The Puppeteer

A cute little game that took me about 5 hours to beat. The game play is largely top down and you are trying to get to the end of the level. There are 5 levels in total and then a final showdown with the main antagonist. The levels are not super easy to beat and actually was a bit of a challenge towards the end. Throughout the levels you can pick up ingredients to make potions which gives you buffs ranging from having an increased damage output, more speed, an area of effect damage, or healing lost health. You make a potion by combining multiple ingredients, drinking it gives you the combined effects of the ingredients you put in. I enjoyed how this changes the game and there are decisions to make because sometimes picking up one ingredient means you miss out on another. Overall I really enjoyed the game, from its charming characters and visuals, to its challenging game play which felt great to finally overcome.

A short, difficult game with addictive combat. 10/10 would recommend

Summary: This game is a little gem that I hope many other players can enjoy! Positives - The game is really fun - The game is really challenging, but dieing doesn't seem like much of a cost as you spawn back in very quickly - The enemies are varied, and creative. Each with their own little quirk - The level design is nice, there are many different routes you can take, many things to explore within each level - The potion crafting system is really satisfying, and provides lots of replayability - The game is really fun to speedrun - The story is engaging and has multiple endings Negatives - None really, I just wish there were infinite levels I could play as it is so fun

I had the amazing opportunity to both play the demo for gaming expos and playtest the game. Big thank you to Danny for that! Let’s start with the positives. The pixel art is very well crafted and implemented. The level aesthetics are beautiful; taking the player through verdant forests to glacial lakes to volcanoes and more. The animation of certain details such as waves in the water elevate the game from other pixel art games that just have static backgrounds. It is clear to me that a lot of time was spent on making sure all of the sprites fit with the aesthetic. Nothing feels out of place visually. The soundtrack fits the mood of each level very well. Whilst I do agree with others that have reviewed the game and wanted more variation, I think that the instrumentation for each level creates a fitting atmosphere. I would say this is especially the case for level two and five. An additional shout out must be made to the final boss theme composed by a friend of the developer. It is...

Amazing adventure with an inspired soundtrack! If you, like me, want a game that takes you into a whole new world while retaining the harsh, unforgiving realities of the world you live in, The Puppeteer was made for you! It may seem like a simple pixel art game, but there is a surprising amount of depth in the game play and fight mechanics. A fun game which I enjoyed exploring with an unexpectedly good sound track to back it up. 10/10

A fast paced, challenging game with an interesting game play mechanic that keeps the player engaged and an abundance of secrets for those willing to find them. Would definitely recommend.