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Tin Hearts will capture your imagination and attention. This beautifully touching endeavour starts as a slow burner. However, it soon becomes a heart-warming and captivating title that is tough to put down and instantly memorable. Thanks to its whimsy, yet loving story, and its fantastic puzzle mechanics, this is a gem of an indie game.
Developed by Rogue Sun Ltd., and published by Wired Productions Ltd, this is a puzzle adventure title. What’s more, it has a phenomenal story, some incredible inventions, and plenty of challenging problems to overcome. As such, it will test your resolve while making you grin from ear to ear.
Tin Hearts: a story of the brilliance behind the toys.
Tin Hearts’ core gameplay focuses on excellent toys and their mischievous ways. Yet, it is the story of the inventor behind these toys that grabs your attention. This heartfelt tale highlights the sacrifices a parent will make and the love that they feel for their children. Moreover, the stunning setting and the charming plot will make you feel warm inside.
You are Albert J. Butterworth, a genius inventor of the Victorian era. Your creations are the talk of the town, and famous toy companies wish you to join their ranks. However, you build these inventions as a sign of love for your daughter. As such, you are not interested in money or the advances of your peers. Instead, you wish to succeed in making your child happy.
The story is warming and enjoyable to observe. Furthermore, every moment plays out through surreal cutscenes. These dreamy moments highlight the prominent experiences of father and daughter. What’s more, whenever you touch upon a letter or a note, a brilliantly acted piece of narration progresses the story while highlighting any poignant information.
Drip-fed mechanics.
Puzzle titles can become overwhelming and uncomfortable to play. This impacts the story and normally puts people off. Thankfully, Tin Hearts is different! With drip-fed mechanics and special abilities, you learn the fundamentals at a gradual pace. Alongside this, any new elements are coupled up with a simple tutorial. Accordingly, you never feel out of your depth, no matter the size of the puzzle you face.
With 50+ stages that expand and become increasingly convoluted, you must stay alert if you wish to succeed. The aim of the game is simple, however. Albert’s toy soldiers have a life of their own and, by opening their toy box, they become animated. These metal toys walk in a straight line and will only deviate if an obstacle is placed in their path. This key concept forms the backbone of every puzzle. Subsequently, you are expected to place blocks to form new paths and get the toys to the exit.
This sounds simple, right? Well, once you get the hang of it, it is straightforward. But at first, it can be complicated to understand what you must do. You’ll be asked to pick up and move specific blocks with special icons on them. These blocks can only be placed at certain locations, so you can’t go wrong. Yet, things soon get harder when you have unmarked blocks or limited tools at hand. When this happens, you must think logically and adjust each block accordingly.
Special powers.
On top of the path-altering blocks, you learn an array of special powers. Whether you speed up or pause time, move toy trains, adjust the trajectory of each drum, or walk around the room, they add a new layer to the action. These abilities make every puzzle more complicated while demanding that you think outside of the box.
Alongside this, you’ll enjoy some environmental elements that are in keeping with the theme. The naughty Jack in a Box loves to ruin your day. Consequently, if you walk past him, he’ll grab every soldier and you can’t complete the level. Therefore, you’ll have to plan an alternative route if you wish to succeed.
These cheeky elements will drive you mad whilst making you chuckle. Additionally, they demand that you think outside of the box and look for a different solution. This was great, as it tested your ability to be flexible as well as your logical mindset.
Tin Hearts looks fantastic.
The puzzle elements and brilliant inventions were great. Yet, the visuals were much more impressive. I adored the colourful levels and the excellent stage design. Whether you were navigating a tight corridor or hovering above the ground in a hot-air balloon, it was fantastic. Alongside this, the surreal storytelling was touching and tastefully done. If I was to find fault, though, I’d say the handling of the bricks could have been smoother. Occasionally, you’d get stuck under the scenery and this was annoying. Yet, this is a minor thing and doesn’t taint the experience too much.
The audio is equally amazing. Whether it was the pleasant acting, the fun sound effects, or the stunning soundtrack, it all works perfectly. The easy-listening music complements the slow action. Whereas the abrupt sound effects add some drama to an otherwise laid-back audio experience.
The controls could have been more intuitive.
I’d imagine that Tin Hearts would work perfectly with a mouse and keyboard. However, the controller layout isn’t as intuitive as I’d have liked. As such, the early levels take some getting used to as you make repeated errors. Yet, once you are familiar with the fundamentals, and you have nailed each new skill, you’ll enjoy the increasingly challenging puzzles that you face.
I was surprised by how much replay value there was. Furthermore, its captivating ways made it tough to put down. Alongside this, many of the levels can be completed in different ways and there are hidden Easter eggs to be found. Subsequently, there are many reasons to return, especially if you wish to return every toy soldier to the study.
Tin Hearts is an instant classic.
Despite my issues with the controls, I have to say that Tin Hearts is an instant classic! The exceptional story and the excellent visuals make this a memorable experience. What’s more, the puzzles aren’t easy and the secrets keep you coming back for more. Don’t forget that the poignant soundtrack is breathtaking and unique. Accordingly, I adore this game and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you save every toy soldier? Make new paths, find the secrets, and learn about Albert and his family.
