Game: sCATch 2: The Painter Cat
Genre: Puzzle, Arcade, 2D
System: Steam (Windows)
Developer | Publisher: Colossus Game Studio
Controller Support: Yes
Price: UK £3.39 | US $3.99 | € 3,99
Release Date: 12th January 2024
Review code used with many thanks to Colossus Game Studio
Introduction
I have not played the original sCATch: The Painter Cat game so I am unsure whether this sequel builds upon what was present within that title. From what I have researched, it mainly seems to be a difference in presentation. Either way, I was intrigued by what the game was and what I needed to do, and the art style was one of the reasons for this.
sCATch 2: The Painter Cat – Gameplay
In terms of gameplay, the game contains 40 puzzles that require the player to navigate a painter cat through all the paths within the level. An important requirement is that the cat must highlight each pathway with the marked colours before exiting the level. Each puzzle contains a turn counter on the top left that restricts the amount of ‘turns’ a player can use in order to solve each problem.
Each level generally gets more difficult the closer it is to level 40; however, there are a few freebie levels thrown in the pool of puzzles. When progressing a few further level adaptions become present such as portals and redirection arrows. Portals will teleport the cat to the other portals present on the map. The redirection arrows require the cat to pass through multiple times, making certain levels complex. The game features ten achievements that can be acquired through playing the game, with most achievements being hit on certain puzzle milestones.
sCATch 2: The Painter Cat – Presentation
sCATch 2: The Painter Cat is presented in a 2D-pixel art style from a top-down perspective. This allows the player to see the whole level clearly when playing the game. From what I can tell, there is no narrative to this game. The pixel art is very charming and shows the information that is necessary for the player in a clear way. There are useful features such as a level select and an instant redone button, which is very much appreciated.
In terms of music, it is 8-bit-styled music with a somewhat catchy loop. However, there are only a handful of tracks, which is somewhat saddening considering I was getting into the rhythm of the songs when solving the puzzles. There is a cute meow each time you complete a level, which always feels like a reward.
Conclusion
Generally, with sequels, I prefer a title to build and add extra mechanics than what was present in the original title. However, I enjoyed my time with sCATch 2: The Painter Cat. I found the concept pretty unique for a casual puzzle game. I do think the game could benefit from a few more levels, maybe some extra unlock, when you complete all 40 puzzles, as I did complete the game within an hour. Additionally, some extra mechanics could certainly raise the enjoyment of the game such as blending colours. I think this could easily add an extra layer of dimension to the game. I could easily see the title taking around 1-3 hours to complete, depending on how determined you are to complete puzzles.
If casual puzzle games interest you, I could recommend that you pick up sCATch 2: The Painter Cat. Additionally, the title is on sale until 19th January 2024 if you want to try the game, and you can pick it up here.
Final Verdict: I Like it. 