LogFAQs > #970823141

17. Tinykin (2022)

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/8/7/AABKTfAAEFi3.jpg

Sometimes a good game makes a really terrible first (and second) impression. Tinykin's a key example of that. It opens with an animated cutscene in an artstyle I don't like, with a main character who has awful voice acting. Thankfully, the game has barely any voice acting and animated cutscenes, so that's not a major strike against it. But then when I get control of my character, I discover that this game's jump sucks. Tinykin's a 3D platformer, so having a bad jump would normally be pretty dire (the issue here is that you basically sink like a stone when you jump). Fortunately, this isn't a platformer focused on precision platforming, and you get some awesome alternatives to jumping as well as upgrades to your jump that make this not much of a problem. And other than these flaws, Tinykin shines.

The game's apparently similar to Pikmin (which I haven't really played) in that you go through various levels (which are all rooms of a house), collecting Tinykin, who all have various abilities, like building tall pillars to jump from, or exploding when thrown at things. The process of collecting them and expanding your repertoire of abilities always feels great. Rather than platforming, the game focuses on exploration and solving various objectives. You explore all around the room, completing various tasks for characters who make requests of you. The design of the rooms is probably the key element that makes the game so good. Everything is incredibly tightly laid out, letting you create ziplines and rope ladders as you explore, making backtracking and traveling in general a speedy breeze. The game moves incredibly fast for something of it's nature, and it just feels good. It's not that long (it has six or seven levels, most of which take a bit under an hour), so it doesn't outstay its welcome, and each level is full of fun things to do. The missions you're given are generally pretty silly, like finding a laser pointer and positioning it to shine on a disco ball for a party, which makes the game even more charming. 3D platformers aren't really a dime a dozen nowadays, so anyone who's hankering for a good new entry in the genre should check this one out.

Next game hint: who would win in a fight, an astronaut or a robot dinosaur?