Should this platformer take a bow?

Welcome to Once Upon a Puppet, a 2.5D puzzle-platformer that unfolds within a vibrant world of theater. Take part in a magical tale that combines classic platforming with puppet-inspired gameplay, in a captivating story of friendship, self-discovery, and redemption. Wear the glove of Nieve, a Stagehand exiled to the Understage, and wield control over Drev’s strings, a Puppet magically bound to her. As they journey to return to the Frontstage above, they will retell forgotten stories, uncover shadowy secrets, and learn their fate is interwoven with the kingdom of theater itself.

Once Upon a Puppet is a charming platformer and the premise of it being set in a theatre setting is clever. But does it deserve a standing ovation, or should the curtain fall for this performance?

The game does have some clever puzzles and ideas. The problem is that it has a handful of glitchy and performance issues that hinder the overall experience. I was able to overlook them and power on through and I thought it was worth doing, but I know some might not be as willing to overlook such problems. I do hope they continue with patches to improve things though.

The visuals are charming, and the soundtrack is impressive. The framerate dips sporadically throughout at the time of writing, which again I hope is improved with updates over time.

The Verdict

Once Upon a Puppet is a platformer with plenty of charm and decent puzzles but is let down by performance and glitch woes that let the overall experience down. Still if you can overlook it (or if it gets improved with updates) you’ll find it to be a pleasant experience worth purchasing a ticket for.

Score: 7.0