MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is the unique, artistic indie darling I didn’t know I needed in my gaming library. Developed by Fumi Games, an independent studio based out of Poland, this first-person shooter pulls together some of the most iconic systems and shooter mechanics and wraps them in a highly stylized, rubber-hose-inspired art style. The result is one of the most charming and well-rounded shooters I’ve played in quite some time. Aiming to create a hand-crafted experience for players, Fumi Games, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire achieves its goal on every level.
Set in a 1930s aesthetic and drawing heavily on the cartoon styles of the era, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire leans into its black-and-white influence, presenting the whole game in a film-noir style. From the internal monologue (voiced by the iconic Troy Baker), its wonderfully produced big-band jazz score, and its literal grayscale art style, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire hits all the right notes.
Following the adventures of Private Investigator, Jack Pepper, players will explore and unravel a series of mysteries set against the backdrop of the hand-drawn Mouseberg cityscape. Wonderfully stylized and written, the narrative takes players on a fun, wacky adventure across a series of beautiful, well-designed levels.
“MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is the unique, artistic indie darling I didn’t know I needed in my gaming library.”
While I’ll avoid spoilers in this mystery-driven narrative, I will say that it’s delivered by a fully voiced cast of incredible actors who bring perfect cadence to each of their roles. Narrative is presented as a brilliant dance between characters, with the intrepid Jack Pepper’s underlying monologues continually pulling players into the mysteries of Mouseberg. While the third act left me with more questions than answers about the larger world of MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, the overall story was satisfying.
As for the world design and black-and-white hand-drawn aesthetic, it works perfectly for the story’s setting and tone. While I have to confess that the first two or three minutes were a bit jarring coming from our wonderful world of colour-rich gaming titles, this feeling quickly subsides as the gameplay and narrative pull you in.
As for gameplay, Fumi Games has managed to incorporate iconic shooter mechanics such as double jump, wall running, graplehook and gliding into its mouse-centric, 1930’s cartoonish title without skipping a beat. Each mechanic makes perfect sense in the context of the greater world around it and is presented with perfect style that fits its genre and narrative. Each mechanic works wonderfully with the level design and offers unique, exciting ways to navigate the world.
“Every element of MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is exceptionally well-designed and executed, creating a wonderful, immersive gaming experience.”
As for level progression, there is no shortage of exploration for players to engage with, with a playthrough taking between 12-16 hours of play depending on difficulty. As to how the players unravel the many mysteries of MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, there is some player choice in which locations to explore first, with clues for each case being collected along the way. Jack’s Murder board becomes the hub for mystery investigations, with combinations of clues revealing key parts of the game’s narrative. It’s a fun mechanic that adds a layer of depth to the gameplay experience.
As for that gameplay experience, despite its zany and beautifully drawn cartoonish aesthetic, make no mistake MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is a bona fide shooter. With an arsenal of over the upgradable weapons (think DOOM: The Dark Ages), MOUSE: P.I. For Hire offers a fully fleshed out First Person Shooter experience. Using the B.A.N.G. upgrades mechanic, players can upgrade Jack’s arsenal by collecting blueprints in the world and exchanging them for the desired upgrade.
Gunplay is a wonderful mix of rhythmic chaos as you run, gun and kick your way around the world, dodging enemy attacks with the dash button. In the midst of the mayhem, players can leverage environmental traps and explosive elemental barrels to find fun and devastating ways to dispatch enemies. All of this is done to the backdrop of some delightful big band-inspired Jazz scores, making it some of the wackiest and fun shooter mechanics I’ve played in quite some time.
Boss encounters provide even more diversity to the combat experience, with each offering its own unique mechanics for players to discover and exploit. Every element of MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is exceptionally well-designed and executed, creating a wonderful, immersive gaming experience. When not running and gunning or exploring the world for clues and secret collectables, players can also spend time in and around Jack’s office, the local pub, store and workshop, upgrading, restocking inventory and even playing a unique baseball-inspired card game.
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is an indie darling that hits all the right notes with its 1930s-inspired First Person Shooter experience. Fumi Games has absolutely hit the rubber nail on the head with their beautifully stylized cartoon shooter. If you are looking for a truly unique and budget-friendly title to jump into, I cannot recommend enough picking up MOUSE: P.I. For Hire.
