REVIEW – Copycat. Not coincidentally, since this genre of games has been seen before, and since Stray offered something similar before it, the name is quite appropriate for a cat simulator, which is severely hampered by its more serious linearity and limited gameplay, and therefore Stray is still considered a higher quality product in comparison.

Obviously, it is the cat-loving attitude of the site’s ownership that led to this game being developed by Spoonful of Wonder.

It’s not a sandbox, so it’s going to hold back the cat adventure

The cat in Copycat’s name also indicates that you will be controlling a cat. The story is explicitly linear, so don’t expect much exploration, and there won’t be many choices. There are some mini-games, but otherwise there is no real gameplay, but for now we control an old lady, Olive, in the story. Her cat has run away, so she visits the animal shelter to choose a new one. Meanwhile, we fall asleep because she moves so slowly. There will be six options, we’ll choose one and take it home. Whoever it is, Dawn will be the cat’s name, and the camera can be very unreliable during the shifts. When Dawn is being controlled, we get a third-person view, but when we interact with Olive, it switches to a first-person view (so, for example, stealing the leftovers on the table will happen in this perspective). There are realistic, correct 3D graphics with a lot of detail in the environment, the house is furnished and Olive’s backstory is known (her younger age, a nursing home pamphlet and a condolence card are shown), but what is certain is that her voice just doesn’t match her looks (younger).

She moves a bit awkwardly, sometimes holding on to whatever she is moving or lying on. But even when you get past that, there is little interaction. Mostly you can meow and jump on tables, window frames, knock things over… and sometimes you just get a side view of Dawn, but then the backstory with the neighbors unfolds (lonely gentleman drinking alcohol, husband and wife arguing, young couple moving in together). The main story is well emphasized, but there’s not much freedom of movement, and sometimes you’re completely restricted. For example, at the very beginning you can’t get away with attacking Olive (scratching or biting). Steak on the table? Everything MUST be pushed off. Why? You also have to paw the house full of paw prints with the paint cans. This restriction is simply a major detriment to the rating, as it ruins both the gameplay and the ambience, although there is a reason for it: Dawn’s former family. That’s why she doesn’t want to be housebound again and why she sabotages everything, doesn’t want to be a pet, but wants to be free, but doesn’t expect Olive’s affection and ailing health to change everything. In short, the problem is that although the result is good, the road to get there is more of a disaster than a properly executed one…

New relationship, old problems

Copycat is a bit too much of a visual novel. The framework of three-dimensional exploration is really just a framework. We don’t have much freedom, and even when something needs to be done, we’re not so sure we agree with the actions in question. But the opposite is the case with Dawn’s thoughts. These parts are quite good, when you can read in big white letters what the places of interest are, and she can be a bit… cheeky when she gives her opinion about some things (like the rug in the bathroom). It’s a pity that not much (or rather nothing) can be done at these points, but at least you can know what Dawn is thinking, but she usually doesn’t speak at these times either. There is a bit of voice acting, because a narrator speaks. Olive loves nature movies, and nothing proves this more than the fact that on Dawn’s first day, leopards are hunting on the savannah.

So Dawn wants to escape, and that’s when the narrator of the documentary starts commenting on the events, sometimes with background music. Apart from that, the soundtrack is quite good, as the piano is quite suitable for the game, but there are also some drums and wind instruments. Sometimes the environment in Dawn’s dreams changes in a surreal way, and that’s also pleasant. In the middle of the game (after about an hour and a half…), everything suddenly changes and Dawn has to rely on herself, but in the process she discovers what she’s lost. Then there will be some fight scenes with QTEs (against cats), there will be a chase segment (being chased by a dog), and catching a fish will be among the tasks. The problem with these is that we get too little of them too late…

Cat claw

Copycat only gets 6/10 because, although it’s a pleasure to see shorter games, it didn’t take even three hours to play through. That, and the lack of interaction and constant perspective switching can be frustrating. If you liked Stray, it’s worth a try. But it’s still worth considering if it’s interesting. Otherwise it’s forgettable.

-V-

Publisher: Neverland Entertainment, Nuuvem, Spoonful of Wonder
Developer: Spoonful of Wonder
Style: cat
Release: date: September 19, 2024