While it was the Big Bang that created our universe, it took just a Tiny Bang to create a stunningly magical gaming experience. The Tiny Bang Story is a carefully crafted concoction of hidden item finding and puzzle-solving sown into a beautiful hand-drawn world of make-believe, and you’ll want to scour every nook and cranny to reap as much enjoyment as possible.
While it was the Big Bang that created our universe, it took just a Tiny Bang to create a stunningly magical gaming experience. The Tiny Bang Story is a carefully crafted concoction of hidden item finding and puzzle-solving sown into a beautiful hand-drawn world of make-believe, and you’ll want to scour every nook and cranny to reap as much enjoyment as possible.
The puzzles are fun, the mysterious non-storyline will have you wondering what’s going on underneath, and the visuals coupled with the wonderfully calming music make for an atmosphere unlike any you’ve witnessed in a game. The Tiny Bang Story is likely to provide a memorable few hours for anyone who plays it.
The world of Tiny Planet is a peaceful place – that is, until an asteroid scatters its pieces all over the place. Split up into a jigsaw puzzle, the world needs rebuilding, and you’re the only one who can save it. Over several areas, you’ll need to find the jigsaw pieces hidden amongst the scenery, and collect them all together before putting them all back in their rightful places.
These jigsaw pieces can be found lurking in the hand-drawn backgrounds, in treasure chests, in between machinery parts, floating in the sky – pretty much anywhere. However, it’s not as simple as scouring the screen and finding them all, as you’ll also need to solve puzzles to make certain pieces become available.
Puzzles come in all shapes and sizes, from logic and mathematical side-orders to more simple click-fests. Certain areas require you build a machine or collect together parts first, at which point you may then need to gather together some other items too. In reality it’s a huge ‘find the hidden items’ game, but the way it’s presented gives such a lovely experience.
There is no time limit and no rush, so you can tackle everything at your own pace. This allows you to take in the stunning scenery and enjoy the smoothing soundtrack, both of which compliment each other immensely. It’s such a fantastically soothing atmosphere, and makes exploring this crazy world a delight. If you’ve played any of the games by Amanita Design (Samorost, Machinarium), then you’ll know exactly what to expect.
There’s no story or dialogue put forward at all, and instead you’re left to read between the lines and create your own story via the various clues left around, and the scenarios you encounter. There are a number of different character that you’ll meet, but all of these will simply show a thought bubble with a hint on how to move on. It’s amazing how much personality this game throws your way through barely any actual storyline.
The Tiny Bang Story is a joy to play from start to finish, with a gorgeous atmosphere, stunning backdrops and lots of clever puzzles. Make sure you pick up the demo for either Windows or Mac, and watch out for the iPad and Android versions coming soon!
