The Last Tinker: City of Colors (with Gameplay Preview)

Drawing inspiration from old genres with new technologies can still feel refreshing, certainly to the extent that The Last Tinker: City of Colors applies it in its action adventure game. Essentially, this Unity engine project throws itself in the golden age of platform titles on Playstation 2, with the vibrant aesthetics of the cutely modeled Viva Piñata. Its joyous landscapes, captivating story and streamlined gameplay were already enough to win over a large audience with the Best in Show award at Casual Connect 2014. After playing the preview, it’s noticeable why that happened.

I'm great at punching dummies. The inanimate kind, to be exact.

One of the first alluring things of The Last Tinker: City of Colors is just how spirited its presentation is. With lighthearted tunes, quirky jabbering critters and saturated colors, the saccharine touch feels just right to create an upbeat atmosphere. Textures accurately represent a world made out of cardboard. Animated scenes of patchwork cities full of cute characters seal the deal for an immersive adventure. This is where the magic will happen.

Gameplay is perceived from a character named Koru, who gets accompanied by a little, flying piglet. Our agile protagonist can effortlessly leap over obstacles or punch crates to retrieve their goods. That takes care of both an automated platform section, as well as a combat system. For the latter, the combo model has a slight hint of Arkham City, with blows being able to switch between mob participants fluidly. Movement is everywhere in The Last Tinker: City of Colors, but that’s what makes it so vivid.

Ok, I just need to say this: Weeee!

While the simple yet effective battle and open design of charming environments already is enough to keep the tempo going, The Last Tinker: City of Colors also has puzzles. Scattered throughout the landscape, there are certain switches that can be activated. These either serve to lower platforms or help a sidekick access certain portals. With the sidekick content, Koru needs to guide a mushroom character around to spread spores, for example. By altering the form of the companion, it’s possible to go underneath obstructed areas and so on. This design makes use of the platform element as well to have Koru position the sidekick in the appropriate spot, to then make a detour and call upon them from elsewhere. Only the basics of this are laid out in the preview build, but the clever level design already showed a strong sense of logic for these puzzles. Using multiple gameplay elements and a clear overview on the environment, these obstacles are overcome in a splash, while rewarding planning ahead.

Also known as: "The multicultural melting pot is ruining society."

Further care is put into the theme of The Last Tinker: City of Colors, which doesn’t just use its vivacity for show. Its plot will revolve around city segments of different colors falling out due to segregation. Separation eventually leads to growing apart and even resentment of others, which sets up a metaphor for racial issues and other tougher topics, but in a family friendly setting. As a character able to wield all colors, Koru will become the binding element in this story.

Unfortunately, the preview build ended too quickly to give off a defining impression of its enjoyable gameplay, but perhaps it’s because its world is so beguiling. It did manage to show one thing properly: The hunger to play a lot more The Last Tinker: City of Colors. It’s a step away from being linked to the greats, like Bajo-Kazooie.

For more information, please view our gameplay preview below.

Daav Valentaten, NoobFeed (@Daavpuke)