Meow…that's pretty.

Gamescom is definitely a time to shine for Sony, as in quick succession they have unleashed a slew of new IPs for PlayStation owners to enjoy.

Right off the bat comes two titles from Japan Studios, the makers behind Ape Escape and LocoRoco. Their first title is the PlayStation 3 exclusive Puppeteer, a 2.5 platformer where you, as a little wooden boy, steal a pair of magic scissors to help aid in your quest for freedom against an evil king and his minions. Featuring gameplay reminiscent of LittleBigPlanet and Kirby’s Epic Yarn set in the backdrop of a marionette play–complete with a laugh track and strobe lights–Puppeteer looks to have a lot going for it in terms of overall fun and innovation, and it’s not just the visuals talking either.

Hot off the heels of one artistic expression is another, fully-fledged arthouse game from Japan Studios. With a working title of Rain, this downloadable game will feature an invisible boy who can only be seen in the rain. The ghost-like figure walks through a dreary city-scape, the sound of the pouring rain and a somber piano concerto echoing throughout the trailer, the atmosphere of Rain is moody, yet wholesome, as our hero plays a game of cat and mouse with a star-crossed lover.

Adding to the cuteness factor is Media Molecule, fresh off of their hit LittleBigPlanet series. The British team is bringing us another innovation that can only be experienced on the Playstation Vita. Titled Tearaway, you play a messenger made out of a paper bag, in a world of cardboard and paper unlike the Sackboy dimension of their previous titles. This time though, using the touch and tilt controls of the Vita, you manipulate the world with your hands, quite literally tearing away the thin materials holding it together to accomplish goals and puzzles. The touch mechanics look quite amazing in Tearaway, and literally scratch the surface on the interactive nature of the game. Hopefully Vita owners will be intrigued by the innovative use of the mechanics shown in the trailer below.

Finally, if all of the cuteness is too much for you, Supermassive Games has you covered with a more atmospheric affair in the horror-themed Until Dawn. Taking its cues from slasher movies, Until Dawn has a group of teenagers hanging out in the middle of a snow-capped woodland, only to have them stalked and murdered one by one. Supermassive is promising that the storyline will change based on actions in-game, and that the PlayStation Move mechanics will be used in a natural way, from pointing a flashlight to grabbing a gun. The characters in Until Dawn will emulate the hand movements you have in the real world, offering a new sense of realism in this atmospheric survival horror title.

To say the least, I am impressed with the lineup here by Sony. We have a myriad of gameplay styles, each of them bringing something imaginative to the table outside of the comfort zone of space marines and badass criminals. Hopefully each of these games is successful in their own right, and that the trailers and information revealed thus far is enough to pique your curiosity.

Sources: Gamescom

Robert G.

All around gamer, teacher, historian and writer, making his home at Blistered Thumbs.

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