Howdy, my title is Martin, and I’m the CEO and Artistic Director of Flatter Than Earth, the studio behind the theatrical journey platformer As soon as Upon a Puppet. Our magical, story-driven 2.5D puzzle-platformer takes place in a vibrant world of theatre, the place traditional platforming meets puppet-inspired gameplay in a story of friendship, self-discovery, and redemption.
You’ll play as Drev, an bold Actor, and Nieve, a proficient Stagehand and Tailor. Sure collectively by magic, they have to work as one to navigate the dominion of theatre, unravel its secrets and techniques, and face the Shadow King. However earlier than you step onto the stage, listed below are 5 important suggestions that will help you in your journey.
1. Hold Your Eyes Open for Costumes – They’re Extra Than Simply Vogue
All through the world, you’ll discover vintage stitching units, which permit Nieve to craft distinctive story costumes for Drev. The entire outfits are primarily based on necessary characters you’ll meet in your journey. These costumes make you look cool on stage, however a number of play a task within the sport’s storytelling. Similar to in actual theatre, a personality’s apparel is usually a clue to their position within the efficiency. In As soon as Upon a Puppet, sure challenges would require you to put on a particular costume to progress. There are 4 of those particular costumes which can be linked to the sport’s progress, and they’re simple to come back throughout. Nevertheless, there are extra actor-like beauty outfits to unlock, so be looking out for them in your travels!
2. Decide Up Collectibles – They Reveal Hidden Tales
As you discover the world, hold a watch out for 2 sorts of collectibles: Stained Glass Items and Props. The Stained Glass collectibles are damaged glass shards of larger “stained coloured glass home windows”. Every of those “glass home windows” tells a visible story of the dominion. The Props are private gadgets of the lead characters within the sport, comparable to The Queen, The King, and The Decide. These private gadgets at all times have one thing attention-grabbing to disclose about their proprietor. Gathering all of those will improve your understanding of the world. Should you’re somebody who loves immersive storytelling, ensure to look each nook for these hidden gems!
3. Don’t Skip Cutscenes – They Maintain Important Clues
Every cutscene in As soon as Upon a Puppet is fastidiously crafted to ship not simply an emotional affect but additionally essential hints concerning the world and the challenges forward. The sport options 12 rebuilding levels, and your purpose is to rebuild and re-enact key moments from the king’s previous. Each stage has its personal distinctive story and emotional weight, so watching intently will assist you join the dots and totally grasp the importance of your journey.
Should you rush by way of with out being attentive to the cutscenes, you’ll miss necessary particulars concerning the mysteries behind the Shadow King, the forgotten tales, and the characters’ true destinies. So sit again, benefit from the theatrical storytelling, and let the narrative unfold like a grand stage efficiency!
4. Experiment with Stage Manipulation – Suppose Like a Theatre Director
One of the vital distinctive mechanics in As soon as Upon a Puppet is the flexibility to rebuild and rearrange theatrical levels. Not like conventional platformers, the place the world stays static, this sport means that you can transfer props, shift backdrops, and reposition platforms to vary the scene itself.
Some puzzles require you to assume like a stage director, establishing the scene in a method that enables Nieve and Drev to progress. Transferring parts strategically can uncover secret paths, activate mechanisms, or create alternatives to outmanoeuvre enemies.
When you “set the stage”, a Theatrical Cutscene, linked to the stage you simply set, will emerge.
5. Spotlights aren’t only for drama
In As soon as Upon a Puppet, the foundations of theatre information each ray of sunshine. The visible language of the sport was constructed with the identical care and self-discipline present in actual stage productions. There are not any unintended shadows or randomly positioned beams—each gentle angle, silhouette, and distinction exists to serve the story, emotion, and staging.
This isn’t simply lighting for aesthetics—it’s lighting with intention, rooted within the traditions of dwell theatre. A love letter to stagecraft, instructed by way of pixels and puppets. And fairly presumably, a information to secrets and techniques to find.
We hope that with the following tips in thoughts, you’ll be well-prepared to take middle stage and face the challenges that await. We will’t wait so that you can expertise the magic firsthand. As soon as Upon a Puppet is out now on Xbox sequence X|S. Good luck!
As soon as Upon A Puppet
Daedalic Leisure
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$29.99
$23.99
The Grand Opening:
Welcome to As soon as Upon a Puppet, a 2.5D puzzle-platformer that unfolds inside a vibrant world of theater. Participate in a magical story that mixes traditional platforming with puppet-inspired gameplay, in a charming story of friendship, self-discovery, and redemption.
Put on the glove of Nieve, a Stagehand exiled to the Understage, and wield management over Drev’s strings, a Puppet magically certain to her. As they journey to return to the Frontstage above, they are going to retell forgotten tales, uncover shadowy secrets and techniques, and study their destiny is interwoven with the dominion of theater itself.
Highlights:
Grow to be Puppet and Puppeteer: Pull the strings and grasp the artwork of puppetry on this distinctive method to motion, motion, and inventive puzzle-solving.
A Troupe of Characters: Meet an ensemble solid of dozens of Main and supporting characters, that includes a whole lot of strains of handcrafted dialogue.
Lethal Shadows: Face a horde of villainous creatures who will do all they will to snuff out the lights and convey the present to an premature finish.
A Meticulously Crafted World: Marvel on the stylized and detailed graphics that reinforce the magic of theater, with levels that fluctuate between previous and current.
Set The Scene: Prepare and transfer props, backdrops and characters to rebuild theatrical levels, and re-enact scenes to unveil what befell the as soon as proud World Stage.
Enchanting Soundscapes: Be captivated by a wealthy, theatrical soundtrack and immersive sound results that carry the world of As soon as Upon a Puppet to life…
The Main Actors:
Unwittingly certain collectively by spool and thread, Drev and Nieve reluctantly embark on a quest to reclaim their place within the theater, towards a heartbroken King.
Nieve, a proficient Weaver beset by self doubt, builds a robust bond with Drev, a naive but bold Actor. With Drev’s unbridled theatrics and Nieve’s brilliance, they are going to conquer their deepest held fears to disclose the reality of the void harbored of their hearts.
