Is this a case worth going cheese and crackers for?

Step into a world of cartoon animation and retro action-packed adventure in Mouse. Inspired by the best of 30s rubber hose animation and the classic noir style, this retro shooter is a story-driven experience that will take you on a thrilling journey through a dangerous and corrupt city. Armed with a variety of mid-century firearms and explosives like the Revolver, Tommy Gun, Hammer, Carcano, Dynamite, you’ll be able to take on enemies in any way you choose. Whether you prefer to run and gun, jump and dodge, or carefully plan your attacks, Mouse gives you the freedom to approach combat your way. And with the Fantastic-o-Matic power-up system, you’ll be able to upgrade your weapons and abilities to become even more deadly. Look for the vending machines scattered throughout the city and choose the power-ups that best suit your playstyle. But be warned: the city is full of danger and betrayal. To survive, you’ll need to stay sharp and keep your wits about you. With every step you take, you’ll uncover more of the story and find yourself caught up in a web of deceit and murder. So gear up, get ready to fight, and take on the challenges of Mouse – a retro shooter that will take you on an unforgettable adventure.

Mouse: P.I. for Hire has to be one of the most interesting concepts for a game that I’ve come across in a long time. Make an old-fashioned FPS with secret areas, plenty of weapons, side-quests and collectibles, but then make it look like a cartoon from the 1930s. The comparison to Cuphead’s style is inevitable, but Mouse is far more accessible and in black and white as opposed to the colourful world of Cuphead.

As far as a shooter goes, Mouse does well in providing a classic old-fashioned setup with waves of similar enemies rushing you before you push on to the next area. There isn’t a lot of variety in their designs, but I think that’s part of the charm. There are some boss fights along the way that are interesting as well, while the game’s hub allows you to spend money on cards and ammo while upgrades to your weapons can be bought using schematics you either find in locked safes or scattered around, as well as sometimes being a prize for a side quest.

Lockpicking safes is a fun mini-game, but some specific ones will only give you limited moves and one try only…so make sure to save often. You can have up to 50 manual saves, so you can plan ahead if you are planning on nabbing every collectible and upgrade, especially if you’re aiming for the Platinum trophy. Weapons are nice and varied from typical types like pistols, shotguns and tommy guns, but also some that will melt the flesh of your enemies.

Add in things like pianos and anvils that you can drop on enemies, as well as explosive barrels everywhere, then there’s plenty of ways to eliminate your foes. It’s great old-fashioned fun and I really hope a sequel is greenlit. The game also has an impressive voice-cast with the likes of Troy Baker as the main character Jack Pepper, while other famous voice-overs like Fred Tatasciore and even Ben Whitehead (the current Wallace from Wallace and Gromit) make appearances, though I actually have no idea who Ben Whitehead voices as the IMDB page doesn’t list it and I didn’t notice who through my playthrough. The soundtrack has jazzy, classic noir vibes to it and the sound effects are typical of 30s cartoons.

The art style is superb and looks like a real cartoon throughout. It’s very well done, while the framerate is solid throughout and while certain trophies and elements were glitchy at launch, they seem to be a lot more stable now.

The Verdict

Mouse: P.I. for Hire is a nice throwback to classic shooters, while treating us to a 1930s cartoon art style. It’s hard to criticize it for anything other than maybe playing it safe with the limited enemy types, but that is part of its charm to me. I really hope this is the start of a series, I’d love to see Jack Pepper back in action.

Score: 8.5

Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://www.keymailer.co