Once Upon a Puppet

Once Upon a Puppet is an indie 2.5D puzzle-platformer with a lot of charm, but not a whole lot of substance.

I very much enjoyed the majority of my time with Once Upon a Puppet, and while it was not entirely without issues, it's a nice fusion of search adventuring and the linearity of Little Nightmares. This one is well worth a look for platforming fans.

While it has a unique look, and works well in general as a puzzle platformer, some issues with depth perception and quirky mechanics let it down

Once Upon A Puppet reminds me of Puppeteer because of its overall aesthetic – not just the fact both are about puppets, but the whole gorgeous look of the game, and the way that it’s able to go from light and whimsical to dark and mysterious without breaking stride.

Too often, I found myself quitting out of frustration, forced to replay sections from the last checkpoint because of bugs. These weren't minor annoyances'they significantly impacted the experience. With proper polish, this could have been rated much higher. If the developers eventually patch the game, it's absolutely worth your time. Until then, I suggest adding it to your wishlist and waiting.

Once Upon a Puppet is a recommended experience for those seeking a narrative platformer with a strong artistic and emotional component accompanied by a sublime, theatrical soundtrack. However, gamers who are more demanding in terms of gameplay mechanics may find some of its technical flaws frustrating, including the rather slow pace, the uncooperative fixed camera, and the imprecise controls.

Accepting your past and moving forward after great loss are universal messages. Those messages are the heart of the adventure Once Upon a Puppet expresses. Drev and Nieve's journey, despite having some loose threads here and there, tells a powerful story utilizing solid platforming, strong presentation, and charming characters you grow to care for.

Once Upon a Puppet is one of those little surprises that remind us why it is worth paying attention to the independent scene. Its artwork is beautiful, with a very careful visual style and a setting that conveys a lot with very little. The story, although simple, manages to touch the heartstrings thanks to its melancholic tone and endearing characters.

If you like darker fairy tales and stop-motion style visuals, Once Upon a Puppet will definitely delight you. All in all, it's not a bad title, but it could have made more out of its offered potential.

A 'puzzle platformer' with a strong personality, an excellent cast and an intriguing story. In terms of gameplay, there is no shortage of ideas, but the game's potential is almost totally destroyed by a large number of bugs and glitches that 'dirty' the gaming experience, making it MUCH more complicated than it should have been.