The Last Tinker: City of Colors review

I'm trying to remember the six or so hours I spent playing The Last Tinker, and it all feels like a giant multicolored haze. There are a bunch of goofy characters, some jumping here, some combat there, and then it ends. It isn't an unpleasant experience, but everything feels so decidedly average that I can't put my finger on anything that stands out about it--and based on how whimsical it is, forgettable is the last thing it should be.

The Last Tinker puts you in the role of Koru, a young boy with bizarre, ape-like features and a knack for building things and mismatching his clothes. You live in Tinkerworld, a once peaceful place where everything is made out of color, paper, and glue that has since become bogged down in hue-based tensions. Each colored segment of Tinkerworld's population has splintered off and formed their own district, and the once unified town is fractured, seemingly beyond repair. Enter The Bleakness: a white, goopy paint thinner-like substance that starts raining down from the heavens and destroying all the color in the city. As Koru, it's up to you to unite the creatures of Tinkerworld, find the color spirits, and save the day. It takes a couple hours for the plot to get moving, but once it does, you're in for colorful, if predictable ride.

It's a simple story, but like a kid's CGI movie, it's not without its charms. The varied residents of Tinkerworld all have their own unique mannerisms and traits. Each of the citizens of Tinkerworld coo or bleat when they speak, with a papercraft word balloon hovering over their heads--it evokes memories of '90s-era games like Banjo-Kazooie, and it's all very cute. I mean, the sun has giant beady eyes, two arms, and a goofy smile, for crying out loud. If only the color scheme weren't so painful to look at. The opening sections of The Last Tinker start out in a part of Tinkerworld that combines every single color in one garish mess, as though Dr. Seuss threw up all over a bunch of pastel Easter Eggs.

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In order to save Tinkerworld, Koru has to travel through each district, find the representative Color Spirit, and use its powers to combat the numerous foes that stand in your way. Combat is your standard 3D action platforming fare, similar to games like Prince of Persia. Once you're surrounded by enemies, you need to fend off their onslaught before you go back to exploring the levels. Unfortunately, these fights are just... boring. For the first half of the game, you have access to only one power, with a standard and charging attack. There's very little strategy--mash the button to beat up on bad guys, and charge your attack to destroy their shields. Eventually you gain the ability to stun your enemies and make them run away in fear, but they do little to make the act of fighting feel interesting. Add to that the fact that your actions feel pretty choppy, and combat is just a downright chore from the opening moments to the final boss encounter.

Luckily, the monotonous action is broken up by far more interesting platforming sections. Maneuvering your way through the various environments is rather easy--simply hold down the R2 button and you'll stick to any outcropping or ledge you come in contact with. You'd think that this would make platforming all too easy (because what is a platforming game without, you know, jumping), but it puts the focus more on timing than your ability to land a jump. Octopus tentacles dip underwater and blocks sink under your weight, forcing you to find the quickest path before drowning. Maneuvering through these trickier areas is rarely difficult, but movement feels fluid there's a sense of accomplishment you get when you complete a fairly lengthy parkour line.

In between beating up paint monsters and clambering over everything like a monkey, The Last Tinker also engages you with some light puzzle solving. The majority of the brain-busters require you to lead a sentient (and rather stupid) mushroom through various obstacles. You have to direct him to platforms he can interact with and walls he can break by using your powers and growing or shrinking him to move on to the next area. These--and other puzzles--are rarely taxing, and it won't take you more than a minute or two to suss out their solutions, but they're still fun and inventive, fitting into the bizarre world of Tinkerworld wonderfully.

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Tinkerworld

Tinkerworld used to be whole, but a rift slowly grew and split apart its inhabitants into four different districts. Each one has its own set of inhabitants and unique challenges. You'll visit all of these as you make your way through The Last Tinker.

Outer District

One of the few peaceful places on Tinkerworld. Here, everyone seems to have their crap together, putting aside their differences and blending together as one. While that's nice for the people that live there, mixing all of these colors together is ugly as sin.

Red District

Back when things were more peaceful, the red lizard-people were notable for their strength of character. Now, they're just straight up angry at the world--and you.

Green District

The once curious green turtle/bunny-like things have slowly transformed from incredibly curious little things into fearful cowards, and will run at the slightest sign of trouble.

Blue District

The blue walrus/bear/I-still-don't-know-what-they-are residents of the blue district used to be bastions of fortitude--now, they're just plain sad.

Market District

This area became the hub for trade within Tinkerworld, as it was the central meeting place for all three districts. It also becomes the staging ground for Tinkerworld's counterattack against The Bleakness.

The Tower

This is where the Color Spirits once lived in harmony before Tinkerworld slowly split itself into districts. Now, it's been corrupted by The Bleakness, and it's your final destination in your journey.

The Dream World

A mysterious place somehow connected to Tinkerworld. Koru is dragged here early on in his adventure, and perhaps will learn a few things here that will shed some light on how Tinkerworld got so divided in the first place.

Even with the decent platforming bits and puzzles, the whole experience just bleeds together into a formless mass of cartoon characters and mediocre action. Challenge is kept at a minimum, Koru is continuously funneled from one area to the next as he gathers the Color Spirits together, and other than a few standout sections, nothing feels especially important. But worst of all, The Last Tinker tries so hard to be whimsical that it forgets that it takes more than some googly eyes and bright colors to make a memorable experience.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 4.