Ty the Tasmanian Tiger jumps onto Windows 8 and RT

Windows Phone sadly did not get an Xbox release this week, but that doesn’t mean a new mobile Xbox game didn’t come out. It’s just tablet-mobile instead of smartphone-mobile.
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger from Australia-based Krome Studios (developers of the Game Room series and Full House Poker for Windows Phone) is now available on Windows 8 and RT. Ty had previously soft launched in the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, but now all Windows 8 users can buy it without the hassle of region-switching trickery.
The thunder from down under
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger is the revival of a classic platforming franchise that started life back in the original Xbox days. Whereas the console games were 3D platformers, this one switches to a 2D perspective. Not only is Ty the first Xbox platformer on Windows 8, the shift in perspectives gives it a great 16-bit gameplay vibe.
The protagonist Ty is the leader of a squad of rescue animals. His mission is to come to the aid of people in the Outback who get lost, stuck, or worse. Platforming levels have not only a main goal but also side goals like helping a character transport his trophy past a pack of bullies. On top of that, every level has several hidden items and lost orphans to find.
That’s not a knife!
Besides jumping through levels and walloping enemies with his trusty boomerang, Ty also gets to collect lots of opal gems. They make a super satisfying sound when collected, not unlike the rings in the Sonic games or the coins in the Mario series.
Performing Ty’s extra powerful special boomerang throw costs a few opals, but they’re mainly used to purchase boomerangs from the store Ty’s parents operate in town. Each boomerang has its own unique effect, such as revealing hidden platforms or melting walls of ice.
Players can also buy a wide variety of character skins from the clothing store via In-App Purchase. They’re a little on the expensive side at $1.49 apiece. But the skins are completely cosmetic in nature, so you’re not missing out on anything if you don’t get them.
Smooth moves
Ty supports three control methods: touch, mouse and keyboard, and Xbox 360 controller. Touch works extremely well (unlike the wonky controls in Halo: Spartan Assault on Windows Phone). You can even reposition the virtual stick, jump, and attack buttons wherever you like. Just keep in mind you have to swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen in order to switch boomerangs; I had a bit of trouble figuring that out.
Or grab an Xbox 360 pad for a truly console-like platforming experience. With a 360 controller, boomerang switching and charged shots have their own buttons. The latter ensures you don’t fire up a charged shot by mistake.
Throw a shrimp on the Barbie
From my brief time with Ty, it looks like a very well-made platformer. With 40 levels and lots of hidden secrets, it should keep players busy for a while. We’ll have a full review soon, but in the meantime, you might want to take advantage of Ty’s launch week pricing. It’s on sale for $4.99 right now, with the price set to increase next week.
- Ty the Tasmanian Tiger – Windows 8 and RT – 274 MB – $4.99 – Store Link (opens in new tab)
- Ty the Tasmanian Tiger soundtrack – $8.99 – Amazon Store Link (opens in new tab)
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Paul Acevedo is the Games Editor at Windows Central. A lifelong gamer, he has written about videogames for over 15 years and reviewed over 350 games for our site. Follow him on Twitter @PaulRAcevedo. Don’t hate. Appreciate!
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We need a like button on comments in the app, and online...
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+925 ma mang is right here
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And a troll button
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+1
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Lol❕.. A troll button.. That wouldn't work out well.. Everyone would be calling everyone a troll just because they disagreed with them... Lol❕
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We need a go back and read the article button... LOL❕
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OMG OMG OMG!!! :D BUY, BUY, BUY
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I bought it :-)
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Awesome HIGH FIVE!
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Looks like a bad Mario game...
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It's not bad at all. But they both share the same genre, which we call a platformer.
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Ya good point. I shouldn't hate, I guess I just don't like platformer games
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Just brought the game!!! :D
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To...??
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His big paddy
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Sale price $5? Normal price like $10?
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I think it will normally be $7 or $7.49.
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Launch price sale states 25% off, so that will result in the evil looking $6.66 launch price. ;)
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Is it harder/more involved to make apps for tablets than for phones?
I find that many tablet games / apps demand a higher price than what you might see on a phone. -
The art has to be created in higher resolutions, which adds time and cost. Additional control methods, testing for differing PC hardware, etc. can add some time too. But the main reason tablet games cost more in general is that people are willing to pay a little more for them. The super low prices that many phone games sell for make it hard for devs to turn a profit unless the game sells like crazy.
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I've always assumed it was because people are willing to pay for the apps. I am very stingy with purchasing apps but I am in full favor of Devs making money. It is the only way that they will continue to develop!
Thanks for the info!
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I remember this game I used to play the crap out of it on the original Xbox lol
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Thinking about buying just because of controller support. Plus it does look fun.
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I bought it
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Ok, so there are no options at all, so how do I use Xbox controller??
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Just plug it in and it should work. You might need to have it plugged in before launching the game. There are actually options, but you have to swipe from the right edge of the game in order to select them (an annoying Windows 8 UI thing).
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Doesn't work with wireless controller?? I thought maybe a Bluetooth thing.
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Wireless 360 controllers require a wireless 360 controller adapter in order to work with PCs and Windows 8 devices.
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Do you know if they make an adapter with a micro USB port, or does it just come in full size? Sorry Paul, you probably forgot more about windows 8 Tech than I know. Lol
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It's full size only. Pretty sure you can get a micro USB to full USB adapter though. I'm always happy to answer questions, as long as they're not already answered in the article itself. :)
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Xbox 360 gamepads on PC have always needed to be either wired (not the wireless with a charging cord but the real wired controller) or wireless with the PC adapter dongle. It's been that way for 8 years now.
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An intuitive Windows 8 UI thing*
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No, having the game's options on the main menu is intuitive. Hiding them away in a charm menu is the opposite.
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+1 it's so infuriating to dig around in the game options only to find half of them are hidden in the charm menu. I hate the charm menu with a passion as it's so unituitive and difficult to use on a non-touch PC unless you use the shortcut key.
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clearly windows 8 has better games than windowsphone
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Also, after just a couple of months has a bigger installed base. Develops go where there's an audience.
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Is ask to much for a Tentacles Windows 8/RT and a Taptiles for Windows Phone??
Is the only thing I want. :) -
Wonky controls? Odd, the controls in Halo: Spartan Assault work just fine for me, hell I could even snap an app and play it with my index fingers instead of thumbs if I want.
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The WP version's controls are far less responsive than other twin stick shooters, including Zombies on the Phone and Gun Bros. Yes, they work, but that doesn't mean they work as well as they should. But the Halo: Spartan Assault review is a better place for discussion of its controls.
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Just had to respond to something off in the article, but I gotcha. Also, since this was about a tablet game, not WP, I was speaking on my experience on a tablet.
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Yeah, I shoulda been more specific about which version I was criticizing. No worries.
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Cool, cool.
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I always loved this game.
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Any chance this game will be coming to WP8? It looks fun, been jonesing for a good platforming since I finished Little Acorns.
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I believe Microsoft chose not to pick it up for WP8. :-(
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that's a bummer. Any chance you are going to review Storm in a Teacup? I saw there was an update not too long ago and it actually runs smoothly now, but I can't bring myself to spend full price on it - hoping for a red stripe deal.
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Wow, it runs smoothly now? I have been thinking of reviewing it lately, so I'll try to move it up the list for you. :)
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Will this game run ok on an Acer Iconia W510? It's a shame that there's no trial...
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Tasmanian Tiger.... Hunted to extinction with bounty's on their heads, unfortunately this also happened to the native people.
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For the aboriginals they are extinct in Tasmania, yes... But not generally in Australia. Disease was also blamed for a large part of their demise. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Aborigines
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*prawn, not shrimp :P Yeah, I know it's a movie quote but it was said for American audiences. No Aussie would ever say "shrimp" unless it's under 1cm in size.
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Yeah, I was just having fun with Australian stereotypes. :D
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Sad that they went extinct in the 30s
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It's called a prawn
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I live in Tasmania, there's some speculation that maybe there are some TTs still deep in the wild but I suspect not. We do have DNA so hopefully one day they get cloned! We do still have the Tassie Devils but their population is under threat from a rampant facial tumor which is quite sad. Anyway, I'll be loading this up for the kids, looks pretty good!
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Just look out for the elusive chupacabra
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Ha ha, you definitely have to watch out for those.