Title: Pix the Cat
Platform: Nintendo Switch eShop
Developer: Pastagames/Playdigious (Switch port)
Publisher: Playdigious
Release Date: August 8th, 2019 (NA)
File Size: 716MB
Review copy provided by Playdigious
You may have noticed that I just recently put up a review for PictoQuest on Switch. That was developed by a new team called NanoPiko Games. Well the funny thing is, the game we’re talking about today wasn’t just released on the same day, but was developed by some of the same folks years ago originally at Pastagames! How does this game fare? is it the cat’s meow or is it a c-c-c-c-combo breaker? Let’s find out!
The main menu.
Pix the Cat as mentioned was developed by Pastagames originally a number of years ago. You may know Pastagames as the team behind the recent mobile Rayman titles, as well as the Switch version of Rayman Legends Definitive Edition. Well seemingly the Switch port this time was by the publisher handling the Switch port themselves; Playdigious. Actually with NanoPiko Games being around now, I’m not terribly certain if Pastagames is still around, maybe they are. Rayman Legends Definitive Edition was released already two years ago after all…
Anyway, from the get-go, you can see that Pix the Cat is a VERY retro-inspired game. But unlike other retro-style games, it’s not using an actual pixel art-style. Rather it’s more of a very modernization of the retro era it’s inspired by. In particular it’s got a very colorful neon look, with sprites being high-res and smooth. The gameplay though is definitely meant to very much play like those old-school games. The two that come to mind most are of course Pac-Man, but also Snake.
Here’s a typical maze, with the next one to the right.
The primary goal of the game is to run around small mazes collecting ducky eggs and then lead them to bubbles (portals?) to release them. The catch is that you’re meant to collect every egg first, and THEN start bringing the ducks to the bubbles. The more you do this, the larger the combo meter goes, and then the faster the game goes. If you hit a bubble before getting all the ducks, the eggs will crack and the combo meter will decrease, but you can still finish the maze and move on to the next one. It’s your classic score attack game of survival and getting the highest score within the time limit.
Once you start the game and press any directional button, you won’t stop moving, you can only guide Pix in different directions. Luckily, you get a couple of seconds should you bump into walls or even your line of ducks before your combo also breaks. Specifically, if the line breaks, that maze is basically “over” and your combo meter decreases even more, but fear not, you can still just move on to the next area. Only when beginning the next maze will things start rolling again and you can get the combo rising again. The game only ends when time runs out.
Here are your missions to undertake that give you rewards for completing them.
Once time runs out, you literally zoom out through all the mazes you’ve been in (each is inside another, it’s crazy), and you’re then taken to the results screen and see if you unlocked any rewards. Depending on what missions you’ve accomplished (think of it like the checklist system in the recent Super Smash Bros. games), such as saving a certain amount of eggs, getting a certain amount of points, etc, then you can get new artwork, new levels for the Arena mode, and even a new voice that “narrates” your game. Arena mode however is for two or more players, so I can’t really review that bit. Sorry. 😛
After getting a certain amount of points in the “Main” maze mode, you can unlock Laboratory mode, which is much more of a puzzle-esc mode. Here you have to wake up bubbles and bring them to dirty ones to clean them (yes). The formula is sort of similar to the main mazes, but there are a couple of key differences. First, you slide and only stop at a wall. Two, you’re aiming to get a “bonus” by beating the level within a certain amount of turns, with it even calling it under par, exactly like a golf game. It can get very tricky to beat some of these within the required turns. Luckily you can just hit X and restart instantly without doing it via the pause menu, so that helps. Also again it’s not required to get under par, but you’re obviously encouraged to, but of course you can just move on and come back to any prior level later to fully beat it.
Here’s a Laboratory level. This one in particular really took me ages, but I figured it out.
Visually it’s very pleasant. It again has a great neon art-style. The colors change often and even the different modes change it up like in the Laboratory mode. Plus it seems to be very high-res (likely 1080p docked, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be) and it does run at a silky smooth 60fps. Also you really need to check out the unlockable artwork. Some of the pieces are based on classic styles, like one is even based on the famous children’s book Where the Wild Things Are. LOVE IT!
Audio-wise it’s also great, You get some choices of narrators who tell you when your combo goes up and the like. From the default sleepy sort of voice, to a crazy witch doctor, and other examples still to unlock. Music sounds good as well. I did take a liking to the main menu theme personally. I mean you’re not really going to be able to listen to the music while frantically playing the mazes sooo…. 😛
LOOK AT IT!
Overall this is a great little game. It’s really cheap at only $9.99 USD and $12.59 CDN. It’s VERY replayable and the style will certainly help hook you in. This certainly goes nicely with PictoQuest in my opinion. I’m very happy to see both come out on the same day. Surely that was deliberate?
You’ll Love:
+ Great visual style. The neon look and “retro” influence is really neat. I think Pac-Man Championship Edition is one way to describe the look?
+ Very simple and easy to learn gameplay, very fitting of its old school style.
+ It’s got a sort of vague techno-vibe to the music during mazes which is fitting. I do like the song used in the main menu in particular.
+ Lots of extras to unlock to give you incentives to keep at it.
+ The unlockable art is amazing. Especially the one based on Where the Wild Things Are… now how about one based on Seven Little Monsters? 😉
+ Has screenshot and video capture support.
You’ll Hate:
– The Laboratory puzzles can get you stumped. But luckily you can move on or just quit and come back to the level later.
– One complaint I had is that if you mistype your name when the maze ends, you can’t change it to my knowledge. So until you beat that score enough times to drop it from the leaderboard, it’s just going to stare at you… MENACINGLY!
Score: 8/10