Miška: P.I. za najem — Nenavaden Boomer strelec v zgodnjem Disney slogu

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.

Estetika Disneyjevih risank iz 30-ih let prejšnjega stoletja je bila čudovito ujeta v video igri pred devetimi leti v Cuphead. To je zelo hardcore igra z elementom streljanja in platformiranja, ki se zdi kot odlična adaptacija animiranih filmov iz prve polovice 20. stoletja. Mouse: P.I. for Hire gre še dlje, saj združuje znan slog z noir temo. Poleg tega so namesto ljudi miši in druge živali, kot v grafičnem romanu Blacksad. Rezultat je zanimiv — imamo tako komedijo kot temno detektivko. Spominja na odličen film Kdo je ujel Rogerja Rabbitta, ki ga je posnel Robert Zemeckis. Obstaja celo femme fatale, čeprav je daleč od Jessice Rabbit.

Mouse: P.I. for Hire ponuja črno-belo kinematografijo, ki spominja na klasične gangsterjske filme, kot je izvirni Scarface. V nastavitvah lahko celo omogočite učinek zrnatega filma, da dosežete končno podobnost s filmi tiste dobe. Izkušnjo dopolnjuje prijetna jazz glasba, ki prav tako prikliče noir filme iz vrhunca žanra. Zvočna podlaga se spreminja glede na dogajanje na zaslonu — lirična glasba se lahko prelevi v živahne risane melodije. Včasih slišite celo simfonije znanih skladateljev, kot je Ride of the Valkyries. Po želji se lahko zvok spremeni, da ustvari učinek vinilne plošče, kar doda še bolj atmosferičen pridih.

Poleg tega se razvijalci niso omejili le na en filmski žanr, temveč so dodali reference na široko paleto filmov iz 40-ih in 50-ih let. Obstajajo ravni, stilizirane kot grozljivke, ki vključujejo duhove na pokopališčih, znanstvenofantastični filmi tiste dobe in ameriški vesterni z Johnom Wayneom. Obstajajo tudi reference na kasnejše filme, vendar v obliki velikonočnih jajc.

In čeprav razvijalci raziskujejo široko paleto žanrov, so uspeli ohraniti celovitost izvirnega koncepta. Zgodba o detektivu, ki poskuša izvesti preiskavo, ostaja v središču pripovedi. Njegov glas je posodil Troy Baker, ki ga morda poznate po njegovih vlogah kot Joel v The Last of Us, Sam Drake v Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, in Indiana Jones v Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Prav ta igralec je protagonistu Mouse: P.I. for Hire dal tako karizmatičen glas. Posledično je užitek poslušati njegove glasovne monologe.

Poleg tega je akcija prežeta z dotikom humorja. To temelji predvsem na dejstvu, da so ključni liki miši, ki so obsedene s sirom. To je osnova za besedne igre in številne igre besed med pogovori likov in protagonistovimi replikami.

S tem pristopom bi bilo logično videti point-and-click avanturo v duhu klasičnih projektov LucasArts ali polnopravni interaktivni film. Vendar pa je Mouse: P.I. for Hire streljačina iz prve osebe.

Osnovna mehanika Mouse: P.I. for Hire spominja na klasične streljačine s sodobnim pridihom. Na voljo je širok spekter znanih orožij, vključno s pištolami, puškami in granatometi, pa tudi risanimi orožji. Na primer, obstaja terpentin, ki raztaplja sovražnike. To je še ena referenca na film Kdo je obtožil Rogerja Rabbita. Glede na to, kaj streljate, lahko sovražniki zagorijo, se spremenijo v led ali postanejo norci, kar povzroči, da jim eksplodirajo glave. Tako deluje tudi Brain Smasher.

Orožja je mogoče nadgraditi z uporabo načrtov. Poleg standardnih nadgradenj, kot so povečanje škode in zmanjšanje povratnega udarca, se odkrijejo alternativne metode streljanja. Na primer, lokalni anaThe Thompson submachine gun's log lahko strelja v vzorcu ventilatorja na več sovražnikov, kot v klasični streljačini Blood. Cevi se tudi spremenijo, z dodatnimi dodatki in drugimi podrobnostmi. Nekaj podobnega je bilo predstavljeno v BioShock.

Če je potrebno, na primer, če vam zmanjka municije, se lahko protagonist preklopi na bližnji boj. Poleg pestov se uporabljajo tudi udarci. To lahko omami sovražnika za nekaj sekund, kar jim daje majhno prednost v strelskih spopadih. To je še posebej koristno med boji proti ščitnikom. 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.

"Prepozno je bilo zbrati dokaze pred nekaj sto krogi," je izjavil Max Payne, ko je našel dokaze o krivdi kriminalcev, ki jih je že ubil. Igranje streljačine Mouse: P.I. for Hire se morda zdi neskladno s svojo detektivsko noir zgodbo in atmosfero. 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.