Undercat

Does anyone feel like there's a lot of 'under' in the titles of games lately? Undercat is the newest indie adventure to take up that trend, providing a pixelated platformer that puts us in an animal realm with a feline tyrant overlord. If that's not enough to pique your interest, I'm unsure what could be. So what will this new platformer offer us that hasn't been done already?

For starters, the concept of Undercat is already entertaining. You're in a realm of animals, striving to build a resistance to fend off the oppression of evil cats that have taken over their home city. Doesn't this sound much like a pet hierarchy in a typical human household? It does, and that's why I'm excited to see how this game gets fleshed out.

The Cruelest Cats in Town

The captivating world of Undercat is a tale of a bygone era when all the animal inhabitants coexisted harmoniously within the sprawling metropolis known as the Citadel. However, that idyllic era was disrupted by the rise of sinister feline overlords – the dreaded Cats. These cunning adversaries seized control, banishing dogs to the city's outskirts and forcing other animal residents into labor in factories and mines.

That leaves the player to use their platforming skills to overcome the authoritarian challenges set by their feline oppressors, sifting through each level by solving puzzles, defeating cat loyalists, and inspiring resistance to take back the Citadel. You'll control a series of animals with their skill sets in what feels like a standardized 2D platforming environment, where mechanics tend to hit the right marks.

In Undercat, achieving your objectives opens up a world of possibilities with various approaches at your disposal. Harness the environment and your wits to your advantage, blending into the landscape by concealing yourself in bushes, crates, and trash containers, all while you wait to ambush your adversaries. Uncover hidden routes and secrets through your keen sense of exploration.

Play mind games with your foes, provoking and outsmarting them. When the going gets tough, don't forget that you can always bring a friend along for the journey. After all, it's undeniably more enjoyable that way! The cooperative mode introduces uncharted opportunities, even if they are not immediately apparent.

Behaving Like Animals

Undercat is a brilliant indie platformer. Despite its traditional-looking visuals and mitigated gameplay, the concept, storylines, character-building, and well-executed mechanics make the game worth the time to lapping up content and immersing in the challenges ahead. It's a simple yet practical approach that puts similar platformers like Party Animals to shame, especially when it comes to co-op.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• An excellent concept bolstered by great storylines
• Diverse gameplay adapting to player approach
• Co-op play is well-designed

Cons:

• Visuals feel like every other indie platformer