Murasaki Baby

Muraski Baby has a compelling premise and some wonderfully weird graphics. It's a delight to just look at all the details in the background and the environments. Plus, it has a uniquely emotional component, especially for parents or those who've had close relationships with toddlers. It doesn't take long for you to feel personally responsible for this cooing, tearful, scared little girl. You can't help but want to protect her. But there are two flaws. One is that the game is on the short side. This isn't the worst thing, as it's often better to end before things get too frustrating. Unfortunately, requiring players to use only the touchpads makes everything more frustrating than it needs to be. It's very difficult, even as an adult, to juggle multiple touchpoints on the front of the PS Vita, swipe on the back, and actually be able to see where you're going. When timing comes into play, it can be infuriating. It's also easy to accidentally tap or swipe the back touchpad while trying to use the front screen.

Baby's not the easiest kid to get around, but what toddlers are? She's afraid of everything and won't progress if it's too dark or too creepy. If she's startled, she may even let go of her balloon, and you know what that means. Thankfully, Murasaki Baby has frequent auto-save points. They often occur just after each major puzzle point, so if you can get past it, you're usually ready to move on to the next spot. This is an interesting and unique game. The puzzle-solving techniques also are innovative, and they truly shine when you're forced to swap between screens and techniques at the end of the game. It's just too bad that the same things that make Murasaki Baby cool in theory can cause a lot of frustration in practice.