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Cats & The Other Lives- Puzzles In The Paws Of A Cat

1K View2022-11-26

Hey there, thanks for tapping over- because I've just recently finished going through Cultic Games new release, Cats & The Other Lives- and I've got a fair amount to say about this point & Click Puzzler

A Story That Will Raise Your Hackles

And the element that unavoidably comes to the forefront of my mind is the story. Cats is -heavily- narrative focused, putting you in the role of the Mason familys cat, Aspen- who now serves as a spectator to the a rather tense gathering. Specifically, a wake- given that the familys patriarch, Bernard, has passed- obliging the more than dysfunctional Masons to gather under one roof and figure out what they intend to do about the family estate, and whether they want to figure out some form of reconciliation or not.

What makes this interesting, however- is that you're specifically shown these events through the Lens of Aspens point of view- in brief slices stolen in corridor-bound conversations, private rooms, and public gatherings. You see people at their most vulnerable and vile- unable to interact or direct the dialogue.

And, it's hard at times. Some of the subject matter gets a bit rough, especially if you come from a dysfunctional family.

That said, I was invested- I found myself repeatedly enticed by the slivers- hounding the steps of the family members to know more- literally stuffing my nose into spots to dig up bits of optional lore, of small memories.

There's mysteries to unearth- the trauma of a troubled family to sift through, underlining the very present troubles they're undergoing.

And when it all gets overwhelming- there's cat things.

Digging Your Claws in

While there are ample moments where you'll be witnessing family drama, or eavesdropping for the sake of it- there's plenty of opportunities to bask in the simple bliss of being a cat. And promptly sharpening your claws on the finest bit of furniture available.

It's actually a bit of fun to just travel around the various areas and interact with things, because there is a fair number of animations made for it, just because- and a few of these will even tie back into later puzzles. Because by and large, the puzzles boil down to Aspen wanting to do cat things, to get attention, relieve boredom, or to get around the house- actions which also tie into advancing the plot, often indirectly, though sometimes directly.

If you're a veteran of puzzle games, this will definitely lean more towards the simple side of things, but there's a number of good moments, because they tend to avoid the tried and tired 'Lengthy Trading Chain' quests, and excessive fetch quests that sneak their way in- instead providing more contextual puzzles like- figuring out how to pester people into opening a door.

What's more, there -is- more for you to do if you look for it. See, while Cats & The Other Lives is a relatively linear experience insofar as how the story plays out, and your access to the house, there are side segments to occasionally snoop around and find. Whilst these are relatively simple to figure out, it does feel rewarding to earn and learn new tidbits of knowledge about the Masons.

What's more, the game does mix in some novel bits of gameplay here and there, such as a brief arcade-y tree climbing segment, and a few stealth moments- because sometimes- you just have to hide from grubby little children.

A Pretty Coat

And it all just looks good. I'm old, so maybe that makes me partial to this sort of thing- but I can definitely appreciate some nice looking sprites. Padding about the Masons estate is satisfying to see it, both when there's people milling about, or in the later hours, when the shadows run long- and the hallways lay darkened.

There's actually more than a few moments where the games visual and sound design make things suspenseful, and even altogether uncanny. Other moments veer towards the comforting, anxiety inducing.

It's a Journey

It really is. It's not often that I'm bothered or upset by games, but I actually got a bit emotionally at the tail end of the story, and quite frankly, by that juncture- it had earned it. Despite being a point and click, and not too mechanically heavy- it's still a fairly lengthy endeavour, so by the time you reach the conclusion, you'll have spent some time as Aspen, along with the other Masons.

And- I don't regret -any- of that time. It's -quite- good, to the point that I feel remiss that I haven't yet tackled Cultics other title yet.

Go check it out!

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