Developer: Rouge Sun
Publisher: Wired Productions
Release Date: 20 April 2023 (Nintendo Switch), 16 May 2023 (PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, and PC)
Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch
▫️ code provided by the publisher ▫️
Tin Hearts is a charming puzzle game that challenges players to guide little tin soldiers to their specified destination by manipulating the toy-filled environment around them. The game features a delightful story, exceptional world building, and an engaging gameplay experience that will keep players hooked.
Gameplay
The tin soldiers can only march in a single direction, so it’s your job to manipulate the environment around you with the various contraptions scattered around the rooms to guide them to their end goal, a little mouse house type door. Initially you make use of the triangular shaped wooden blocks available, part of a traditional wooden puzzle board, placing them into fixed spaces so that the soldiers collide with them and change direction. One misstep could see the soldiers tumbling off the edge of a shelf or table resulting in their demise. As levels progress you can make use of additional wooden blocks free to be placed anywhere, toy cannons to knock objects over creating new paths, drums that you can bounce off, a wooden train and track, a rainbow pinwheel and even a balloon inflating machine to allow a flight across the room. The difficulty increases as you progress through levels with the distance between start and finish increasing, more objects required to be utilised and multiple goals to get to the end goal are required.
Thanks to the game’s trial-and-error approach to puzzle solving, I found myself constantly tinkering with the various toy blocks and objects to see how they would affect the tin soldiers’ path, making for a satisfying gameplay experience when you get it right. It was just the right amount of challenge level for me, holding my attention and making me persevere until I worked each level out.
The ability to manipulate time adds another layer of experimentation. Similar to the objects, as you progress through the levels you are rewarded with more ways to alter time, speeding up the soldiers, reversing time and pausing to allow you to preview the path and position accurately. Although the ability to rewind time can alleviate some mistakes, it may not be enough to guide all soldiers to the exit. This can lead to the need to restart the entire level, which can be frustrating.
Story
Although I wasn’t expecting much in terms of story from Tin Hearts, I was pleasantly surprised by the emotional and thought-provoking tale of Albert J. Butterworth that is woven into the game. The story is masterfully integrated with playful family moments that appear in almost a ghostlike form, with clues hidden throughout the levels that add to the overall narrative. The story is well-crafted and adds an extra layer of depth to the game, making it more than just a puzzle-solving experience. Overall, I found it to be a pleasant surprise and a great addition to the overall package of the game.
World Building
The world building in Tin Hearts is exceptional, creating a magical and charming alternate-timeline Victorian universe that is full of nostalgic warmth. The level design is intricate and highly detailed, immersing the player in a toy-filled world with an almost palpable atmosphere. Each level is unique, with its own set of obstacles and challenges, which are seamlessly integrated into the overarching narrative. The attention to detail in the level design is impressive, with each room containing its own distinct personality and quirks. My favourite area was probably the garden with its vibrant greenery and sounds. The use of objects and the environment adds to the overall atmosphere of the game, and the whimsical and inventive contraptions that the player uses to guide the tin soldiers add to the sense of wonder and discovery. Overall, the world building is a testament to the developer’s attention to detail, and it contributes significantly to the game’s overall atmosphere and charm.
Soundtrack
In terms of the game soundtrack, the music expertly complements the different acts, matching the tone and atmosphere of each level. The warm and gentle piano and violin tracks in the house levels create a sense of comfort and nostalgia, while the more electric and upbeat tracks in the basement levels add a sense of urgency and excitement. As the game progresses towards its climax, the music shifts towards a grander orchestral sound that builds towards the big moments. The soundtrack is a wonderful addition to the game that enhances the emotional impact of the story and the sense of immersion in the world of Tin Hearts.
Controls
My one main critique of the game is that I found the controls and camera to be a bit fiddly at times. There were instances where the camera didn’t move enough to see where the soldier would land or where my character was obstructed by objects like tables, making movement difficult. Moreover, placing objects sometimes proved to be a challenge, as they would interact with other objects and not land in the intended spot. I got used to it as the game went on but it did detract from the overall experience at times.
Overall
Tin Hearts offers an immersive world filled with intricate levels and whimsical contraptions that are seamlessly integrated into a well-crafted narrative. The game’s use of time manipulation adds another layer of experimentation, allowing players to experiment with different paths and strategies. The soundtrack expertly complements each level’s tone and atmosphere, adding to the game’s overall immersion. However, fiddly controls and camera can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, Tin Hearts is a well-crafted and engaging puzzle game that is sure to captivate players.
-Jessica
