Help a cat make it to the exit in this challenging 2D precision platformer.  It features retro black and white graphics that remind me of the games I used to play on my Apple ][+.  Catie is available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.

Your cat can hop and run, as well as do wall jumps.  You can cling to walls, too, but you’ll slide down slowly.  Use the X button for a claw swipe attack to defeat enemies.  But it’s such a short range attack that it’s hardly useful and it’s oftentimes better just to avoid baddies.  Sometimes the levels have multiple screens but luckily they oftentimes have checkpoints.  There are 100 levels in all, but half of them are just mirror images so there’s really only 50 new stages.

My only problem with this game are the controls, as my button presses sometimes felt a little delayed, the cat wouldn’t stop as fast as I’d like, and then there’s that useless claw attack.  But even though the game is challenging, it’s still doable.  I managed to beat all 50 of the original levels and get all the trophies to platinum the game, so it’s not all bad.  Just a bit short.

Kid Factor:

Cattie is rated E for Everyone with an ESRB descriptor of Mild Fantasy Violence.  Characters who get hit just disappear in a puff of smoke and that’s it.   Reading skill isn’t needed, but younger gamers may find it too difficult.

Tags: Game Reviews