
I am prone to hyperbole, so take this with a grain of salt, but I think that Sound Shapes may be the Vita’s first killer app. Not only is it a great game that can be played in bite-sized chunks on Sony’s handheld, but it’s implementation of the touch controls actually makes the game a better experience on the Vita than on the PS3.
But the campaign is just the tip of the iceberg. Each level you beat unlocks a variety of items that you can use to build your own levels in the level editor. And with the Vita’s front and rear touchscreens, making levels is easy, as they allow you to be much more precise than you would be with a controller. You can upload levels for the community to play, and a liking system allows the cream of the user-created levels to rise to the top. There are already thousands of levels to play through, featuring tributes to everything from Shadow of the Colossus to Donkey Kong.
Sound Shapes may not provide enough of an incentive to actually go out and buy a Vita, but it’s easily the best experience I’ve had on the platform yet. I’m sure it’s fun on the PS3 as well, but it was clearly designed to take full advantage of Sony’s handheld, and it does just that. No matter which platform you play it on, you should absolutely check it out.