1987 年在紅白機（FC）上推出的木偶奇遇記（Woodpecker Poko / うっでいぽこ），是 DB-SOFT 製作的一款極具實驗性質的動作角色扮演遊戲（ARPG）。雖然標題看似充滿童話氛圍，但實際內容卻是一款系統極為複雜、自由度驚人，甚至帶有某種「殘酷設計」風格的作品，在當時的 FC 遊戲中顯得相當異類。

故事主角是一個名叫 Poko 的老木偶，他長年生活在木偶世界之中，某天決定離開熟悉的環境，前往人類世界尋找讓自己變成真正人類的方法。這段旅程看似童話冒險，但實際上充滿怪物、謎題與各種難以預測的遭遇，整體氣氛介於奇幻與荒誕之間。

最令人印象深刻的，是它極為超前的「生活模擬」與社會性系統。在城鎮中行動時，不只是單純戰鬥或解任務，而是可以自由選擇行為方式，例如在商店正常購物，或是選擇偷竊物品。偷竊雖然能帶來短期利益，但會逐漸影響角色的「善惡狀態」，導致 Poko 的外觀逐步變黑，甚至最終變成類似惡魔的樣貌。同時，NPC 對他的態度也會改變，嚴重時甚至拒絕交流，使玩家在世界中逐漸被孤立。

除此之外，還加入體型與生理狀態系統。Poko 會因為進食而變胖，而體重增加會直接影響移動速度與跳躍能力，使行動變得遲緩。必須想辦法控制飲食與體態，甚至需要透過特定方式「減重」來恢復行動能力，這種設計在 1987 年的遊戲中極為罕見。

遊戲世界同時具備晝夜與季節變化系統。白天與夜晚會影響商店營業與怪物強度，而不同季節則會改變場景與難度，使整個世界呈現出持續變動的狀態，進一步增加不確定性與探索壓力。

在玩法上，採用非線性開放探索結構，在森林、城鎮與地下區域之間自由移動，沒有明確的指引。道具系統也相當重要，必須在正確場合使用正確工具，例如梯子、雨傘或武器來推進進度。操作則透過指令選單進行，包括交談、進入建築、使用道具甚至偷竊等行為。

整體評價方面，長期處於「極端兩極」的狀態。一方面，它的外表看似可愛童話，但實際內容卻極度硬核且複雜；另一方面，它在系統設計上的自由度與概念深度，被許多後來評論認為具有超前時代的意義，甚至能看到現代開放世界與生活模擬遊戲的雛形。然而，由於缺乏明確提示與較高的操作門檻，對當時玩家而言也非常難以理解與通關。

總結來說，木偶奇遇記是一款披著童話外衣的「殘酷社會模擬冒險」。它不僅挑戰玩家的操作能力，更在無形中考驗玩家的選擇、道德與耐心，是 FC 時代極少數真正走在概念前沿的奇特作品之一。

Released in 1987 for the Family Computer (FC), Woodpecker Poko (Uddii Poko) is a highly unusual action RPG developed by DB-SOFT. Despite its fairy-tale-like title and presentation, the game is widely remembered for its surprisingly deep systems, experimental design, and sometimes deliberately unforgiving mechanics that were far ahead of many contemporaries.

The story follows Poko, an aging wooden puppet who has spent his entire life in the puppet world. One day, he decides to leave everything behind and journey into the human world in search of a way to become a real human being. This simple premise quickly expands into a surreal adventure filled with monsters, exploration, and strange social interactions that reflect the game’s unique tone.

What truly defines the game is its layered “life simulation” structure, which was extremely rare on the FC in the late 1980s. Players can interact with towns and shops in a completely free manner, including the option to purchase items honestly or steal them. While theft may provide short-term benefits, it gradually corrupts Poko’s appearance and morality. His face will darken over time, eventually transforming into a demonic form, and NPCs will begin to refuse interaction, effectively isolating the player from the world.

Another striking system is Poko’s physical condition management. Eating food causes weight gain, which directly affects movement speed and jumping ability. Players must actively manage his body condition, sometimes needing to find ways to lose weight in order to restore mobility. This kind of biological simulation was extremely uncommon for its time.

The game also includes a dynamic world system featuring day-night cycles and seasonal changes. Shops close at night, enemies become more dangerous, and different seasons alter both environmental conditions and difficulty. These mechanics contribute to a world that feels alive but also unpredictable.

Gameplay relies heavily on exploration and item usage. Players collect various tools such as umbrellas, ladders, and weapons, often needing to determine the correct item for specific situations. Progression is non-linear, and without guidance, players can easily become lost across forests, towns, and underground areas. Interaction is handled through a command-based system, including actions such as talking, entering buildings, and stealing.

Reception of the game has always been mixed but fascinated. While its colorful, childlike presentation suggests a simple adventure, its actual gameplay is complex, demanding, and often confusing. Many players and critics have noted that its systems were ahead of their time, foreshadowing elements seen in later open-world and life simulation games. However, its lack of clear direction and unforgiving mechanics made it difficult for many players to complete without external guidance.

Overall, Woodpecker Poko (Uddii Poko) is remembered as a strange but ambitious experiment: a fairy tale on the surface, but a harsh and intricate social survival simulation underneath, where every action carries meaningful consequences for the player’s journey and identity.