Latest ‘Mouse P.I. For Hire’ Trailer Highlights Cartoonish Weapons

What happens when you mix classic “rubber hose” style cartoons of the 1920s and 1930s with the likes of Duke Nukem or Doom? Why you get Mouse P.I. For Hire of course, ya mook…just pulling your leg, you got moxie, kid! From Fumi Games and published by PlaySide Studios, Mouse P.I. For Hire is sure to knock you for a loop, this game, I tells ya-it’s a real sock in the snooker! A swell little shoot-’em-up where our hero’s got more moxie than a soda fountain on payday, and he’s sure to give the crooks a proper Chicago overcoat.

Okay, okay, I’ll drop the old-timey schtick and fast-forward my lingo by a hundred years. In anticipation of it’s release, this latest trailer dives head first into the absurd with a showcase of “experimental weapons” you can expect to use. Weapons that are seemingly ripped right out of a twisted Saturday morning matinee at the picture show.

A Gumshoe, a Flatfoot, and a Wiseguy Walk Into a Speakeasy

Mouse PI For Hire is a first-person shooter with a unique visual twist, styled entirely in black-and-white and monochromatic rubber hose animation from the ’20s and ’30s. Players take on the role of Jack Pepper, a trench-coat wearing mouse detective navigating the surreal crime-ridden underbelly of Mouseburg. You’ll blast away all the gangsters and monsters with an arsenal of bizarre, yet appropriately cartoonish weaponry. The game blends vintage aesthetics with fast-paced gunplay, offering a mix of noir atmosphere and wacky, over-the-top action.

Live out your sci-fi dreams with these “experimental” weapons, each providing a unique but devastating way of taking down the crooks of Mouseburg.

• The CLEAN-D Automatic Turpentine Cleanser: A must have for every household, the Turpentine Gun is capable of literally erasing the harshest of “stains”, with it’s patented mix of toxins and corrosive design. Clean up the streets with this nifty appliance. (This is basically “The Dip” from Who Framed Roger Rabbit? in gun form!)
• The COOL-D Cold Steam Applier: The Freeze Gun – Stay frosty with the Freeze Gun, an icy device that can keep your cheese fresh and freeze your foes in place (side effects may include accidental shattering). Forget the ice box and be one of the first in the world to try out its arctic breeze!
• The MIND-D Self-Aware Attitude Changer: The Conscious Gun – Our most mesmerizing product yet, the Conscious Gun is all about hypnotizing and subduing the competition. Making friends has never been so mind-blowingly easy, especially at these low prices!

Mouse P.I. For Hire is launching later this year on PC and consoles.

KEY FEATURES

• Iconic Style: The monochromatic, hand-drawn rubber hose animation and original retro jazz soundtrack are created with the same techniques of the era. The playful weaponry, whimsical health display, and cartoon chaos add a lighthearted twist to each death.
• Customizable Power-Ups: Enhance melee combat with a can of Spike-D Spinach, or even attach your mouse tail to a grappling hook to traverse Mouseburg’s rooftops.
• Fast-pace Action: Discover and combine powerful upgrades with comical weapons to violently blow apart enemies. From crackling Tommy guns to explosive firepower, use a mix of combat styles that adjust to play style preferences.
• A City In Danger: Join Jack Pepper’s diverse city playground spanning a movie studio, docklands, casinos, swamp marshland and underground sewer networks. But beware of what lurks beneath the surface! Embark on on a gripping detective adventure and encounter a mischievous cast of big bads as Pepper takes a gritty journey through the dark side of town.
• Solve the Mystery: Earn rewards from minigames and side quests as Pepper uncovers clues and collectibles that pay homage to iconic pop culture, films and cartoons.

MY THOUGHTS

Gee whiz, Cuphead sure left a mark on the games industry, didn’t it? And why not? Cuphead was awesome. Brutal, but awesome! So the idea of a first-person shooter wrapped up in that same vintage aesthetic? That’s bound to be a banger, and I’m all in. It’s a clever way to stand out in a genre that’s more crowded than ever. Especially when you consider that FPS games are arguablely the most dominant genre in modern gaming, much like platformers were in the ’90s. So Mouse P.I. For Hire…I’ll be there day one, no question.