PixlBit

It's true; I'm in love with Drinkbox Studios' latest effort and PlayStation Vita launch title, Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack. I wish I could point to one individual aspect of the game and say, "that's it, that's why I love this game," but it's not that simple. The aggregation of varied and engaging gameplay, thoughtful puzzles, charm, humor, and even some well-placed Vita-specific features make this game a voyage that every Vita owner should not miss.

Mutant Blobs Attack seems to draw influence from a variety of sources - Katamari Damacy, LocoRoco, LittleBigPlanet, World of Goo, and even Art Style: Orbient. Set in 2D, players will control the titular mutant blob, slowly growing him in size over the course of the game. In order to do so (here's your Katamari influence) you'll roll around the environment consuming anything smaller than yourself. The more stuff you grab up, the larger you'll become. Size plays an important role in the experience, as corks will block off subsequent segments in all of the game's 24 levels.

Though Katamari influence is apparent, it's only a portion of the overall gameplay. More importantly, Mutant Blobs Attack is a puzzle-platformer with elements of exploration. Around every bend there's a secret to uncover, a puzzle to solve, and a platforming impediment to conquer.

A couple design decisions really spice up the simple platforming and collection mechanics. For one, the game features realistic physics, which are often used to help move objects around the level. In a sense, you're even provided with the ability to manipulate gravity, via the repellant and attraction magnetism powers.

Obeying the laws of physics, smaller magnetic items will be attracted to you, whereas larger ones will pull you towards them. Countless levels offer you the ability to play with circular magnets, either orbiting them by using attraction or repelling them, helping propel you to new heights. It works incredibly well and is consistently fun. It provides that extra degree of control that your simple jumping and wall-jumping mechanics do not.

Despite the stigma that touch and motion controls can't be done right, Mutant Blobs Attack succeeds in its implementation. Items highlighted in green can be moved with your telekinesis ability and oftentimes the game will make you do this in conjunction with moving and avoiding death rays from enemy lasers. Though seemingly cumbersome, the touch mechanics are forgiving, making it satisfying and easy to succeed.

The mechanic is also used in other interesting ways, like paying homage to Angry Birds in a token room that features a wooden tower with a pig in the middle. You can aim a canon, hop in and lay waste to the structure. Other times it'll be used to catapult the blob across the level, which is both thrilling and easy to execute.

Outside of even this mechanic, certain levels will lead you through a gate, which zaps you, imbuing you with the ability to fly. Just like all of the other abilities, this too is intuitive to use and fun to play with. It gives you the opportunity to freely explore for many of the hidden goodies in each level.

Despite the general requirement of just reaching the end of the level, along the way you'll find plenty of optional puzzles that will provide you with the opportunity to roll up more stuff or collect little blue pellets, as well as two hidden blobs. Both provide immense replay value, as the blobs aren't often easy to find, and all of the stuff you collect earns you a given number of points. Collecting lots of points will earn you either a silver or gold medal, as well as a spot on the worldwide leaderboards. Even after completing the quest, which takes about five hours, you'll have plenty to come back to in order to fully complete the game.

Mutant Blobs Attack is about more than gameplay though – like the aforementioned Angry Birds homage, the world is peppered with clever references to internet memes (Omagad, Shoes) and other video games (And Yet it Moos). Signs with puns (Anti-Gravi-Tea, with flying saucer technology) are common as well, but they're all in good fun. Even the cutscenes voiced in gibberish manage to be amusing and adequately carry the '50s-style monster story.

Though short, Mutant Blobs Attack is a near-perfectly constructed game that's impossible to put down once you pick it up. It stands shoulder to shoulder with the high profile Vita launch titles and at only $7.99 you absolutely cannot pass this title up.