Former Henry Hatsworth devs release first trailer of Monster Tale

Platforming and pet-rearing may sound like an odd combo, but it's not like Henry Hatsworth set a precedent for normalcy. What it did do, however, is start a trend toward excellence - one that newly formed studio Dreamrift hopes to continue with its upcoming DS action-platformer, Monster Tale.

In a nutshell, the game sees you turn your adorable monster pal Chomp into a tear-fueled engine of destruction while using his ever-evolving powers to access new non-linear areas. So basically, it sounds like Castlevania mixed with Pokemon and a hint of those plastic keychain virtual pets we... er, we mean, kids used to love.

Better still, it looks absolutely fantastic in action. This one caught us by surprise, but it's definitely one to watch. Check out the trailer after the break, courtesy of GameTrailers.