Topatoi: Spinning Through The Worlds is the first game to be released on the PlayStation 3 by Boolat Games. Released on July 2nd, it is currently only available on the European PSN Store.

At the most basic level, Topatoi is a 3D platforming-puzzle game. The main character is Raph, an elf-like explorer who has crash landed on a strange planet with two 2 companions—his girlfriend and a professor. The character design and art style are reminiscent of the original Jak and Daxter.

As soon as the trio crashes on the planet, Raph's girlfriend is taken by a Blackwing bird-like creature, to the top of the Great Tree. The rest of the game focuses on you making your way up the tree and solving puzzles as you go, in an effort to save your girlfriend and collect parts for the ship.

To do this, you have GEMMA, or Gyroscopic Exploration Multidimensional Multi-terrain Apparatus, which is a machine that looks like a spinning top. Raph uses this machine to move around the terrain; controlling the speed of spin affects GEMMA's movement and behavior, and allows you to become more agile when required. L2 slows you down so that you can go over narrower platforms, and pressing R2 speeds GEMMA up so that you can jump further or get through a doorway in time.

As you progress through the game, you will unlock new powers—namely the abilities to push, pull, and jump will become stronger. A fuel system for GEMMA is also introduced a little way into the game. If you don't beat the level by the time fuel runs out, you will be forced to restart. If you fall down or are pushed off a platform by enemies that weirdly have the same spinning top machine as you, you'll simply restart at the nearest checkpoint.

There are also a few collectibles to find such as stars, which do nothing in the game, but allow you to unlock certain trophies. You can also collect optional fuel cells as well as some cubes, which again unlock a few of the trophies.

The story mode is fairly good. There are seven levels, but each tends to simply be one big puzzle. The environments are the same for the most part, but they do change slightly as you progress. Unfortunately, although this is a PSN title and installs to the HDD, it takes an abnormally long time for each level to load up. This doesn't really affect gameplay, but it is a small hindrance when playing.

In addition to the story mode, there is also a short arcade mode, which is where Topatoi really shines. The basic idea is to finish each level within a specified time limit. The art style is also drastically different from story mode, and it seems like the developers were given more leeway when designing this portion. Perhaps it would have been wiser for the developers to have spent more time on the arcade mode and dropped the story mode altogether.

You can also play the game in split-screen, and while it isn't very exciting, it does add to the replay value of the game. A few racing levels and mini-games such as air hockey are also present, as well as an arena based mode where the object of the game is to knock the other player off to win.

Overall, Topatoi is a good game, although it will not appeal to everyone. At first sight it may appear that Topatoi is for a younger audience, but some of its gameplay elements are fairly challenging, so younger children may find it a little too difficult. Falling off and restarting at checkpoints is quite frustrating, as it tends to happen quite often.

7.0 Graphics Good graphics, although the very similar environments throughout the game do eventually become boring. 6.0 Sound Sound effects are fine, nothing spectacular. Music is not very memorable. 8.0 Gameplay Challenging and fun to play, but it can get a little monotonous as a lot of the challenges within the story mode are very similar. Enemies have no personality and only try to push you off. Arcade mode is a breath of fresh air. 6.0 Replay Value The game will keep you going for a few hours—there's not much replay value, but the arcade mode and scoring system add a lot of depth to the game. There are only a handful of trophies, and they aren't very difficult to obtain. 6.7 Overall A good, unique style of game, but it will not appeal to everyone. It's too challenging for children, and perhaps a little easy for hardcore gamers.