Fumi Games’ Mouse: P.I. For Hire has created a buzz with its style of animating with 1930s animation and a hardcore first-person shooting game.
Shown in a new trailer at the Xbox Partner showcase, the game combines the look of Steamboat Willie with the fast-paced shooting of Doom.
It is believed that players will take the role of Jack Pepper, a World War I soldier who becomes a private detective who operates within the seedy world of Mouseburg.
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The cartoon style and FPS game
Part of continuing with the concept of the game, casual graphics in the “rubber hose” animation reminiscent of Betty Boop cartoons are used. Fumi Games’ producer Maciej Krzemień emphasised their love for this style:
‘The rubber hose style is general enough that anybody can glean some measure of enjoyment out of those cartoons.’ But here, we see a cheerful colouring choice, which is quite the opposite of black humour and high-impact violence in the game, which makes it even more enjoyable.
Gunplay with a vintage twist
The gunfighting is fluent and energetic, adapting elements reminiscent of Doom. Players will also employ some appreciable Metroidvania-style movement mechanics, so the exploration of the complex will not be a mere shooting gallery but also the various movement tools, for instance, Jack having a tail grapple.
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According to Fumi Games CEO Mateusz Michalak, the animations start from scratch and use rather primitive techniques elaborated from scratch to depict individual movement.
The game uses big-band jazz mixed with 1930s licensed songs to give the players an experience of the time period. As a bonus, one can choose additional crackling sound that adds a realistic touch to mimic sound from tapes.
With a combination of vintage aesthetics, tight shooter mechanics, and inventive animation, Mouse: P.I. For Hire comes out in 2025.
It is set to be a breath of fresh air amongst all the other movies expected to be released in the same year. As Krzemień sums it up: It is a great Bible for people to create something new, indeed, what cartoons mean.