Topotes Studio has released a demo on Steam for Ambroise Niflette & the Gleaned Bell, an adventure and mystery game. Players take on the role of young detective Ambroise Niflette in the village of Touvoir-en-Thym-et-Pomme, where the theft of the Gleaned Bell has stopped time and canceled the annual celebration. The visual approach mimics stop-motion animation, offering a slow-paced and detailed experience.
Stop-motion technique and puzzles in a static world 🎬
The game uses an aesthetic that recreates stop-motion through textured 3D models and frame-by-frame animations. Each scene is designed as a diorama, with objects that the player can examine and interact with to solve puzzles. The demo allows exploration of the first areas of the village, where frozen time is reflected in motionless characters and stopped clocks. The graphics engine prioritizes artificial lighting to simulate the effect of an analog film.
A detective solving crimes while time stands still 🕵️
The funny thing is that, with time frozen, Ambroise could take a vacation instead of investigating. No one ages, bread doesn't go stale, and the annual party can wait forever. But no, the boy insists on finding the bell. Maybe he's afraid that if time doesn't move forward, his detective mustache will never grow long enough. At least the demo has no time limit, so you can think without rushing.