Little Deviants (PS Vita) review

Because it makes liberal use of the accelerometer and camera for many of its mini-games, you may get some strange looks if you play certain games on public transport – the touch-based games make you look less ridiculous, but we were still too self-conscious to play it anywhere but in the privacy of our own home. You’ll also need a fair amount of space for a handheld game, as the levels involving the camera require you to move almost a full 360 degrees.

Considering it isn’t the most graphically demanding Vita game we’ve seen, Little Deviants still puts the OLED screen to good use with a brilliantly bright colour palette. Characters and levels pop out of the screen, which helps give the outlandish animations even more life. A fantastic soundtrack also adds to the experience, with retro-inspired beats that should go down well with older and younger gamers alike.

It’s not the most challenging game, and the lack of any significant story may put off anyone looking for something more substantial – we get the feeling the Deviants’ antics are better suited to a downloadable title rather than a full retail game, something Sony seems to understand and has reflected in its pricing. Considering the Vita’s integrated Welcome Park app explains all the different input methods without costing a penny, the idea that Little Deviants makes a good introduction to the system is slightly negated. It’s still got plenty of fun moments, but there’s little replay value after you’ve tried everything once.