Summary
While the nextBioShockand its spiritual successor inJudasare both set to continue the legacy of lore-heavy single-player FPS titles, upcoming indie gameMousehas been shown to be aiming for what could be the most original take on the formula yet. Set in a black and white world fashioned after the aesthetic of rubber house 1930s cartoons, this action-packed shooter appears to be capitalizing on the public domain status of Disney’s Mickey Mouse during the Steamboat Willie era. Unlike several other projects in the same vein, however,Mouseis shaping up to be a meaningful addition to the subgenre.
Sequels and titles likePreymanaged to occupy a similar niche in the years since, as they all utilize the combat and immersive-sim-inspired elements which shined in the original, self-containedBioShock.Mousehas become an anticipated FPSrelease not only through the merits of its own setting, but the way it seems to be translating similar mechanics into this world as well.
Mouse Already Stands Out Among Its FPS Competition
The Flavor of Mouse’s Theme Flips BioShock’s Retrofuturism on Its Head
While its presentation down to the UI is reminiscent of the Irrational Games classic,Mouse’s setting differs in a crucial way even beyond its cartoon look.BioShockestablished high-tech,dystopian worlds in Rapture and Columbiadespite being rooted in a retro timeline, but this rubber hose shooter is fully committed to the old-school motif. Tommy guns, cigars, and cans of spinach are examples of thematically appropriate items which replace the outlandish offerings of other “shock” experiences.
A Unique Art Style Can Stack Up to AAA Fidelity
Not only isJudas, developed byBioShock’s original creator, shaping up to be an impressive title that has taken years of development, but existing games like theDishonoredtitles have set a high bar for Mouse to clear if it wishes to properly compete with them. While indie developer Fumi Games is unlikely to be able to offer the same kind of scale or visual realism, the immediately recognizable animated look of its project allows its gameplay to stand out above all else.
Mouse’s Fast-Paced Action Evokes the Intensity of BioShock Which Fans Miss
Gunplay That’s Light on Powers, but Heavy on Movement
From what has been showcased so far,Mouseseems to merely take heavy inspiration fromBioShockas opposed to being a one hundred percent accurate clone. Plasmids and Vigors don’t have any clear parallel in this context, with the enhanced melee attacks of the “Spike-D” canned spinach power-up serving as the closest the player seems to be able to come to harnessing similar energies. It’s unknown if firing bullets from the player’s finger is a power or unique weapon, but it’s just another aspect which exemplifies that the title is mainly concerned with its polished shooting. Through trailers featuring enclosed and open areas filled with aggressive enemies being both quickly shot down and defeated by environmental obstacles, it’s clear thatMouseis going to feature hectic scenarios that wouldn’t feelout of place in the nextBioShock.
There might not be a power system like in other “shock” games, but the ability of the player to hop around between hooks using their tail somewhat resembles the Sky-Line capabilities of Booker DeWitt fromInfinite. A varied arsenal composed of everything from a sniper rifle to dynamite also complements this as another apparent layer of options within combat, indicating thatMousemight be able to harness its immersive sim roots through supporting many different combat approaches.WhetherJudasandBioShock 4succeedor not, fans of these alternative-style FPS games can at least look forward to a fresh but familiar take on the format.
