I didn't realize so many people hated Tearaway until I came into this thread. It's kind of sad, really. We often complain to high heaven about the lack of creativity in gaming these days, but when games like Gravity Rush and Tearaway appear on the scene, they are almost universally ignored or trashed.
It's a shame, because Tearaway is a game unlike many others out there. It feels like a throwback to 3D games of the PS1 and N64 era, while having a visually pleasing aesthetic and modern visuals. The paper cutout look isn't new or innovative, that's not what I'm saying, but I'm saying the game looks neat, and has some clever gameplay, especially when played on the Vita. It could have easily have been gimmicky and cringy, but the Vita specific functions are utilized in such a fun, charming way, that I couldn't help but grin from ear to ear while I played.
The story, much like LittleBigPlanet, oozes cutesy charm, and it feels like a for all ages game, not a game designed to appeal to cynical 30 somethings that are becoming more jaded as each new console cycle approaches (I say this as a not so cynical and jaded 36 year old, who's been gaming since 1985).
Tearaway does indeed start off slow. Things don't really pick up until you finally get the jump ability a good two or so hours into the game. Even so, it's still pretty charming from the beginning to me. It has a nice sense of wonder to those early stages.
I don't have issues with those that have played it and decided it wasn't for them (although, playing it for 20 minutes barely counts as playing it. I've played truly shitty games for at least two or three hours before signing off for good...), but mainly those that never touched it, and wrote it off for some reason or other.
Tearaway isn't for everybody, but "not for me" doesn't equal: "game must be bad because it's not for me."
Hell, I don't like the Gears of War series, personally, but I'd be the first to tell you that they are incredibly well made, enjoyable third person shooters, I just didn't find them personally appealing. You don't have to like something because others do, but it's always good practice to play or not play something because you want to. Some of my favorite games of all time have not been loved by the masses, some have. It's a shame that Tearaway didn't find a bigger audience, but that's probably more to do with marketing (or lack thereof), than specific consumer interest.