Once Upon a Puppet Review

A Theatrical Platformer with Tangled Strings

Puppets – an fascinating metaphor to make use of when describing who has the ability.

We frequently speak in politics about who’s “pulling the strings” behind the scenes and British Eurovision winner Sandi Shaw as soon as sang about love and being ‘like a puppet on a string’.

However puppets in video games are often seen because the enemy, usually utilized in horror video games as unusual beings who creep you out and attempt to kill you.

Once Upon a Puppet, nevertheless, is a recreation concerning the puppet and the controller, nevertheless it’s largely a family-friendly platformer with an ode to theatre and magic. Let’s pull the strings and discover out what it’s all about.

A theatrical world of magic

A Hand and a Puppet

In As soon as Upon a Puppet you initially play as a disembodied hand referred to as Nieve; a weaver for the King of this magical land. The factor is, the king is upset with Nieve, exiling the hand to the understage wasteland the place Nieve meets a puppet referred to as Drev. They get intertwined by magic, Drev now held collectively by strings with Nieve.

From there they go on a journey by means of the understage, all earlier than taking over the king himself. It’s a fairytale story to start and the visuals of the world do an excellent job of organising the world. But for as intriguing as it’s, I did discover myself dropping engagement with the narrative after a short time. There’s quite a lot of dialogue present in As soon as Upon a Puppet and it doesn’t move fairly proper at instances.

String-Powered Platforming

The sport itself is ready in a 2.5D world; a spot that’s quite a lot of enjoyable to navigate round. You begin with a easy moveset, the place you may run and do a easy leap. Nonetheless the true magic comes within the characters and Nieve, because the hand holding the strings, is ready to function ranges and transfer huge gadgets for Drev the puppet.

Quickly different additional options are launched as you progress, together with that of a double leap. From there, put together to be slingshotted throughout areas that may’t be progressed within the regular approach. There are additionally hooks to grapple and the chance to fireside a bow at one level. On the entire although, fight is minimal and solely comes into its personal a couple of instances in As soon as Upon a Puppet, all as you head in the direction of the massive boss battle.

Once Upon A Puppet Review 2 — Stuffed with fascinating concepts

Puzzles, Stream, and Platforming Really feel

There are some fascinating concepts in As soon as Upon a Puppet although, in addition to intelligent puzzles to unravel when it’s important to use the skillsets of each Nieve and Drev on the similar time. It’s right here the place motion and stage management can begin to really feel a bit tough and awkward. There isn’t a doubt that all the pieces concerning the recreation works and it’s a intelligent idea and a delightful journey that you just’ll be taken on, however for me, one thing is missing. The gameplay loop turns into a bit samey after some time too, and it’s all too straightforward to overlook why you’re doing sure components. It isn’t helped that at sure moments the platforming doesn’t really feel correct sufficient, a bit floaty. In the identical breath, the sport does attempt to do one thing completely different and distinctive and when it comes to place and story, it nails issues.

Theatrical Backdrops and Costume Adjustments

Within the visible division, As soon as Upon a Puppet does a pleasant sufficient job with its 2.5D world of theatrical backdrops and puppets wandering round. There’s some nice consideration to element within the background of the degrees and as you progress it feels prefer it has a pleasant stage of selection in themes. There are some beautiful collectibles too, the place Drev can weave completely different costumes to put on which ensures the sport can earn its family-friendly credentials.

There isn’t any voice-over work from the primary characters, however when it comes to the audio, narration brings it collectively very effectively, serving to to border the world. And the soundtrack is okay because it trickles together with the motion, though it’s a bit forgettable.

Once Upon A Puppet Review 3 — Doesn’t ever wow

A Charming Debut with Untapped Potential

As soon as Upon a Puppet offers an fulfilling journey by means of a theatrical world, working properly when it comes to character integration and general gameplay expertise. Nonetheless, there isn’t any wow issue and it’s all too straightforward to get misplaced with what you’re doing, unaware of any function.

For a debut recreation, even with points this one is filled with allure, and so it’s in all probability price taking over As soon as Upon a Puppet if curiosity ranges enable.