And here I thought Cuphead would be the only example of 1930’s style animation custom fitted into a video game. Don’t get me wrong, it did it absolutely eloquently, and still holds up after all these years. But I was yearning for other developers to give it a try, just to add an artistic flair to the proceedings. Lo and behold, Fumi Games has done it, teaming up with PlaySide Games for the remarkable first-person shooter Mouse: P.I. For Hire.
The game puts you in the shoes of a hard-boiled detective trying to solve a mystery, with almost every “toon” character in existence trying to rub him out. The story’s just part of the fun, as Fumi pours on the charm with great shooting tactics. It’s incredibly fun to play, with new wrinkles throughout. The detective stuff is enjoyable too, though a bit on the light side compared to other games.
What really sells Mouse, however, is the presentation. The visuals pop to life in black-and-white glory, combined with stunning old-style animation. And between the awesome jazz score, solid voice acting and abundant cheese puns, the audio is amongst the best we’ve heard in an indie game to date.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire could’ve used a few touch-ups here and there, like with the detective techniques and enemy variety. But no matter. You’ll jump into this world and be all the more thankful for it, yearning for more.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire Brings On the Old-School Charm
Life is like a hurricane here in Mouseburg. A detective named Jack Pepper (nicely voiced by the one and only Troy Baker) has been assigned a missing persons case. But what starts as a mere disappearance soon evolves into something much bigger – with a lot of armed thugs to fight back against.
This puts a great story in place, one with neat little turns and side characters that help out Jack throughout his journey. But the action’s the thing here, and Fumi Games does a standout job making it all work.
The concept of making a 1930’s style first-person shooter shouldn’t work, as there are a lot of elements to balance. But, darn it, the team made it happen. It feels rock solid throughout, with great techniques to take advantage of and lots of cool weaponry. The dash button takes some getting used to where it’s assigned, but comes in handy when it comes to avoiding bullets. Doesn’t hurt that a lot of health is lying around, either.
Weapon variety is great. You start out basic at first with a handgun, but soon get some bang for your buck over the course of Mouse. And it’s convenient to have a paintbrush on hand that paves the way, should you ever get lost. Don’t be afraid to explore, though – there are plenty of secrets here, including some gaming Easter eggs.
As for the detective side of the game, there is some investigation here, along with safes to open and locks to pick. It’s a bit on the simple side, however. I do wish a slight bit more complexity came into the picture. But maybe the developers just wanted to keep the mystery moving along, so no big deal.
I do wish there were more types of enemies to go up against, as most of them seem like the same ol’ thugs. Outside of that, however, Mouse: P.I. For Hire truly entertains at every turn. It’s like a murder mystery as a 1930’s era ToonTown could truly present it, right down to some of the creative death animations. I demand a sequel.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire Has Talent Aplenty
First off, I’m stunned at how well Mouse: P.I. For Hire blends 1930’s style animations with a rock solid 3D world. It all blends without missing a beat, mainly due to the black-and-white art style. There are minor skips here and there, but nothing to throw off the immersion into this haunting, wild world. And finding secrets is a joy, too. I dare not spoil any.
As for the audio, well, it’s as good as it gets for an indie game like this. Troy Baker leads an all-star cast as Pepper, and all the performances deliver without missing a beat. What’s more, the dialogue is very well written, and there’s cheese puns aplenty. No, really, puns about cheese. They’re gouda.
But all this is backed wonderfully by a jazz soundtrack that really sticks with you. There are horns and drums and other instruments aplenty, and it just might draw you into the genre if you’re not careful. I’m still seeking out tracks.
Minor character repetitiveness aside, I’ve never seen an FPS look as stylish as Mouse does. It pops right off your screen just like a good game should.
Crack the Case With Mouse: P.I. For Hire
Bottom line, Mouse: P.I. For Hire is one of this year’s most surprising – and innovative – games. It’s incredibly fun to play and satisfies at every turn. It’s also got a story chock full of twists, turns and jokes, and the art style and upbeat jazz will keep you tuned in. This is one mystery that is sure to hook you till the very end. And then you’ll want more.
Ignore the negative reviews. Mouse: P.I. For Hire lives up to its reputation and then some. We’ll see you on the streets.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Fumi Games and Keymailer for providing us with a review code! Mouse: P.I. For Hire is available now for Steam/PC/Steam Deck, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch 2!
Need more FPS fun? Check out our review of Doom: The Dark Ages!
