Cat Maze is part platformer and part RPG. An exploration adventure full of hidden trails, strange enemies, and cute animals to help you along the way. It looks simple at first glance, but there are more tricks inside than expected, making it a fun journey through the magical world.
You play the role of Arresta, a young witch who embarks on a quest to help her sick mother. As this simple task becomes more complex, further adventures unfold, eventually challenging various magical creatures to find your way to another realm. provide emotional content to Whether it’s a lost girl frightened by monsters or a stubborn boy searching for her father, there are some moments that act almost like short side quests without interrupting the main storyline.
By the way, you are not a wand-wielding witch. Instead, they rely on animal friends known as familiars. One of the most fun aspects of Cat Maze is finding new creatures to add to your collection, from bats to crows. There are surprisingly fewer cats than their name suggests, but cats guide you to special items and play an important role in making your way through the land.
The gameplay is solid, mixing platforming and hack and slash elements. Your first quest features well-placed signposts to provide an overview of the moveset. A little more guidance in the beginning in terms of where to actually go would be appreciated. It’s frustrating at first, with a lot of backtracking to get used to. Maps show you where you’ve been, and question marks guide you to your next destination, which are also poorly explained. I have found an experience.
Along the way Arresta will come across all sorts of creatures, from mushrooms to wild beasts. Some of the later enemies are extremely difficult to defeat, while others are a little creepy. For example, the Haunted Forest is littered with cloaked, wizard-like creatures. Even more frightening, strange shadowy monsters creep out of the ground, reminiscent of the sinister demonic creatures in the movie Ghost (shudder).
As the game progresses, more secrets will be discovered and new areas of the map will open. One of the parts that confused me early on made sense when I finally went back and discovered a different method. This is a very smart move, but I would advise against procrastinating if you get stuck. Keep checking each section on the map. Entry and exit points are highlighted. Like I said, it makes more sense after playing for a while. It’s also worth noting that Cat Maze has a great deal of depth, with the story lasting over his eight hours. At $9.99, it’s good value.
Visually, I appreciated the 16-bit style. It feels like a side-scrolling version of something like A Link to the Past, where you can discover and explore strange forests, green hills and villages. This aesthetic, coupled with a cute soundtrack that changes from place to place, gives a great backdrop to your adventure.
Overall, Cat Maze is a fun adventure into the magical world of potions and animals. Initial frustration paved the way for a fun adventure with many discoveries and a fulfilling story.