Cat Me If You Can Review (PC)

Cat Me If You Can makes for a nice change of pace in the hidden object space. And if there is one thing that I need more of, it’s a change of pace. As adorable and as relaxing as most static hidden object games are, fatigue is a major problem that can often dampen an otherwise healthy gaming experience. But, fortunately for me, Cat Me If You Can isn’t like the others. While it may adopt the usual feline subjects and the copious amounts of puzzling layers (more on that later), it does make more of an effort to drive a wedge between the traditional format and player’s expectations. Alas, it doesn’t want you to glare at a static image; it wants you to enter the image, and to scurry around with a camera.

As I said, there is a bit more to Cat Me If You Can than the average hidden object flick. For example, you can explore each of its three worlds, snag photographs of hundreds of subjects, and engage with a handful of logical puzzles, all whilst unlocking hidden passages, unveiling secret cats, and gradually adding a splash of color to an otherwise monochrome diorama. Granted, the premise remains the same: hundreds of cats sneak their way into the canvas, and a player—you—embark on a peaceful quest to unearth them and document their whereabouts with your camera. It’s a simple gig, but it’s also one that, through the use of a first-person perspective, adds a well-needed layer to a bloated concept.

Cat Me If You Can isn’t a naturally complicated game, nor is it the kind of experience that forces you to dwell on the fine details. Before you, you have a charcoal-like biome, a peaceful environment, and hundreds of hidden cats, all of which tuck themselves into the vast nooks and crannies spread across the world. As the silent photographer, you are given the task of walking through each ashen street, finding said cats, and using your trusty camera to capture them for your catalog. Along the way, you will need to solve the odd riddle, locate the appropriate component for a puzzle, or complete a series of preliminary tasks in order to gain access to a special area. But of course, the objective is as black and white as the world itself: to complete your journal, and to attach an imaginary collar to each of the subjects.

While there are a few handfuls of burrowed cats in Cat Me If You Can, most of the experience is all rather straightforward. As you aren’t really looking for a needle in a haystack, but upwards of eight hundred cats across three fairly condensed worlds, there isn’t much need of a magnifying glass here. The only issue you might have is, with there being as many as seven hundred subjects to unearth, hitting a brick wall and eventually grating on the repetitiveness of the task. But that’s a hidden object game for you. Sure enough, it is a one-note affair, but that sort of comes with the territory.

Thankfully, Cat Me If You Can does cement over its gaps with some clever puzzles and logical tricks. Say, if you stumble across a locked area, then you might have to search for a missing component, jiggle a few bits and pieces around, or use your intuition to solve a simple problem that prevents you from gaining access to another portion of the world. Again, there’s nothing here that requires a hot head and master’s degree to solve, but to give credit where it’s due, the game does feature a good collection of light challenges for you to fumble around with between tasks.

With a second helping of side quests to bulk out the usual hidden object-based objectives, Cat Me If You Can brings plenty of material to the litter box. With nine hand-crafted levels that span three distinct areas—Japan, Egypt, and a Medieval Age settlement—as well as fifty challenges to sink your claws into, the game itself has a good amount going for it. Naturally, the idyllic atmosphere and chalk aesthetics serve as the perfect additions for its cozy gameplay style. And as for the cats, well, it doesn’t take much to reach the same consensus as the vast majority of hidden object fanatics. That’s a formula that will always work.

When all’s said and done, for a game that builds its foundation on a simple set of rules, Cat Me If You Can does cram a good deal into its box. With some clean black-and-white artwork, a sizable playground to explore, and enough puzzles to keep you second guessing the whereabouts of the next feline friend, it strives to deliver a cozy experience that harbors both substance and warm visual qualities. Is it a unique game? Eh, not really, no. Is it the well-needed breath of fresh air that we’ve been waiting for? Absolutely.

Verdict

Cat Me If You Can adds a second coat of charcoal to a bloated barricade of white-washed hidden object-like tropes to transcend the traditional formula, all whilst retaining the signature elements: the cats, the puzzles, and the oh-so-cozy atmosphere that makes you want to stick around and scratch the post for a while. To call it a one-of-a-kind experience might be a bit of a stretch. But, I can vouch for it. Hidden object games, as comforting as they are, have their limitations, as are they known for implementing the same fatigue-inducing effects and repetitive tasks. Cat Me If You Can, for what it’s worth, just adds another layer to it — and I appreciate that.

If you, like me, are itching for a hidden object game that goes a little further than the average cat-centric puzzler, then you ought to consider Cat Me If You Can as your next port of call. It’s a little pricey I’ll admit, but it’s worth checking out, if only for the aesthetics and the handfuls of puzzles. And as for cat lovers, well, it’s a bit of a no brainer.