100 Radioactive Cats Review (PC)

100 Cozy Cats is back at the helm with yet another page turner for its beloved seek-and-find anthology, with a toxic twist and a brand-new ultraviolet setting to comb through with the ol’ magnifying glass. Similar in design (textbook, even), 100 Radioactive Cats finds its place on the board as a familiar puzzler that leans into its signature form, with the same emphasis on entry-level Where’s Waldo? compositions and simple mechanics that almost anyone in the book can grasp. It’s the same gig, really, but with a little extra gloop and radioactive goodness, apparently.

Of course, if you’re familiar with the series, then you ought to know that, despite there being a couple of extra tweaks and a general shading overhaul, the next page in the feline-centric scrapbook is almost identical to its predecessor, and not to mention the dozens that came before it. Frankly, not a lot is different here, as it’s more or less the same idea as before, but with a new theme for players to unpack, and another batch of kittens to unearth and tick off of the ol’ checklist.

To put it bluntly, if you’re hoping to jump into a fresh entry in the series, one that fosters better mechanics and in-game features, then you might be disappointed with just how little 100 Radioactive Cats has to offer outside of its traditional cats, cubbies, and themed biome format. That isn’t to say that the latest chapter is a bad thing; it’s just the same thing as before, but with a radioactive element. If that’s enough to sway your smile, though, then you probably won’t need to look any further than the outer shell. If, however, you’re still on the fence with it all, then stick with us a while. Let’s talk about it.

Doused in Toxic Fur

Take the first 100 Cats game you can think of, and then add a radioactive substance to the cauldron to fashion a new synergy from the fumes. Do that, and you should have enough of a mental image to grasp the concept of 100 Radioactive Cats and the world of which it builds itself into. The idea, true to the series as a whole, is the same: comb over a scrubbable image of questionably toxic environments, and identify cats in their seemingly natural habitat. There isn’t much more to it than that, and honestly, this entry doesn’t do much else to shake up the usual formula, either. Again, not a bad thing — but a predictable one, nonetheless.

As before, you have immediate access to a magnifying glass, a built-in hint system, and a trove of traditional features, including the combo system, brightness settings, and, of course, the meowing sound effects. Again, nothing out of the ordinary here. In fact, I’d wager that, if you’ve played one of these games before, then you’ve probably played ‘em all. This isn’t a slap to the face of 100 Cozy Cats, mind you. No, if anything, it’s a testament to how such a simple concept can recycle the same formula dozens of times over and still amass critical acclaim. Well, for the demographic, anyway.

Of course, it isn’t so much about changing the format as it is about altering the setting to incorporate fresh layers and thematic elements. Here, you have a cliche—a radioactive exterior that houses a lot of the usual fittings that you probably would have seen in a dozen or more pulpy flicks from the past. It’s a simple idea, and it doesn’t push the boundaries of a standard toxic environment. Yet, it seems that feline subjects and radioactive gloop make for a fitting pairing. Go figure.

Waste Not, Want Not

The good news is that, despite having dozens of titles in its portfolio, 100 Cozy Cats still hasn’t lost its touch when it comes to creating beautiful works of art. Even with the toxic dust smothered over its exterior, 100 Radioactive Cats still maintains that same level of hand-crafted quality as its counterparts. The canvas, thankfully, still has a bunch of technical details and neat touches, and it still has that same wholesome feel that radiates warmth and subtle tones of color. Again, not a lot has changed as far as all of these things go. But then, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — and all that jazz.

When all’s said and done, there’s a simple concept here that’s almost as old as time itself. And yet, even after a millennia of regurgitating the same idea for most, if not all platforms, 100 Cozy Cats continues to source new playgrounds to test the waters and provide more material for its fan base to scratch at. To say that it’s the gift that keeps on giving might be a bit of an exaggeration, mind you — but you get the point.

As 100 Radioactive Cats wears its heart on its sleeve, you needn’t fret about falling into a trap here. Like all of the chapters that came before it, it gives you just about everything that it advertises on its tin. It’s cheap, simple, and above all, an excellent way to spend an hour or two between taxing alternatives. What more could you want from a seek-and-fine game, eh?

Verdict

100 Radioactive Cats douses the usual trimmings of a seek-and-find game with an ultraviolet gloop of toxic particles to create yet another faithful chapter in the rolling anthology of feline-centric scrub-and-search artworks. It doesn’t alter the formula all that much, and it does continue to lean on the same trappings as its predecessors to uphold its original image. That said, with a fresh twist on the composition and a few neat touches to alter the theme, it does feel like a new experience. Well, sort of.

If, by now, you have been able to openly adopt (and thoroughly enjoy) 100 Cozy Cats’ earlier seek-and-find chapters, then I’d like to imagine that you would probably find the same level of joy in the radioactive sequel. Again, a sequel doesn’t necessarily equate to a better experience; it’s the same experience, but with a fresh lick of paint and a frosting of toxic shading. If that doesn’t bother you, then sure, you’ll likely get a kick out of scrubbing through the questionable world of 100 Radioactive Cats.