
The Master's Pupil
Release Date: July 28, 2023
Puzzle, platformers, 2D, adventure elements, arcade elements, indie games, side-scroll, experimental/artistic, singleplayer
An artistic puzzle game inspired by the life and works of Claude Monet. The Master's Pupil has us solving puzzles by mixing different colors, moving objects and making use of the laws of physics.
The Master’s Pupil is an adventure puzzle game inspired by the life and works of the impressionist painter Claude Monet. It was created by Pat Naoum, an independent Australian developer, who drew inspiration from such games as Braid and Limbo.
Plot
The game introduces us to Monet's works in an unusual way, letting us observe how his style changed over time due to the death of his beloved wife Camille and progressing cataracts. The game is not really a biography, as it doesn't feature dialogue or any sort of notes by Monet.
Mechanics
The Master's Pupil has us playing as a small character helping the master paint. The game revolves around exploring atmospheric stages, Monet's authentic paintings (such as "Le Bassin Aux Nymphéas") and solving puzzles.
These task us with manipulating air streams to lift the protagonist or objects, and mixing colors to create a hue unlocking the way forward. Some require understanding basic laws of physics, other avoiding traps and enemies.
Players aren't punished for failure and can't die, while the game itself doesn't require great mechanical skill. Instead it prompts players to think, gradually increasing the puzzles' complexity.
Technical aspects
The Master’s Pupil is an artistic game, most of its visuals being hand-painted. It's been worked on for seven years, resulting in twelve different locations inspired by Monet's artstyle. The game's moving soundtrack was composed by an independent composer Steven W. Schouten.
Videos and Screens
[0:52] The Master's Pupil trailer #1
The Master's Pupil Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows July 28, 2023
PlayStation 5 March 28, 2024
Xbox Series X/S March 28, 2024
Switch July 28, 2023
PlayStation 4 March 28, 2024
Xbox One March 28, 2024
Developer: Pat Naoum Games
Publisher: Noble Steed Games
Age restrictions: none
The Master's Pupil System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i3-530 2.93 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 896 MB GeForce GTX 260 / 1 GB Radeon HD 4870 or better, 10 GB HDD, Windows 7/8/10 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i7, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 660 / Radeon HD 7850 or better, 10 GB HDD, Windows 7/8/10 64-bit