Mouse is a CoD & Cuphead crossover we didn’t know we needed
Indie games tend to experiment with visual styles far more than AAA studios do. It seems that hyper-realism ends up being the focus for many upcoming games, which in many ways, hinders the progression of visuals in the medium.
Imagine if Call of Duty took on a cartoony art style, or if we got a FIFA game designed like an oil painting - it'd defeat the point of their core but could work towards creating a brand new point entirely.
There are leagues of styles to explore, but sadly, many teams don't engage in the way they should. In the meantime, we can rely on indie devs to turn out some real masterpieces, and it looks like one unlikely aesthetic crossover is doing exactly that.
Mouse is a Steamboat Willie shooter
A brand-new game has burst onto Twitter, channelling the unmistakable aesthetic of early Disney animations and combining it with sheer, all-out violence. The game, titled MOUSE, is a first-person shooter that mixes up the crash-bang-wallop of old-school animations and classic shooter action to make a pretty chaotic-looking experience.
With MOUSE doing the rounds on social media, it's clear to see that fans are all over it. One fan cheered, "I'm so into games with unconventional visual styles, this is sweet," while another added, "Game industry is healing LOL, finally something that seems interesting from concept."
MOUSE is currently in the works from Fumi Games and appears to be the very first game from the studio - and it's a pretty impressive first foray into the world of game dev as a team.
"Armed with a variety of mid-century firearms and explosives like the Revolver, Tommy Gun, Hammer, Carcano, Dynamite, you'll be able to take on enemies in any way you choose," reads the game's Steam page.
"Whether you prefer to run and gun, jump and dodge, or carefully plan your attacks, Mouse gives you the freedom to approach combat your way." Combining the fast-paced action of Call of Duty with an adorable animation style similar to Studio MDHR's Cuphead should be a licence to print money.
When is Mouse coming out?
Click to enlargeThe MOUSE release date isn't currently listed on the game's Steam page, but if you're into winding up your arm like Popeye and punching off some cartoon heads, then it will definitely be worth adding to your wishlist and keeping up to date with the title.
As Mickey Mouse enters the public domain in 2024, expect to see a slew of Disnified games. We've already seen Winnie the Pooh's PD lead to a horror-themed game, but we guess Walt Disney is spinning in his grave right now.
MOUSE boasts an attitude to game development that's only really present in indies these days, which is a big shame - but it's doing a hell of a lot for Fumi Games. We'll see you on release day.
