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PUPPETEER (PS3)
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Publisher: Sony.
Developer: Japan Studio. Released: September 2013. Genre: 2D Platformer. Posted 24th March 2023. By Shane Battams © 2023 |
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By 2013, Sony had cultivated a strong roster of exclusives for the PlayStation 3, birthing new franchises as well as hidden gems, as their focus on first-party content helped the console recover from a stuttering start. The strong line-up, perhaps, also explains why Puppeteer, from the venerable Japan Studio, was overlooked by many. A conceptually unique platformer bursting with charm, humour and enjoyment, it proved that 2D platformers still had plenty of ideas and life left in them, and it stands up there among the best of its class.
Taking place entirely within a puppet show, Puppeteer follows a young boy Kutaro, a child who’s turned into a wooden puppet after being spirited away in his sleep. One of many children taken by the Moon Bear King, he appears immediately to meet a grizzly end as his head is bitten off and he’s thrown into the dungeons. However, with the aid of a scheming witch and cat who are planning to usurp the tyrannical bear, Kutaro acquires the mystical scissors known as Calibrus and escapes the clutches of the king. Now, along with his companions, he travels across the land to confront generals (all of whom are anthropomorphic) and claim their moonstone shards to try and restore the Moon Goddess. It sounds like a pretty basic narrative, but this is elevated by a tremendous style thanks to the puppet show framing device. The game’s comedic timing is impeccable, with plenty of puns, visual gags and fourth-wall breaks that raise a genuine smile. Special mention goes to Stephen Greif who delivers a delightful, over-the-top narration that fits perfectly.
AHOY THERE: Puppeteer uses a puppet show setup to play around with a huge range of ideas
This dedication to presentation also carries over to the visuals and sound, both of which excel. There are so many little touches that bring this show to life, from the swapping of sets serving as area transitions, the use of the audience cheers or gasps to highlight key moments and suitably epic music adds to the bravado, notably an intense chase up a ship’s mast as you dodge cannon fire. Colourful levels vary wildly, as you travel from pirate ships to the old west and sandy deserts. Ironically, animations avoid looking wooden and punctuate moments of slapstick very well, such as Kutaro being physically abused by most he encounters. The voicework across the board is great, treading on the right side of lively without growing grating, even as you progress further into the game. The banter between sidekick Picarina and the narrator is particularly hilarious, such as once instance where he tries to write her out of the story to no avail. It is just an absolute delight on the eyes and ears.
But Puppeteer is not just about style. Japan Studio would also craft one of the tightest platformers the PS3 would see, a game that's practically exploding with creativity. Kutaro controls well, handling jumps capably even if he lacks a double jump. But platforming often utilises other elements outside of jumps. Early on, he gains the Calibrus scissors, which not only cut up grubs nicely, but also plays a key part in navigation. Repeated cuts in mid-air allow Kutaro to continue flight, meaning you can utilise floating objects like leaves and smoke to travel upward or across gaps. Particularly thrilling moments see you cutting across stitches at speed. It feels really well done, but melds particularly well with a growing assortment of abilities. Eventually, you gain access to a shield to reflect attacks, ninja bombs, a hookclaw to pull objects and a luchador mask to move them. These are not just gimmicks, but carry with you into subsequent stages and evolve the platforming. Later stages have you combining abilities and cutting in quick succession, and they feel like a natural progression with a gentle learning curve.
But Puppeteer is not just about style. Japan Studio would also craft one of the tightest platformers the PS3 would see, a game that's practically exploding with creativity. Kutaro controls well, handling jumps capably even if he lacks a double jump. But platforming often utilises other elements outside of jumps. Early on, he gains the Calibrus scissors, which not only cut up grubs nicely, but also plays a key part in navigation. Repeated cuts in mid-air allow Kutaro to continue flight, meaning you can utilise floating objects like leaves and smoke to travel upward or across gaps. Particularly thrilling moments see you cutting across stitches at speed. It feels really well done, but melds particularly well with a growing assortment of abilities. Eventually, you gain access to a shield to reflect attacks, ninja bombs, a hookclaw to pull objects and a luchador mask to move them. These are not just gimmicks, but carry with you into subsequent stages and evolve the platforming. Later stages have you combining abilities and cutting in quick succession, and they feel like a natural progression with a gentle learning curve.
FOCAL POINT: WHERE'S YOUR HEAD AT?
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Inconveniently decapitated early on, Kutaro quickly finds a replacement head, and this forms another key part of Puppeteer. Being able to store up to three heads, these serve as a sort of rings system, where taking damage will send your head flying. Failing to regain it quickly will see it vanish, while losing all three results in Kutaro losing a life. They also serve as a key collectible, with each Curtain holding unique heads. With 100 in the game, there are a ton to find, and these open up Head Actions within certain stages. Some gift moonstones that reward a life after collecting 99, others reveal a Roulette wheel that can reward heads, moonstones, or inflict damage on you. But a select few also reward bonus levels, which offer substantial moonstone gains if you can avoid falling. Not only are the heads aesthetically adorable, but they prove a great incentive to revisit levels after an initial playthrough.
Puppeteer buoys these mechanics with inventive level design. Hidden paths can offer shortcuts, reward big Hundredsparkles that gift a life and more goodies besides. Repeat visits prove worthwhile as upgrades earned later can be used in prior stages to uncover more hidden secrets. The highlights prove the boss battles, remarkably large-scale affairs which feel like suitably epic conclusions to certain stages. A cross-desert fight involving General Snake sees you cutting through his shell to reach his head, a journey down his stomach and dealing with grubs while riding on his back. While defeating them requires following a similar pattern, they feel well integrated into the stories of each act and conclude with some epic moments of quick-time event action. The only dent in the experience is the checkpoints, or the lack of them in certain moments. When you lose a life, you’re sometimes placed close to where you die – while other times, you can lose minutes of gameplay. It feels a bit inconsistent, but not enough to harm the experience.
With 21 stages, each housing collectibles and a bonus stage to find, you will find Puppeteer offers plentiful value. An initial run will likely take around 10 hours, but seeking out its well-hidden secrets will add more time. Trophy hunters will find particular fun here, with tons of stage-specific actions required to earn certain trophies. There are also some other functions, though these are a little underwhelming. Normally, players will control a second character, either Picarina or the cat, by using the right stick, but you can do this in other ways. PS Move owners can control the secondary character using this controller, but it feels a bit lightweight and not worth the extra effort. Similarly, the two-player has the second player moving the second character. You can help by picking up foes, or hinder by removing Kutaro’s head, but it feels a bit like watching someone else play the game.
With 21 stages, each housing collectibles and a bonus stage to find, you will find Puppeteer offers plentiful value. An initial run will likely take around 10 hours, but seeking out its well-hidden secrets will add more time. Trophy hunters will find particular fun here, with tons of stage-specific actions required to earn certain trophies. There are also some other functions, though these are a little underwhelming. Normally, players will control a second character, either Picarina or the cat, by using the right stick, but you can do this in other ways. PS Move owners can control the secondary character using this controller, but it feels a bit lightweight and not worth the extra effort. Similarly, the two-player has the second player moving the second character. You can help by picking up foes, or hinder by removing Kutaro’s head, but it feels a bit like watching someone else play the game.
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These quibbles feel minor in the grand scheme of things, however. Puppeteer is a fantastic platformer that is overflowing with creativity and humour, and has charm in abundance. Truly one of the more unique games any generation would see, the Puppet show framing melds with excellent gameplay to form a superb package. For those who love to explore, there is so much to uncover that you’ll be giddy with excitement. The style proves enjoyable for younger gamers, but plenty of risqué jokes and gameplay proficiency mean adults can enjoy this too. Unless you have an allergy to wooden puppets, this one is a must-play.
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VERDICT
"Puppeteer is a fantastic platformer that's overflowing with creativity and humour, and has charm in abundance. For those who love to explore, there is so much to uncover that you’ll be giddy with excitement." OVERALL: 9/10 |