Bloody Hell, Mouse: PI For Hire Isn't Just a Pretty Face – Kotaku Says This Noir Shooter is the Bee's Knees!
AI Gaming News Author · kotaku ·
Kotaku's Zack Zwiezen reports that *Mouse: PI For Hire* defies expectations, proving its gorgeous 1930s rubberhose animation is just the start of a fantastic, action-packed noir FPS, despite a few minor quirks.
Right, so you know that feeling when you first glimpse a game trailer, and it looks utterly stunning, but a tiny, cynical imp in your brain whispers, 'Is it just a pretty face?' Yeah, that was me, and probably a fair few of you, when *Mouse: PI For Hire* first popped up on our collective radars way back in 2023. That classic black-and-white rubberhose animation, straight outta the 1930s cartoons – absolutely mesmerising, wasn't it? Like something pulled straight from an old-school magic trick, perfectly executed. But three years is a long time in gaming, and the worry always lingers: can the gameplay possibly live up to such a unique aesthetic?
Well, buckle up, because according to Zack Zwiezen's cracking review over at Kotaku, it turns out this game isn't just a pretty picture. Oh no, mate, after about 12 hours of blasting through its noir-soaked world, Zwiezen declared *Mouse: PI For Hire* one of the best first-person shooters he's played in years. Talk about a pleasant surprise, eh? It seems Fumi Games and Playside Studios didn't just wave a magic wand for the visuals; they conjured up some seriously good gameplay too.
So, what's the big fuss about? *Mouse: PI For Hire*, launching on consoles and PC this April 16th, throws us into the tiny shoes of Jack Pepper – an anthropomorphic mouse, war vet, ex-cop, and now, a private detective. He's operating in a city teeming with other walking, talking mice and shrews. The whole setup screams classic noir, right? But then one of Jack’s old war buddies, now a famous magician, goes missing, and things quickly spiral into something far wilder than a simple missing persons case.
We're talking big-time mice, shadowy political parties (think 'Nazi-like' but with rodents – yeah, it gets a bit heavy-handed on the social commentary, Zwiezen notes, giving a quick aside to the camera, which I appreciate), creepy monsters, and even robots. It's a proper genre mash-up, like someone tossed a film noir, a classic cartoon, and a pulp sci-fi novel into a blender. And apparently, it works! Despite some of the narrative beats being a tad on-the-nose, the core mystery kept Zwiezen hooked, chasing clues and connecting dots on Jack's corkboard like a proper digital Sherlock.
To unravel this madcap conspiracy, you'll be diving headfirst into a dozen or so hand-crafted levels, and yes, doing a whole lot of shooting. And here's where the initial skepticism about the art style being a one-trick pony truly vanishes. Zwiezen was concerned the black-and-white aesthetic might make levels feel samey, but quite the opposite. The devs have used that distinct cartoon aesthetic to cook up a smorgasbord of diverse experiences – 'as tasty and diverse as a fancy cheese board,' as he put it. Fair dinkum, that's high praise for level design!
Of course, you get your expected noir settings: murky back alleys, grim crime scenes, shady dens, and windswept docks. But then *Mouse* throws you into creepy swamps, strange labs, and even movie sets – the kind of places that feel ripped straight from a 1930s animated short, but with an underlying menace. Each level, Zwiezen reports, is a joy to explore, feeling authentic yet never too linear or sprawling. There's always a path forward, but plenty of nooks and crannies to poke your mousey nose into, revealing delightful, bizarre details: plants with faces, spiders in shoes, dancing slugs... you know, the usual magical mishaps. It’s like falling into a dozen classic Disney and WB cartoons, only with more gunfire.
Speaking of gunfire, let's get down to brass tacks: this is a first-person shooter. While *Mouse: PI For Hire* offers a hub area, a collectible baseball card game, and even a charming animated overworld to drive around, combat is roughly 80% of your time. And for those of us who love a well-crafted shooter, Zwiezen says it's a damn fine example. Over a thousand enemies – mice, shrews, robots, alligators, dogs – apparently met their end under his mousey trigger finger. The gunplay is satisfying, with a wonderful variety of encounters. Sometimes it's straightforward hallway shootouts; other times, you're kicking mice into specific areas or unleashing a power-up in a big arena brawl.
Enemies hit hard, requiring clever use of dash, double-jump, and grapple abilities to stay alive. And yes, Jack can carry up to nine pieces of cheddar to heal himself, which is just brilliant – a health pack system that fits the theme perfectly. The guns themselves, while looking like cartoon props, pack a serious punch. The 'James Gun' (aka the Tommy Gun) was a particular standout for Zwiezen, described as powerful and shredding enemies, getting even better with upgrades found via hidden blueprints. The shotgun, starting pistol, and acid launcher also got a good shout-out, though he notes some later-game weapons felt a bit lackluster. Still, you can largely ignore them, and even the 'stinkers' can be useful with a few upgrades.
Now, it's not all perfectly aged cheddar. Zwiezen did point out a few minor blemishes: those aforementioned heavy-handed story elements and some late-game difficulty spikes that momentarily sour the experience. Plus, a couple of those later weapons weren't quite up to scratch. But these are minor quibbles, tiny little gnaw marks on an otherwise exceptional piece of work. *Mouse: PI For Hire* sounds like an incredibly creative, inventive, and action-packed FPS, mixing classic cartoon animation, noir clichés, and deeply satisfying gunplay into something truly unique. It’s the kind of game that reminds you why we get so bloody excited about indies doing something genuinely different.
So, if you're keen for a shooter that's more than just bullets and boom, and features an art style that genuinely enhances the experience rather than just serving as a gimmick, then keep an eye out for *Mouse: PI For Hire*. It might just be the freshest bite of cheese we get this year. Big thanks to Zack Zwiezen and Kotaku for the fantastic deep dive!
Tags: FPS, Noir, Indie Games, Cartoon Style, PC Gaming
Original article: kotaku