ToriDori – A Relaxing Journey Through Moments Frozen in Time

ToriDori - Key Art

“There is very little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude.” – W. Clement Stone

Overview

ToriDori is a relaxing spot-the-difference game from Very Very LITTLE Studio, best known for the Find All series of hidden object games. It takes players on a journey through various moments, frozen in time and place to find differences and repair temporal paradoxes!

Developer: Very Very LITTLE Studio
Released: 6th April 2023
Price: £3.99

Platforms: Windows, Mac
Available on: Steam
Engine: Unity

ToriDori Screenshot - Jurassic Diorama

Gameplay

ToriDori features 40 themed dioramas, with a total of 94 segments. Each diorama represents a different moment frozen in time and consists of between 1 and 4 segments, increasing in number as the game progresses. Each segment depicts a scene which changes to show the progression of a short narrative after a certain number of differences are found, at which point there will be further differences. Themes include the Wild West, Jurassic, cafe, and Christmas amongst many more. Once all the differences are found the player can move on to the next diorama.

The differences hidden within each diorama fall within five categories: location, colour, size, replaced object, and missing object. They vary in difficulty as overall there is a satisfying level of challenge. A hint system is available to use every 30 seconds, though this can be deactivated in the main menu. Using a hint will place a circle around the section of the diorama containing the difference, the circle will gradually shrink up to three times until the difference is located.

ToriDori uses mouse or keyboard controls which can be used interchangeably. A short tutorial at the start of the game helps to familiarise the player with the different input options though they are, for the most part, quite intuitive.

ToriDori Screenshot - Different Cat Location

Narrative

The game begins in the captain’s cabin on an old ship with a map of different moments in time that expands as the player progresses. The narrative is quite loose but features the player as the captain who must explore these different moments in time in order to find the differences and therefore rectify any temporal paradoxes. The story does not play any real part in the gameplay itself but does provide a framework and sense of purpose.

Within each of the ToriDori dioramas, there is a subtle and short narrative that can be observed. Consisting of at least two scenes the payer can witness the progression from one to the other. For example, the Christmas diorama shows Santa delivering gifts followed by children opening the gifts the next morning. The Jurassic diorama depicts dinosaurs in different seasons, with unhatched eggs and then young hatchlings.

ToriDori Screenshot - Captain's Cabin

Styling

ToriDori uses a vibrant 3D art style to depict scenes filled with simple 3D models in flat solid colours, or simple patterns such as stripes. The colour palette is varied and slightly muted, helping the game to achieve its relaxing ambience. The lighting is vivid and atmospheric, emphasising the cosiness or drama of each scene very well.

The music ranges from lively and energetic, to relaxing and whimsical, even adding a touch of drama during certain scenes. The music is consistently relaxing throughout and does not overpower the experience. Each track is chosen well to fit with the different scenes creating an increased sense of immersion. It’s unclear if any of the music is original due to a minimal online presence but the soundtrack certainly includes some familiar tracks such as Gymnopodie No. 1 by Kevin MacLeod.

ToriDori Screenshot - Two Segment Diorama

Summary

ToriDori is a relaxing and engaging spot-the-difference game, very reminiscent of Tiny Lands, but also just as fun. It offers a good amount of gameplay for a low price as well as charming 3D visuals, and a thoughtful soundtrack. the gameplay is casual but presents enough of a challenge to be satisfying. Overall, I really enjoyed this game and would happily recommend it to fans of spot-the-difference puzzles or hidden object games, as well as anyone just looking for an easy-going wholesome gaming experience. Also, there’s a cat to pet!

Looking for more relaxing games? You may also enjoy these reviews:
Tiny Glade – A Whimsical and Relaxing Building ExperienceMonument Valley 2 – A Relaxing But Poignant Puzzling AdventureA Little to the Left – Organisation is the Key to this Relaxing Puzzle Game

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