One day, the Moon Queen's teddy bear treacherously stole her crown and seized power on the moon. Now an evil ruler is kidnapping children's souls from Earth, turning them into dolls for his army. The main character of the game, a boy named Kutaro, turns out to be one of these puppets. His mission is to regain his soul and overthrow the bear, giving the crown to its rightful owner...
This is the story behind Puppeteer, which we will discuss in this article! And if your child also wants to develop games, we're looking forward to seeing them in classes at Progkids!
Who created Puppeteer and when
Puppeteer is a platformer video game developed by Japan Studio. It was released in 2013 by Sony Computer Entertainment exclusively for the PlayStation 3 console. The game stands out for its unique art style and original mechanics inspired by puppet theater.
How the game was created
The development of “The Puppeteer” began with the idea of creating a game that would resemble a theatrical production. The development team sought to convey the atmosphere of a puppet theater, where scenes change in front of the audience, and characters are controlled by invisible threads.
Artistic style
The developers were inspired to create the visual style by traditional puppet theaters and fabulous illustrations. Japan Studio artists have created a bright and detailed world that is constantly changing as you progress through the game.
Storyline
The action takes place in a magical world. The main character, a boy named Kutaro, finds himself in the body of one of the bear's puppets and sets off on a journey to regain his soul and defeat the villain. Kutaro finds a magic pair of scissors called Calibras that allow him to cut threads and manipulate his environment himself. Along the way, the boy also meets Picarina, a little fairy who helps him.
Gameplay
Players control Kutaro using his scissors to solve puzzles. Each level is designed like a theater stage with decorations that change in real time. In the game, you need to explore the environment and collect various hats that give Kutaro new abilities.
Success and recognition
The Puppeteer received positive reviews from critics for its unique artistic style, innovative mechanics, and engaging storyline. The game was also noted for its creative approach to level design and attention to detail.
Developer Tips: What Puppeteer Can Teach You
Unusual artwork
Develop a visual style that will make your game stand out from others. Puppeteer uses puppet theater aesthetics to make it recognizable and easy to remember.
Interactive environment
The world of the Puppeteer game is designed in such a way that it instantly reacts to the player's actions. The scenes change in real time, creating the feeling of a live theatrical performance. You can take note of this trick!
Innovative mechanics
Experiment with game mechanics that will add depth to the gameplay. Thus, in “Puppeteer”, the main tool is the Calibras scissors. In addition, in the game, the gamer collects different heads, each of which provides unique abilities. These are interesting and unique ideas that set Puppeteer apart from other games. Think about what features you can add to your project!
“Secrets”
The game is full of hidden paths and secrets. Players should not rush to complete levels — they need to explore every corner to find all the collectibles and bonuses. This makes the game even more interesting.
Assistant characters
Pikarina is the boy's faithful assistant in The Puppet Master. It can interact with objects on stage and help solve puzzles. Adding an assistant who will be next to the main character is a good move!
Story and atmosphere
The atmosphere of the Puppeteer game is a little creepy and very memorable. You can also compose a captivating story with interesting characters and an exciting world. A well-thought-out story will give the game a huge advantage.
Hints in difficult moments
In Puppeteer, visual assistance often appears in the background. When creating challenging levels and puzzles, don't forget to add hints to the game.
Feedback from players
Listen to your friends and other players and take their feedback into account to improve your game.
Musical accompaniment
Choose a soundtrack and sound effects that will support the right atmosphere and complement the game's graphics.
Testing
Conduct extensive testing at all stages of development to identify bugs and issues before the game is released.
Post-release support
It's important to ensure that the game is supported once it's released: release updates, fix bugs, and add new content to keep players engaged.
Creative approach
Open up to experimentation and don't be afraid to introduce unusual ideas! The more original the game is, the better.
The “Puppeteer” story is full of adventure and magic! By the way, your child can also learn to create their own games! Write it down to free trial lesson in Progkids, and the result will not be long in coming.
