Ship’s Cat | PS5 Review
It’s no secret that I adore cats. If a game features a feline, I’m all over it. So when I had the opportunity to play Caddy Computing’s title Ship’s Cat, I jumped at the chance. I’m glad I did, since my hour with this experience was mostly joyful. If you’re looking for a game where you play as a kitty and that has a relatively chill vibe, this is a great option to dive into.
Are You Kitten Me?
In Ship’s Cat, you are the titular character. You’ve been assigned to kill pesky mice onboard a fancy cruise ship. Simple, right? It starts off that way, but quickly grows more complex, wackier, and darker. At first you’re just pouncing on rodents and exploring the ship while listening to the passengers gossip and complain. In the second half, the mice become much more of a threat and events take a turn. To say anymore would spoil this short journey.
Play Thing
The gameplay of Ship’s Cat is simple. You have a basic attack, a charge move, and a ground pound you can utilize against the pests plaguing the cruise. You also interact with doors, air vents, and switches to solve puzzles and access new areas. You even have the ability to take it easy and goof off in the early stages of the game. Seeing the furry hero/heroine of the game going down a waterslide or dancing on a club’s bar is a pure delight. The later stages of the game have you thinking strategically a little more, but it’s never frustrating in the brain department.
Mice or Bugs
I had a great time with Ship’s Cat, and found its graphics and sound design charming for the most part. The voice acting sounds a tad like AI, but I can’t confirm if this is the case or not. The noises that accompany the slaying of the mice had me chuckling with their comicbook-like sound effects. Even the cat’s meows are endearing/heartbreaking, depending on the context of why our furry friend is speaking.
There are some serious bugs in this game, though. I found myself being shot across the room when I initiated a charge attack or ground pound, and even found myself teleported to completely different rooms on a couple of occasions. I also became frozen in place several times. These instances caused me to have to reload previous autosaves, which are luckily plentiful. It was just annoying being stopped short in my tracks because of these issues.
The Cat’s Meow
Ship’s Cat is a mostly delightful, short experience. Making your way around a cruise ship and eliminating mice while also solving puzzles is a joy. I found myself chuckling during the first half and wondering what was happening in the second act (in the best way). I just wish the bugs weren’t so serious as to warrant having to reload saves. It put a damper on the experience. I still encourage you to take a chance on this game, though. It’s charming and an impressive title from a solo developer.
This review is based on a PlayStation 5 copy of Ship’s Cat provided by Caddy Computing for coverage purposes. It is also available on PC via Steam.
Ships Cat
$6.99
Pros
- You're a Cat
- Charming
- -Simple Yet Cozy Gameplay
Cons
- -Bugs Are Severe Enough to Warrant Reloading Saves