Puppeteer

As we approach the end of the PlayStation 3 age, it's a bittersweet experience to play Puppeteer. This rollicking and endlessly inventive platform game will be remembered as part of PS3's extended swansong, though it deserves to be embraced as a special game regardless of context.

In a prologue that’s both cute and macabre, your character, Kutaro, tries to escape a malevolent, power-hungry bear. Kutaro has been turned into a puppet, which is a win-lose situation. On the downside, he’s not a real boy, but in the credit column it means he’s less vulnerable.

Despite literally losing his head in his escape, he can survive long enough to find substitute ones; a skull, for example, or a hamburger. Each head can be used to unlock bonus levels and extra lives.

Kutaro is also helped on his odyssey by a rasping, floating cat that speaks like Peter Lorre. On single player mode you can alternate between controlling the cat, who explores for bonuses, and controlling Kutaro.

It’s a mostly 2D platform game, so Kutaro must jump, roll and slice his way to safety, meeting other captured kids, rescuing a damsel in distress and fighting monsters. Some of your assailants are children’s souls trapped in a monstrous shell – snap at them with a scissors and they’re liberated; it’s a strange and inspiring detail that means you’re often freeing enemies instead of killing them.

The gameplay is bouncy, engaging and innovative, but it’s surpassed by its appearance: The animation, set and creature design are gorgeous and organic looking, with many characters appearing to be made from materials like felt or wood.

Each new scene tumbles together before your eyes, falling into place like stage props; an enchanting detail that never gets old. And a virtual audience can be heard applauding your every little triumph. playstation.com/puppeteer