MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Reviews
Mouse: P.I. for Hire is an amusing enough FPS if you just want to blast some cartoon mice and not think about it too hard, but its haphazard marriage of noir storytelling and boomer shooter action are at odds in uncomfortable ways that weaken both aspects.
A slick, accomplished shooter that's more than just an eye-grabbing art style.
Mouse is an enjoyable and visually stunning shooter with just enough uncapitalized potential to make me mourn what could have been. It looks amazing, the music is spectacular, the voice acting is top-notch, and it feels great to play in the moment, but its unwillingness to put up even a semblance of challenge is its biggest downfall. I’d still very easily recommend it, but sticking it on the hardest difficulty is almost a requirement.
There's rarely a frame that isn't bursting with style and creativity, and it's none too shabby as a retro-style shooter either. Mouse: P.I. might not reinvent the wheel, but its arsenal of weapons is punchy and delightfully varied, while the fluidity of movement makes for some thrilling, high-speed shootouts. In this instance, you should have no qualms about handing over money to the mouse.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire shows a deep love for animation of the era, but the gameplay and script lack the same level of care. A Gouda attempt, but nothing bleu me away. Cheesy in all the wrong ways.
It draws you in like a detective magazine, getting you invested in the state of the city, while keeping you merrily chugging along with good ol’ cartoony violence. It’s not a revolutionary game as far as the FPS genre goes, but considering its adherence to multiple kinds of retro aesthetics, I don’t think being revolutionary was the mission statement here.
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire absolutely oozes charm in its narrative and gameplay, even if it gets caught in a mousetrap or two of the FPS genre.
MOUSE: P.I. for Hire offers incredible art and animation, as well as enjoyable first-person shootouts. For that, it certainly succeeds — just don't expect it to do much of anything else.
The combat mechanics, movement, and narrative are dialed in. The pacing is a little slow, especially in the first few hours, but Mouse: P.I. for Hire doesn’t take itself too seriously, and the overall energy and clever, fun concept carry it along.
Besides its delightful art style, brilliantly blending inspirations from Cuphead, early Mickey Mouse cartoons, and 1930s film noir, Mouse PI For Hire is from a gameplay standpoint a classic boomer shooter, but very effective and enjoyable to play. Even if its "detective" aspect is largely inconsequential, we generally enjoyed following this frenetic adventure as Troy Baker... Jack Pepper, despite a somewhat tedious final section that leaves a slightly underripe aftertaste for an overall appetizing cheese. Perhaps the upcoming DLC ​​will be the final clue to wrap up the investigation in style ?
Review in French | Read full review
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Review in Italian | Read full review
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is un-brie-lievable. Somehow, the lofty ambition they presented in 2023 has been surpassed by an excellent release. This spunky noir shooter is exactly the kind of game I wanted, and it's so much fun to play I might just start it again. Don't sleep on MOUSE; this is a premium and ingenious game in an indie package.
Mouse: PI for hire is committed to the bit and executes its cartoonish vision spectacularly. It also has a surprisingly robust narrative, as well as competent, Doom Eternal-like gameplay, even if it's a bit on the easier side.
Mice like cheese. This is something you're frequently reminded of throughout Mouse: P.I. For Hire, a game laden with delicious cheese puns, and ...
Cliches and homages abound in MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, and it gleefully embraces them while offering a compelling detective mystery wrought with over-the-top violence and a cast that's having the time of their lives.
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire pulls together some of the most iconic systems and shooter mechanics and wraps them in a highly stylised, rubber-hose inspired art style
Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a love letter to 1930s rubber-hose animation wrapped around a tight, fast-paced shooter. The art style is stunning, the gameplay loop is satisfying, and the world Fumi Games has built is full of charm and personality. It ends too soon and can get repetitive in spots, but if Cuphead scratched an itch you didn’t know you had, Mouse: P.I. For Hire is absolutely worth your time.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire brings us a cohesive world with a unique, mouse-themed noir aesthetic, an engaging detective story, and straightforward but satisfying combat mechanics. Although the gameplay itself lacks a bit of depth, I had a blast playing it.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Aware of its ambitions, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire avoids delving too deeply into complex mechanics or sophisticated exploration and progression structures, but there's no doubt it manages to blend the "rubber hose" aesthetic with the creation of an undeniably immersive noir atmosphere. The audiovisual excellence, which articulates a spectacular sound design with cohesive art direction, underpins a solid first-person shooter - even if its gameplay is not very innovative - finding a good balance between inspiration and originality.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Mouse: P.I. for Hire is absolutely excellent. The presentation is stellar, with graphics that accomplish their goal of creating an interactive version of a 1930s cartoon. The soundtrack is good enough to convert players into fans of big band jazz. The shooting and platforming feel right, while the game clocks in at the right length. For fans of both shooting and action in general, Mouse: P.I. for Hire is a must-have title.