For $29.99 and approximately 10 hours of runtime (excluding 100%-ing collectibles, secrets, and achievements), Mouse: P. For Hire is a detector sim that may not require a whole lot of brain power, but it sure needs fast reactions if you want to survive the onslaught of rat attacks. A shooter I hope inspirates others Getting old and stale isn’t on the cards with Mouse as this high-octane shooter switches up constant, and not in visuals alone.
Unlike most games, For Hire’s pacing never follows the same formula. In fact, it purposely does the opposite so that you never know what toexpect. Calling out other games for their nonsensical questlines, like asking you to mow down waves of enemies before one randomly drops the item you need to move on, Mouse keeps things interesting and un predictable with its boss fights.
While you’ll quickly expect enemies to fly out of doors with a mouse motif above them, the bosses feature innovative designs. This shooter may be true to its name, but no fight ever lasts too long. No single boss battle is the same, either, and each is so ridiculous entertainment that you will never be bored.
From a mini-gun-wielding gator and dead wives mistaking Jack for their ghastly hubby, to a boat firing at you like you have made it to the end of Takeshi’s Castle, topped by a quick game of Snap, the unpredictability of Mouse is what makes it unbelievably fun from start to finish. Enemy variety is fantastic, and difficulty scales with progress as you unlock more weapons and (hopesfully) upgrade them along the way. Each enemy type has a weakness to a particular weapon, allowing you to use everything in your arsenal instead of relying on one weapon per playthrough.
The methodical introduction of mechanisms is clever and gradually adds depth to what started as a somewhat limited movement shooter. By the end of the game, you will be grappling onto hooks, spinning your mouse tail to glide, and double-jumping to avoid bullets. Anime perfect?
Yes. But don’t take my word for it! Watch 5 minutes of gameplay and tell me you wouldn’t blast away with Jack alongside the legendary Johnny Yong Bosch, voicing the protagonist!
And speaking of voices…When it comes to voice acting, it doesn’t get any better than this! Not only did Jack come to life exactly how I imagined him in my head, but the entire cast brought their A-game. Johnny Yong Bosch as Jack Pepper, Vincent Tong as Alex Winter, Lauren Maher as Dot, and David Alpay as Richard the Librarian kept the story alive with their top-notch performances.
Every cutscene felt like a movie, and every line delivered left me wanting more. Mouse might be a small indie title, but its star-studded cast proved it could stand tall against even the biggest AAAs. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the music.
Don’t get me wrong; the tracks were catchy and fit the style perfectly. Still, after an hour, they repetitiously blended into the background, barely adding anything to the experience. At times, I found myself struggling to focus due to the lack of musical variation, which was unfortunate considering just how charming the rest of the package was.
What lies ahead On the surface, Mouse appears simple. Its cell-shaded artstyle and cheerful first impressions often mislead players, making them think they’re in for a walk in the park. Boy, are they wrong.
Do not let the adorable exterior fool you. Beneath that cheery veneer lies a wickedly funny narrative filled with pop culture references, fourth-wall breaks, and corny puns. This is a game that knows precisely what it is and is proud of it.
Mouse never once apologises for being weird or dark—in fact, it embraces it with open arms. If you’re easily offended by blood or violence, steer clear. However, if you appreciate comedy that doesn’t rely on cheap laughs and actually puts a smile on your face, give this rodent-filled adventure a chance.
With its smart use of contrasts between graphics and brutality, Mouse deserves far more praise than it gets.