Squirrel With a Gun. Really, do you need to say anything else? Five stars.
No, let’s dive deep for a minute. There’s a squirrel in a lab and he’s not necessarily crazy about being in a lab. So he does what any curious creature would do and immediately finds a weapon to defend himself. What follows is an exercise in platforming and shooting goodness that can only be described as “goin’ nuts.” In fact, that would’ve probably been a good alternate title for this one.
After being a Steam darling for so long, the game finally arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 a few weeks ago. And it’s just as ridiculously janky and fun as it was on its prior platform. Solving platforming rooms is good fun, even if some of them are downright weird. And the combat is surprisingly engaging, despite the repeat finishing animations. They could’ve used more variety.
That said, there are noticeable bugs that still need to be ironed out. The $20 price point may also be a bit much for some, given the game’s somewhat short length. But if you’re in the mood for something wacky and wild, boy, Squirrel With a Gun fits the bill.
Introducing the Squirrel With a Gun
The developers at Dee Dee Creations (alongside Fishing Cactus) attempted to catch lightning in a bottle with Squirrel With a Gun. It takes a concept that could very much be real (well, as real as a squirrel carrying a gun can be) and rolls with it in the silliest way possible. We’re talking pursuing enemy agents, squirrel outfits hiding in every corner of the world, and…a living room filled with lava? Man, the lamp must’ve gotten loose.
If you can skip past the incredible lapse of logic, however, Squirrel With a Gun has some sound ideas to it. The idea of using the gun to get across gaps and reach higher areas is very cool; and the shooting itself is entertaining, if a bit on repeat. This is especially true with the finisher animations, which the game could’ve used more of.
There are some neat sections to get through, especially the Puzzle Rooms. But there’s also a bit of backtracking, as well as occasional bugs that can be frustrating. The game could use a little more patching up.
It’s also not very long. There are secret outfits to find, as well as precious Golden Acorns across the world. But outside of that, you’re likely to be done with it in a few hours. That may not justify the affordable $20 price tag for some. (Thankfully, there is some cool, free DLC that does add to the experience – kudos to the devs!)
But I had fun with the experience. Squirrel With a Gun isn’t perfect, but it is inventive and, for the most part, a good time. Besides, you’ve always wanted to see one take revenge after almost being hit by a car, right? Or is that just a certain few of you?
How Does Squirrel With a Gun’s Presentation Pack On?
As for the presentation, Squirrel With a Gun isn’t bad.
As I mentioned, the game is a bit buggy. Since it’s an indie effort, that might be expected, especially porting the game to a platform like the Nintendo Switch 2. But it does look pretty good outside of that, especially with its squirrel animations and innovative level design. Again, though…why is there lava in the living room? Maybe Dad knows. I also appreciated the mostly smooth frame rate, though some interior locations can move a bit slower.
Did I also mention that some of these squirrel outfits are pretty cool? And a bit out there, if you ask me. Move over, Bugs Bunny.
When it comes to sound, it’s…all right? The squirrel doesn’t say much, which is a solid choice. But neither does anyone else. Fortunately, the sound effects seem spot on, and the music does vary from room to room. I was kinda hoping for a more smooth jazz score, however. Seems to be fitting Squirrel With a Gun style music.
Should You Take Home the Squirrel With a Gun?
If you’re expecting a game changing experience on your Nintendo Switch 2, please…go buy Metroid Prime 4 or Absolum. (Or, hey, Earthion is a good ‘un!) But if you want something silly and ridiculous and don’t mind a few bugs here and there, Squirrel With a Gun is better than expected.
It could use some performance improvements here and there, and maybe a little more lively music. But as it stands, this squirrel might just win you over. Just don’t make his day, m’kay?
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Maximum Entertainment for the review code! Squirrel With a Gun 2 is available now for Nintendo Switch 2,along with Xbox, PlayStation and PC/Steam!
Need more indie goodness? Check out our review of Constance!
