Usually I wait until I finish each game I review, but wow this game.
I brought this because it was an exclusive ps3 only hidden gem, and went in blind.
I was very impressed with what I saw... The unique setting, great graphics, quirky gameplay and an amazing sound design.
When I finish the game I'll do an actual review with a score, but my first impression was very positive.
I brought this because it was an exclusive ps3 only hidden gem, and went in blind.
I was very impressed with what I saw... The unique setting, great graphics, quirky gameplay and an amazing sound design.
When I finish the game I'll do an actual review with a score, but my first impression was very positive.
A underrated game. Such a masterpiece
One of my favorite PS3 games, I really hope this game someday gets a remastered treatment in future PlayStation console or even better, a sequel.
Puppeteer features one of the most impressive presentations in terms of art direction and setting, with theater features that really make you feel like another spectator. The game is colorful yet it contains some darker tones depending on the levels.
Gameplay is interesting combining platforming elements with some interesting progression movements done by using your scissor companion. Backgrounds can be dynamic and offer a lot of variety in terms of level design.
Overall, Puppeteer is a true "hidden gem" for the PS3 that excels in its presentation and is one of my favorite experiences for the system; and is a must-play for platforming fans.
Puppeteer features one of the most impressive presentations in terms of art direction and setting, with theater features that really make you feel like another spectator. The game is colorful yet it contains some darker tones depending on the levels.
Gameplay is interesting combining platforming elements with some interesting progression movements done by using your scissor companion. Backgrounds can be dynamic and offer a lot of variety in terms of level design.
Overall, Puppeteer is a true "hidden gem" for the PS3 that excels in its presentation and is one of my favorite experiences for the system; and is a must-play for platforming fans.
The fact that this game was forgotten is a crime
In the 2013 video game Puppeteer, a breezy and simplistic yet charming 2.5D platformer that justifies its 2.5D more than the bulk of games in that style ever have with its stage show aesthetic, your character Kutaro is a wooden puppet. A big part of the game is collecting puppet heads which act as hit points
There are a total of 104 heads to collect across the whole game. Every single one of these heads has a unique animation associated with it if you can hold onto it in the right spot. Could be a unique contextual moment within the game to take a shortcut, get rewards, skip a boss phase, or reaching a bonus stage. Beating the game will give you a head that can perform the contextual action of any other head to see the work put in, but there’s still that desire to find which heads you missed to see their distinct sense of character.
That is a level of soul and dedication you really only see from developers incredibly passionate about their craft and appreciating their effort a decade later it’s a damn shame to see Japan Studio shuttered now when it could be the perfect gap material between Sony’s mega blockbusters.
There are a total of 104 heads to collect across the whole game. Every single one of these heads has a unique animation associated with it if you can hold onto it in the right spot. Could be a unique contextual moment within the game to take a shortcut, get rewards, skip a boss phase, or reaching a bonus stage. Beating the game will give you a head that can perform the contextual action of any other head to see the work put in, but there’s still that desire to find which heads you missed to see their distinct sense of character.
That is a level of soul and dedication you really only see from developers incredibly passionate about their craft and appreciating their effort a decade later it’s a damn shame to see Japan Studio shuttered now when it could be the perfect gap material between Sony’s mega blockbusters.
this... is art. if you like 2D platformers at all, please try this. it's my childhood game.
Who would have thought that a PS3 exclusive game with a puppet show aesthetic would have such a creative and fun story. Great platforming gameplay combined with fantastic voice acting and a sense of style that is utterly unique.
Honestly one of the most underrated PS3 exclusives out there with how little people talk about this game, and man that's a huge shame considering what this game offers.
Mechanically, there are some things that could've been better (and, if you're trying to go for a Platinum, some of the trophies are really bullshit and involve either a guide or lots of trial and error) but it oozes so much charm and style that it honestly makes up for it. While very much a "style over substance" game in terms of how intricate the platforming is (or isn't in this case), this game's general aesthetic sucked me in enough that I kind of don't care that the gameplay is merely "okay" while the game's atmosphere, soundtrack, and character acting does most of the heavy lifting.
I don't know what made the PS3 such a target for charming craft-y games with British narrators but honestly I couldn't get enough of it. Sometimes a game can just be a very cool art project with the gameplay mainly being used to string the extravagant set-pieces together.
Mechanically, there are some things that could've been better (and, if you're trying to go for a Platinum, some of the trophies are really bullshit and involve either a guide or lots of trial and error) but it oozes so much charm and style that it honestly makes up for it. While very much a "style over substance" game in terms of how intricate the platforming is (or isn't in this case), this game's general aesthetic sucked me in enough that I kind of don't care that the gameplay is merely "okay" while the game's atmosphere, soundtrack, and character acting does most of the heavy lifting.
I don't know what made the PS3 such a target for charming craft-y games with British narrators but honestly I couldn't get enough of it. Sometimes a game can just be a very cool art project with the gameplay mainly being used to string the extravagant set-pieces together.
Back at it again with SCE Japan Studio. Figured I would cave in and buy this one before the PS3 store is shut down forever. Didn't really know what to expect going into this title, but this one ended up drawing me in something fierce, like all of Japan Studio's titles.
Puppeteer loves playing with the foreground and background. The ever-present curtains, floor and ceiling on the sides of the screen provide a constant frame of reference for these shenanigans. Puppeteer wastes no chance to make its presentation even more genuine and charming. The sets shift in and out of frame as if they're elaborate pieces of machinery. In the 2D platforming segments, there are rotating gears in the bottom corners, signifying that the set is being scrolled in real time. There's an audience that cheers and gasps at whatever's happening at that moment. There's always a spotlight aimed at the main characters. Every character looks like they're made out of practical materials, like wood and paper. Their movements are all spindly, y'know, like they're being puppeted. I feel like the only thing they're lacking are the strings that puppets usually hang from, but in all honesty, it's probably all magic anyhow. I was willing to suspend my disbelief so they could show me more fantastical feats, things that wouldn't be possible when being tied down by strings.
Another element I have praise for is the soundtrack. It's a fully-orchestrated one, composed and arranged by none other than actual Hollywood talents Patrick Doyle and James Shearman. I don't know how these professionals were brought on board, but their compositions fit the tone of the game perfectly. It's thrilling, adventurous, tense, and so much more.
The tone of the writing is like a mix of Disney's whimsy with a healthy dose of humor that feels reminiscent of something like Monty Python. The game plays itself pretty straight as a wooden puppet show with the spectacle of a theatre performance, plus a little bit of magic sprinkled in there. The narrator describes all the antics and happenings in eager detail as you progress through the stages, and characters give off witty dialogue. The one outlier to this is the brash pixie princess, Pikarina. She's a good supporting role for Kutaro, but she has got a mind of her own, and she tends to bicker with the narrator. It's still quite funny, but it can be a bit much at times. It feels like she's going "off-script", if that even makes a lick of sense.
The game's a 2D platformer with emphasis on collecting heads, interacting with the background, and cutting things with your magical scissors, Calibrus. When Kutaro gets hit, his head bounces around temporarily like rings in a Sonic game, and you aren't allowed to run around like a headless chicken; Kutaro's gotta have something where his noggin goes. Fortunately for our hero, heads can be found in all kinds of places. By having Pikarina investigate all kinds of back/foreground objects, you'll reveal a plethrora of secrets, including various heads. Aside from serving as your HP (you can carry and swap between three heads at a time), each head has a "head action" associated with it. When used at the right time/place, magic happens. You can activate unique scenarios, reveal even bigger secrets, gain access to bonus stages, and even neuter/skip entire segments of levels and boss battles. Kutaro's main weapon is a pair of magical scissors. The regular enemies are pretty much fodder, the real fun with the scissors comes from the platforming. There's a certain rhythm to the action of snipping through objects, over gaps and around obstacles.
Admittedly, I finished this game weeks ago, but I ended up going after most of the trophies. The reward was never the trophies themselves, but the fact that they encouraged me to seek out all the cool details and writing that they packed into the game, easily missable if you don't do some very specific context-sensitive actions. The game gave me this message after finishing it, and while I appreciate the coy humor, they shouldn't belittle themselves like that! All these people came together to create something truly one of a kind. I never see this title get talked about when SCE Japan Studio is brought up, so I'm guessing this is the black sheep of their lineup, which is a damn shame. I also fear it got overshadowed by other titles that year, like Grand Theft Auto V. You can still get this title digitally for $15, and I recommend you do so while you still can. Bring some popcorn too.
Puppeteer loves playing with the foreground and background. The ever-present curtains, floor and ceiling on the sides of the screen provide a constant frame of reference for these shenanigans. Puppeteer wastes no chance to make its presentation even more genuine and charming. The sets shift in and out of frame as if they're elaborate pieces of machinery. In the 2D platforming segments, there are rotating gears in the bottom corners, signifying that the set is being scrolled in real time. There's an audience that cheers and gasps at whatever's happening at that moment. There's always a spotlight aimed at the main characters. Every character looks like they're made out of practical materials, like wood and paper. Their movements are all spindly, y'know, like they're being puppeted. I feel like the only thing they're lacking are the strings that puppets usually hang from, but in all honesty, it's probably all magic anyhow. I was willing to suspend my disbelief so they could show me more fantastical feats, things that wouldn't be possible when being tied down by strings.
Another element I have praise for is the soundtrack. It's a fully-orchestrated one, composed and arranged by none other than actual Hollywood talents Patrick Doyle and James Shearman. I don't know how these professionals were brought on board, but their compositions fit the tone of the game perfectly. It's thrilling, adventurous, tense, and so much more.
The tone of the writing is like a mix of Disney's whimsy with a healthy dose of humor that feels reminiscent of something like Monty Python. The game plays itself pretty straight as a wooden puppet show with the spectacle of a theatre performance, plus a little bit of magic sprinkled in there. The narrator describes all the antics and happenings in eager detail as you progress through the stages, and characters give off witty dialogue. The one outlier to this is the brash pixie princess, Pikarina. She's a good supporting role for Kutaro, but she has got a mind of her own, and she tends to bicker with the narrator. It's still quite funny, but it can be a bit much at times. It feels like she's going "off-script", if that even makes a lick of sense.
The game's a 2D platformer with emphasis on collecting heads, interacting with the background, and cutting things with your magical scissors, Calibrus. When Kutaro gets hit, his head bounces around temporarily like rings in a Sonic game, and you aren't allowed to run around like a headless chicken; Kutaro's gotta have something where his noggin goes. Fortunately for our hero, heads can be found in all kinds of places. By having Pikarina investigate all kinds of back/foreground objects, you'll reveal a plethrora of secrets, including various heads. Aside from serving as your HP (you can carry and swap between three heads at a time), each head has a "head action" associated with it. When used at the right time/place, magic happens. You can activate unique scenarios, reveal even bigger secrets, gain access to bonus stages, and even neuter/skip entire segments of levels and boss battles. Kutaro's main weapon is a pair of magical scissors. The regular enemies are pretty much fodder, the real fun with the scissors comes from the platforming. There's a certain rhythm to the action of snipping through objects, over gaps and around obstacles.
Admittedly, I finished this game weeks ago, but I ended up going after most of the trophies. The reward was never the trophies themselves, but the fact that they encouraged me to seek out all the cool details and writing that they packed into the game, easily missable if you don't do some very specific context-sensitive actions. The game gave me this message after finishing it, and while I appreciate the coy humor, they shouldn't belittle themselves like that! All these people came together to create something truly one of a kind. I never see this title get talked about when SCE Japan Studio is brought up, so I'm guessing this is the black sheep of their lineup, which is a damn shame. I also fear it got overshadowed by other titles that year, like Grand Theft Auto V. You can still get this title digitally for $15, and I recommend you do so while you still can. Bring some popcorn too.
In a just world, this would've been a PS4 launch title, it would've been 60fps, it would've been mildly successful and it would've had a sequel.
We don't live in a just world.
We don't live in a just world.