This week, developer Flatter Than Earth put together a Behind the Scenes gameplay trailer for their coming 2.5D dark fantasy platforming title ‘Once Upon A Puppet’. In this video, Game Director Martin Malek guides players through a fantastic land of puppetry—viewers will join Nieve, the stagehand, and Drev, the aspiring puppet star, as they uncover the secrets of a forgotten kingdom.
Martin shares how handcrafted set pieces, dynamic character interactions, and the rebuilding stage mechanics bring this world to life.
Have a gander below for the full video and more details on Once Upon A Puppet. The game will launch on PC via Steam and Xbox Series consoles later this year, with a demo currently available on the former for your perusal.
The Grand Opening!
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.
- Become Puppet and Puppeteer: Pull the strings and master the art of puppetry in this unique approach to action, movement, and creative puzzle-solving.
- A Troupe of Characters: Meet an ensemble cast of dozens of Major and supporting characters, featuring hundreds of lines of handcrafted dialogue.
- Deadly Shadows: Face a horde of villainous creatures who will do all they can to snuff out the lights and bring the show to an untimely end.
- A Meticulously Crafted World: Marvel at the stylized and detailed graphics that reinforce the magic of theater, with stages that fluctuate between past and present.
- Set The Scene: Arrange and move props, backdrops and characters to rebuild theatrical stages, and re-enact scenes to unveil what befell the once proud World Stage.
- Enchanting Soundscapes: Be captivated by a rich, theatrical soundtrack and immersive sound effects that bring the world of Once Upon a Puppet to life…
The Leading Actors
Unwittingly bound together by spool and thread, Drev and Nieve reluctantly embark on a quest to reclaim their place in the theater, against a heartbroken King.
Nieve, a talented Weaver beset by self doubt, builds a strong bond with Drev, a naive yet ambitious Actor. With Drev’s unbridled theatrics and Nieve’s brilliance, they will conquer their deepest held fears to reveal the truth of the void harbored in their hearts.
