100 Zombie Cats Review (PC)

I’ve seen more than my fair share of cats and whiskers to know that hidden object games are more likely to latch onto feline friends than any other focal point or subject, period. In some cases, it doesn’t matter if it’s all rather morbid or without a beating heart to call its own; 100 Zombie Cats makes it so that even the pale faces of the undead can procure a spotlight and steal the attention from its lineage of like-minded and, quite frankly, annoyingly elusive kin. And while this latest chapter doesn’t exactly make an attempt to shake the bottle of its its rather formulaic design, it does add a little extra salt to an otherwise homely concoction of warm textures and wholesome vibes by implementing just a slither of frail humor and death. But not in a bad way. Oh, never in a bad way.

It has been a few months since we last visited the 100 Cats series; 100 Forest Cats, in fact, was the last entry in the book that we checked out. Upon arriving at the latest segment in the timeline, I figured that, if I was able to chomp through a hundred cats and “complete” the previous episode, then it was highly unlikely that I would need to onboard any new information. That’s the thing with hidden object games: you don’t need a formal introduction on how things work. It doesn’t matter if the subject is different, or even if the setting is leaps and bounds away from its intended location. The simple fact is, if you’ve played one hidden object game, then you’ve probably played ‘em all. And to be frank, 100 Zombie Cats doesn’t do anything else to make you think otherwise.

A Deadly Composition

With all of the above said, I feel that it’s only right to say that, as far as hidden object games that are substantially better go, 100 Zombie Cats does indeed possess the necessary qualities and memorable artistic touches to propel itself over a lot of its ilk. Of course, the series as a whole is known for its intricate line work and premium flair, and so, it doesn’t come as too much of a surprise to see that the undead iteration isn’t any less impressive or as visually striking as its predecessors. Yet, I find that there’s something extra special about this chapter, and I’m not entirely sure if it’s the move away from textbook doodles to more complex patterns and subjects, or the fact that it severs ties with its somewhat wholesome nature that makes it all the more compelling.

Gameplay-wise, not a great deal has changed. By that I mean, from the outside looking in, the layout more or less appears in line with the original design that launched several years back, with a single level fostering a total of 100 hidden cats for you to unearth across an enormous scrubbable space. The only thing that sets this apart from its conscious kin, of course, is the setting—a post-apocalyptic metropolis that adopts an open-ended region of toothy monsters, shattered city skylines, pungent streets with mounds upon mounds of waste, and an enormous undead ribbon that just so happens to tie it all together to formulate a zombie-infested paradise. Again, the pattern is the same as it is in the other iterations, but the setting—oh, the setting—is nothing we’ve ever seen before.

Sticks & Stones

100 Zombie Cats isn’t the toughest hidden object game in the book, though to be honest, with its newly appointed visual palette and inclusion of a wide range of complex overlays and color combinations to back it, it is somewhat more complicated to solve. Thankfully, the game keeps to its roots by offering a black and white mode—the signature theme that the series often fosters—so that you don’t have to spend too much time scrubbing through the densely populated areas and mulling over abstract combinations in order to knuckle in on your last-remaining feline friends.

As far as the other aspects of the game go, fans aren’t necessarily going to bump into any unfamiliar bits or pieces here. Similar to its preceding chapters, 100 Zombie Cats offers a useful pinch-and-zoom option, a built-in save system, and a nifty combo counter, the latter being a bonus option that allows players to rack up additional points for locating cats in a timely and efficient manner. In other words, it’s a trustworthy extension to a familiar narrative—a predictable node that, although still littered with the same hidden object tropes that we’ve seen a dozen times before, continues to evolve in its own unique ways, whether it’s through the creation of a dynamic environment or by stitching original subjects into an even grander composition.

Verdict

The 100 Cats series strikes again with yet another picture-perfect entrée for its beloved hidden object series with an exciting twist on its formulaic blueprint—a signature that continues to broaden its appeal thanks to its increasingly striking imagery and feline beauty. With that, it’s an easy one to recommend, more so if we’re directing it towards a frequent fan who’s already familiar with the artistic flair and ever-growing style that comes with the series’ most popular chapters. 100 Zombie Cats has all of the above and more, thus making it a standout segment in one of the most prolific hidden object series on the market, truly.

If you’ve thirty or forty minutes to spare on a quiet afternoon, then you might as well take the opportunity to sink your pincers into the brittle bones of 100 Cozy Games’ latest addition to its faithful collection of hidden object titles. Better yet, you might as well take the time to explore most of the episodes in the series. If you’re after a little more of that “morbid” humor, though, then we suggest you purchase a plot in this brain-battered graveyard to get your undead kicks.