Mouse: P.I. for Hire Review — A Quirky Boomer Shooter in the Early Disney Style

Game graphics that look like full-fledged cartoons are not uncommon these days. But some developers don't limit themselves to just graphics, stylizing the entire project to a specific animation style. This is exactly what the Fumi Games team did in their shooter. But how well does this aesthetic mesh with the gameplay of an old-school shooter? Our article is dedicated to answering this question.

The aesthetics of 1930s Disney cartoons were beautifully captured in a video game nine years ago in Cuphead. This is a very hardcore run-and-gun game with platformer elements that feels like a great adaptation of animated films from the first half of the 20th century. Mouse: P.I. for Hire goes further, combining the familiar style with a noir theme. Moreover, instead of people, there are mice and other animals, as in the graphic novel Blacksad. The result is interesting — we have both a comedy and a dark detective story. It brings to mind the excellent film Who Framed Roger Rabbit by Robert Zemeckis. There's even a femme fatale, though she's a far cry from Jessica Rabbit.

Mouse: P.I. for Hire features a black-and-white cinematography reminiscent of classic gangster films, like the original Scarface. You can even enable a grainy film effect in the settings to achieve the ultimate resemblance to films of that era. The experience is complemented by pleasant jazz music, which also evokes the noirs of the genre's heyday. The soundtrack changes depending on the action onscreen — lyrical music can transition into upbeat cartoon melodies. Sometimes you even hear symphonies by famous composers, like Ride of the Valkyries. If desired, the sound can be altered to create the effect of a vinyl record, adding an even more atmospheric touch.

Moreover, the developers didn't limit themselves to just one film genre, but added references to a wide variety of films from the 1940s and 1950s. There are levels stylized as horror films featuring ghosts in cemeteries, science fiction films of the era, and American westerns starring John Wayne. There are also references to later films, but in the form of Easter eggs.

And although the developers explore a wide variety of genres, they managed to maintain the integrity of the original concept. The story of a detective attempting to conduct an investigation remains at the center of the narrative. He was voiced by Troy Baker, who you may know from his roles as Joel in The Last of Us, Sam Drake in Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, and Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. It's largely thanks to this actor that the protagonist of Mouse: P.I. for Hire has such a charismatic voice. As a result, listening to his voiceover monologues is a pleasure.

Furthermore, the action is suffused with a touch of humor. This is largely based on the fact that the key characters are mice who are obsessed with cheese. This is the basis for the wordplay and numerous puns during the characters' conversations and the protagonist's lines.

With this approach, it would be logical to see a point-and-click adventure in the spirit of classic LucasArts projects or a full-fledged interactive movie. However, Mouse: P.I. for Hire is a first-person shooter.

The basic mechanics of Mouse: P.I. for Hire are reminiscent of classic shooters with a modern twist. There's a large arsenal of familiar weapons, including pistols, shotguns, and grenade launchers, as well as cartoonish weapons. For example, there's a turpentine that dissolves enemies. This is another reference to the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Depending on what you fire, enemies can burst into flames, turn into ice, or go insane, causing their heads to explode. That's exactly how the Brain Smasher works.

Weapons can be upgraded using blueprints. In addition to standard upgrades like increasing damage and reducing recoil, alternative firing methods are unlocked. For example, using the local anaThe Thompson submachine gun's log can be fired in a fan pattern at multiple enemies, like in the classic shooter Blood. The barrels also change appearance, with additional attachments and other details. Something similar was featured in BioShock.

If necessary, for example, if you run out of ammo, the protagonist can switch to close combat. In addition to fists, kicks are also used. This can stun an enemy for a couple of seconds, giving them a slight advantage in firefights. This is especially useful during battles against shielders. A kick to a frozen enemy will kill them. Something similar happened in Duke Nukem 3D (1996), to which we dedicated a separate article 30 Years of Duke Nukem 3D. Remembering one of the best shooters of the '90s.

There are also references to Doom (1993). For example, the protagonist's health is displayed not only as a number on the screen, but also as a heart-shaped portrait, the appearance of which changes depending on the number of wounds. Looking at it, you can immediately understand your current state. Health does not regenerate during combat; you must search for first aid kits throughout the game.

For example, the enemy models aren't three-dimensional, but flat, like in shooters of the 90s before the transition to full 3D graphics in the first Quake. But back then, such decisions were dictated by the technical capabilities of the engines and computer hardware, while now they're perceived as an interesting artistic technique. It's as if the enemies were drawn on paper, and after death, they leave only blots on the floor.

By the standards of modern boomer shooters, Mouse: P.I. for Hire has few enemy types. Snipers, machine gunners, aggressive dogs, and dangerous close-combat thugs appear in the first third of the game, after which we fight them again and again until the very end credits. However, the situation is mitigated by bosses, who often require a unique approach. Among them are a robot girl who seems to be a reference to the film Metropolis, a crocodile with a six-barreled machine gun, a cop in his own airplane, and many others. Each requires developing tactics. The specifics of the arenas in which the battle takes place also play a significant role. For example, in one, the floor collapses after every shot, while in another, you have to jump on wooden rafts that constantly sink while simultaneously shooting at police officers on a boat. And if you're interested in playing as law enforcement, check out our selection of the best police and cop games on PC and consoles: from patrol to special forces.

Also worth noting are the modifiers that are sometimes found in locations. If you pick them up, the protagonist's abilities dramatically change. For example, he stops using firearms, but his melee damage and defense increase several times over. Yes, this is another reference to the original Doom duology.

"It was too late to collect evidence a couple hundred rounds ago," Max Payne declared when he found evidence of the guilt of the criminals he had already killed. Mouse: P.I. for Hire's shooter gameplay might seem out of sync with its detective noir plot and atmosphere. This would be true if the action were taken seriously, as in L.A. Noire, for example. But here, the cartoonish violence is reminiscent of the animated series Tom & Jerry, making it feel unrealistic. As a result, there's no ludonarrative dissonance. This is precisely what the Uncharted series was criticized for, with Nathan Drake being a good-natured, funny guy in cutscenes and killing hundreds in gameplay sequences. For those looking for more brutal projects, we've compiled a selection of The Most Brutal and Bloody Games on PC and Consoles — Top Picks Not for the Faint of Heart.

In recent years, traditional shooter gameplay has become more varied with additional features. In our review of Doom: The Dark Ages we mentioned that it introduced control of a huge titan and dragon flying. Mouse: P.I. for Hire doesn't have such episodes, but there are parkour sections, like in Doom Eternal. The main character can double jump, runClimb sheer walls, cling to hooks, and glide on air currents. In the final stages, all these skills must be used as quickly as possible, as the slightest hesitation will result in a fall from a great height.

Moving between locations is designed as a full-fledged car ride with an isometric camera. This helps us understand the city's layout and further immerse ourselves in the game's cartoonish, noir-inspired atmosphere. However, there's no full-fledged GTA mode here. Those who want to drive a fast car can choose from our TOP-20 Best Racing games for Low-End PCs and Laptops.

You'll have to pick locks occasionally. The mechanics are reminiscent of the classic snake game, familiar from the Brick Game portable consoles. It's simple at first, but then time limits appear, requiring you to act quickly.

There are no full-fledged RPG elements, but there is a slight non-linearity. For example, sometimes you have to choose the order in which to complete story chapters. If you wish, you can complete character assignments, which act as side quests. Among them, a memorable puzzle requires playing a specific melody on the piano to solve. I was reminded of a similar episode from the first Silent Hill (by the way, the mentioned puzzle is included in the TOP-10 unconventional game riddles. You definitely won't solve them, we bet!). Rewards for completing side quests in Mouse: P.I. for Hire vary, from a few coins to valuable blueprints needed to upgrade weapons.

We mentioned that the parkour sections near the end of the game feel a bit too hardcore. The same applies to the gunfights. Several times, there were so many enemies that I ran out of ammunition for all my weapons. I had to punch and kick them, and dodge sniper shots with sharp dashes.

The bosses are moderately challenging, but not all of them. Some are easily killed on the first try, while others require an unreasonably long time, even if you know how to fight them beforehand. The fight with the main villain, which consists of three phases, was especially tedious. In this author's opinion, such overly difficult and drawn-out moments don't fit the game's tone and somewhat spoil the final impression.

The game's basic mechanics feel like a standard boomer shooter. However, it's the stylization of Disney cartoons and films from the first half of the 20th century that makes Mouse: P.I. for Hire a unique project with no worthy analogues. Therefore, I recommend it primarily to those who enjoy classic animation and film noir from the genre's heyday. Others will be less enthusiastic. However, perhaps they, too, will be drawn to the unusual atmosphere and enjoy the local shooting. Fans of first-person action should check out TOP-25 Best Shooters for Low-End PCs and Laptops.

But fans of detective stories will likely be disappointed. Despite the fact that we conduct an investigation throughout the story, we don't have to draw conclusions ourselves; all the clues are found automatically; all we have to do is pin them to the board.

A high-quality old-school shooter set in a Disney cartoon setting with a noir twist. It stands out from other games in the genre thanks to its distinct style and offers engaging shooter gameplay. It's primarily designed for fans of classic cinema and animation.