching branches will suddenly grow, and the withered buds will gradually bloom because of the illumination of the player's handle. At the same time, the game is also very considerate and gives players the right to take pictures, recording the beautiful scenery in the game one by one.

After combining the creative design of the handle characteristics and material application, this "Paper Tearaway: Unpacking" has become a game that will amaze players at first sight. Whether it is the construction of the entire fresh paper world or the innovation of the gameplay, it is remarkable. However, the relaxed and joyful way also makes this game more inclined to the ranks of casual games. In the absence of major domestic games, this game can be regarded as a good seasoning.

High-quality mini-games may become a breakthrough for Chinese consoles in China

When we recently opened the Chinese PlayStation Store, we found that in addition to a few games that can be called masterpieces, small games that are more casual and entertaining, such as "Journey" and "Gina Sisters", also occupy a large proportion in the store.

Why, as a display platform for 3A games, are next-generation consoles increasingly focusing on small games when entering China?

Games tend to be more casual and entertaining. In addition to the strict review system introduced by overseas games, it is also closely related to the strategies of manufacturers in China. At the recent 2015 Home Game Developers Conference, Ling Gang, president of Oriental Pearl, said that the Chinese console market should develop towards the "double hundred" goal, that is, 1 million users and 100 games.

Faced with such a small development goal, Sony China Strategy Department Director Taketo Tadoto said that the development of PS4 in China has just started, and the quality of games should be the main focus and down-to-earth. Therefore, launching refined and high-quality games has become the development strategy of PS4 in China.

In the selection of these casual games for sale in China, Sony also adheres to the principle of quality first. "Journey", which was previously launched in China, has won major authoritative annual game awards such as VGA IGN. In addition, "Tearaway", which has just been launched in China, has a global media score of 82 points (out of 100 points) on Metacritic. In addition, a total of 35 media outlets rated this game, with 31 positive reviews and 4 neutral reviews.

This game selection is also significantly different from the performance of Xbox One in China. For example, there is a significant difference in quality between "Journey" and the mobile game "Battle Cats" on Xbox One. This also shows that even in the face of strict review mechanisms, Sony still hopes to provide the best games for Chinese players.

While ensuring quality, Sony also hopes that the Chinese version will further align with international standards. The Chinese version of "Tearaway" released this time was only three months apart from the international version. Soon, the Chinese version of "Gravity Rush HD" will also be released simultaneously with the international version. This once again shows Sony's emphasis on Chinese players.

It is still uncertain whether the high-quality console games sold in China will be recognized by players, but Sony’s “everything for players” is not just empty talk, and even for small games, Sony must be responsible to the players.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.