Many of us had a pet growing up. I have many fond memories of my childhood cat, and I still think of him sometimes. That also includes the day we had to say goodbye, a sad time for any pet owner, no matter the age. While difficult, it’s still an important part of life, but one that is hard to accept for some. What would you do if you could see your lost pet one last time? How far would you go to see your pet again? These are questions many ask, and they’re also the driving force behind Puppergeist.
Puppergeist is a visual novel rhythm game from Serenity Forge. You follow Claire, someone who misses her dog. She’ll do anything to get him back, and that’s how we end up in this tale of loss, friendship, and dogs. Combine all that with rhythm game mechanics, and you have Puppergeist. A short but sweet tale that pleasantly surprised me in more ways than one, and one where the smile never left my face.
See Your Dog One Last Time in Puppergeist
Puppergeist takes place in the Doggie Underworld. You play as Claire, a young witch who is searching for the soul of her lost pup. Along the way, she meets Lunne, a demon who takes a liking to her and decides to help. Now the two of you must traverse the Doggie Underworld, all while helping the lost souls of other dogs along the way. This is a very cute story, but also pretty short. It reads like a children’s book, but it works because the world is so adorable overall.
Claire and Lunne are also fine characters, but with such a short runtime, you don’t get a lot out of them. They are fun characters, though, and I enjoy their dynamic. One thing that pleasantly surprised me was the dogs’ backstories. The deeper you go into the Doggie Underworld, the more dogs you find that need help. A couple of these dogs share how they passed, and it’s all very well done. It’s enough to get a reaction out of anyone who’s had a pet, and I wish the game had a few more scenes like them. I smiled the entire time, even though it was short, and with how adorable the whole thing is, I didn’t mind some of the shortcomings.
Rhythm Doggie Underworld
Puppergeist is a visual novel rhythm game. When you aren’t talking to the dogs, you are playing rhythm minigames with them. Each game involves listening to the music and pressing one button at the appropriate time. The gameplay has a bit more to it, as each game has unique rules and interesting timing mechanics. You must beat the minigames to continue the story, but each one lets you practice beforehand, and you have unlimited attempts to beat them. There are a total of 11 minigames, and you can go back and play them at any time as well.
These rhythm games are a lot of fun. While the controls are simple, each one has interesting mechanics and timing that offer a nice challenge. I was impressed at how unique each one felt, and how challenging some got. They honestly reminded me of Rhythm Heaven, and I only wanted more of them. Out of the 11 minigames, only one didn’t impress me, but that didn’t hurt the rest of the game. When the credits rolled, I wanted to go back and play some of the minigames right away. I was honestly impressed with these minigames, and I can only hope this team keeps making rhythm games.
Adorable in More Ways Than One
Puppergeist is adorable in every way. Earlier I said it reads like a children’s book; well, the art also makes it feel like one come to life. The art style is very cute and sure to put a smile on anyone’s face. All the characters and dogs also look great, with animations and facial expressions full of life. The art matches the story and gameplay perfectly, making the already fun minigames stand out even more. If I have one complaint, it’s the little variety in designs outside the two main characters, but it doesn’t hurt the game at all.
I also have to compliment the music. Since this is a rhythm game, the music has to fit not only the world, but the gameplay itself. I’m happy to say the music excels at this and is a big part of why the game works. Much like the art, each track matches its minigame perfectly. It makes you want to replay not only the minigames, but even specific scenes. The music is also very catchy and upbeat, making it pretty easy to come back to. The art and music work really well together, making it easy to overlook any issues in other parts of the game.
They’re Good Dogs
Puppergeist is an adorable but short game. The story and characters are cute, even if there isn’t much to them. I really enjoyed the rhythm minigames and went back to replay a few. The art and music match the game perfectly and are a delight for the eyes and ears. You can beat it in a bout an hour, but you’ll probably want to go back to a few of the minigames. Even if it was short, I had a smile on my face for my entire playthrough. I can recommend Puppergeist to any fan of cute art or rhythm games. Even if you don’t come back to it after your initial playthrough, it will at least be a nice afternoon.
Disclaimer: Serenity Forge provided a PC (Steam) copy of Puppergeist for review purposes.
