Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, Battlefield and others have shown us war through the eyes of the soldier. While there is no short supply of WW2 titles, what is fascinating is the lack of representation of who is the most affected by war- civilians. Torn Away takes place on the Eastern Front of the Second-World-War through the eyes of a little girl, Asya. Living in Stalingrad, Asya eagerly awaits for her father’s return from battle to celebrate her mom’s birthday. Fate would have other plans. The dreaded air siren blares, as Stalingrad is bombed into oblivion. Asya and her mother are kidnapped by the Nazis and sent to Germany for forced labor. During a bombing raid, her mother is killed and the labor camp is in chaos. With nothing but hope and an imaginary friend, Comrade Mitten, she seizes her opportunity and makes her escape.
Torn Away is mostly a side-scroller, although there is a decent variety of mini-game segments. In the first level, your objective is simply to clean your flat. Other mini-games will have you knitting a mitten, fixing boots with a hammer, or even just peeling a potato. Being as you are only a child, stealth and being sneaky are a necessity to survive your long journey back home. Nazis are scattered all over the place and will not hesitate to make sure you are captured or killed.
The biggest highlight of Torn Away is its aesthetic. Resembling that of a Russian-folk tale. Unfortunately, this tale is emphatically not a happy one. The Soviet Union was devastated during WW2, over 27-million Soviets perished. This game paints a picture of how dire the situation was in Eastern Europe. The concentration camp you are held in is dreary and soulless, letting you know humanity has no presence behind the barbed wire. Aysa is merely a child and has already seen the absolute worst humanity has to offer. When traveling through the forest and bombed out cities, the prowling Nazis look not like soldiers, but evil phantom silhouettes attempting to drag the player to the very depths of the hellscape itself.
One part that stands out in particular, is when Asya has escaped the camp and finds herself in a German-city. A huge contrast to the rest of the game, the town is vibrant and full of life. Children are seen playing in the streets while the lights are lit and citizens inside are preparing supper. The player is starved and exhausted, only looking for food, knowing that any second she could be spotted. A German woman catches you trying to raid her kitchen. Rather than handing you over to the authorities, she shows kindness and shelters you. A completely selfless act, this German woman shows even in the darkest of times, humanity can still shine.
Torn Away is a must-play for anyone looking for a tragic and moving story. While not the most exhilarating gameplay wise, its setting and harrowing atmosphere are top-of-the-line. Asya shows the player that even just having the slightest amount of hope is all one needs to persevere against the most overwhelming of odds. Eastern Europe, a place of rich cultural heritage, has a very tragic backstory to tell. Torn Away does a respectful job in trying to tell that story. Hopefully future titles can follow suit. Show your courage, your determination and find your way home.
Sincerely yours,
Fil
Verdict: 9/10