Puppet Combo
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Puppet Combo is a video game developer and publisher. Operated by Ben Cocuzza[1], Puppet Combo is best known for creating horror games with an early 3D visual aesthetic. In 2020, Puppet Combo founded Torture Star Video, a publishing house for independent horror games.[2]
Career[edit]
The earliest games developed by Cocuzza were released under the name "Pig Farmer Games."[3] Puppet Combo games are inspired by horror films of the 1980s and PlayStation 1-era horror titles, with low-polygon graphics and mechanics like tank controls and inventory management. Puppet Combo has released games in multiple genres, including first-person shooters and walking simulators. Cocuzza received coverage in March 2020 for reimagining the game Doom as a survival horror title[4], a video of which went viral on Twitter.
Until 2020, Puppet Combo titles were primarily released on Patreon and Itch.io. 2013 saw the release of Cocuzza's breakout title, Babysitter Bloodbath. Babysitter Bloodbath began as a fan-game for John Carpenter's Halloween but eventually became its own original story. In 2016, the studio released Power Drill Massacre, a Texas Chain Saw Massacre-inspired survival horror title. The story follows a woman seeking help in an abandoned factory following a car crash, where she is stalked by a drill-wielding murderer.[5]
In 2019, The Glass Staircase was released, with Kotaku writer Heather Alexandra describing it as "a moody game that silently waits until you’ve finally relaxed before killing you."[6] The Glass Staircase follows several young girls attempting to survive against monsters and escape the mansion where they are trapped.[7]
In 2020, the Puppet Combo title Murder House was released on Steam.[8] DreadXP reviewer Brandon Trush compared the game to survival horror games Clock Tower and Silent Hill.
Torture Star Video[edit]
Puppet Combo's publishing imprint, Torture Star Video, was founded in 2020. Torture Star Video publishes horror games by developers other than Cocuzza.
The first game published under this imprint was 2020's The Enigma of Salazar House.[9] The game follows a reporter investigating the disappearance of writer Jaime Salazar at his mysterious home. Unlike Puppet Combo titles, The Enigma of Salazar House is presented in a point and click adventure game style. Writing for Rue Morgue, Evan Millar noted the game's "exquisite design" and "heartfelt narrative."[10]
On March 4, 2021, Torture Star Video released Search Party: Director's Cut, a 2D action horror game by solo developer lum.[11]
Games[edit]
| Year | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Halloween 3D | Canned |
| 2012 | Minotaur | Canned |
| 2012 | Sanitarium Massacre | Canned |
| 2012 | A Monster With Eyes Of Ice | Canned |
| 2013 | Babysitter Bloodbath | Released |
| 2014 | Splatter Camp | ??? |
| 2015 | Power Drill Massacre | Released |
| 2016 | Texas Butcher | Unreleased |
| 2016 | Meat Cleaver Mutilator | Unreleased |
| 2016 | Burnt Alive | Unreleased |
| 2017 | The Night Ripper | Released |
| 2017 | Pitchfork Massacre | On Pause |
| 2018 | Nun Massacre | Released |
| 2018 | Planet Of The Bloodthirsty Santa | Released |
| 2018 | Spiders | Released |
| 2018 | Night Shift | Released |
| 2018 | Feed Me Billy | Released |
| 2019 | Blood Maniac | Unreleased |
| 2019 | The Glass Staircase | Released |
| 2019 | The Riverside Incident | Released |
| 2019 | Samhain | Released |
| 2019 | Day 7 | Released |
| 2020 | Murder House | Released |
| 2021 | Christmas Massacre | Released |
| 20?? | Stay Out Of The House | In Development |
References[edit]
- ↑ Siebert, Michael. "The Pixelated Ghosts of Horror Games Past Are Haunting Us This Year". Vice. Vice. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ↑ Millar, Evan. "PUPPET COMBO LAUNCHES PUBLISHING LABEL "TORTURE STAR VIDEO," FIRST PROJECT RELEASES FRIDAY". Rue Morgue. Marrs Media, Inc. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ↑ Clements, Joe. "PUPPET COMBO: LOW POLY NASTY". Beyond the Veil. Beyond the Veil. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ↑ Davenport, James. "Here's what Doom would look like as a '90s survival horror game". PC Gamer. PC Gamer. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ↑ Valentin, Christian. "POWER DRILL MASSACRE BRINGS GRINDHOUSE HORROR TO VIDEOGAMES". Kill Screen. Kill Screen. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ↑ Alexandra, Heather. "The Glass Staircase Gets Why Retro Horror Games Worked". Kotaku. Kinja. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ↑ Bolt, Neil. "[Review] 'The Glass Staircase' is a Loving Homage to Retro Survival Horror and Fulci's Zombie Films". Bloody Disgusting. Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ↑ Prescott, Shaun. "Five new Steam games you probably missed (October 26, 2020)". PC Gamer. PC Gamer. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ↑ Millar, Evan. "PUPPET COMBO LAUNCHES PUBLISHING LABEL "TORTURE STAR VIDEO," FIRST PROJECT RELEASES FRIDAY". Rue Morgue. Marrs Media, Inc. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ↑ Millar, Evan. "GAME REVIEW: "THE ENIGMA OF SALAZAR HOUSE" IS THE BEST HORROR POINT-AND-CLICK ADVENTURE YOU'LL PLAY THIS YEAR". Rue Morgue. Marrs Media, Inc. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ↑ Guglielmo, Samuel. "SEARCH PARTY: DIRECTOR'S CUT COMING TO STEAM SOON". DreadXP. Dread Central. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
Category:Video game developers Category:American video game designers Category:Living people
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