Game: Shy Cats Hidden Orchestra
Genre: Music, Puzzle, Hidden Object
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam (Windows))
Developer | Publisher: Enchant Games | Mens Sana Interactive
Age Rating: US Everyone | EU 3+
Price: US $3.99 | UK £3.59 | EU € 3,99
Release Date: October 6th 2023
Review code used, with many thanks to Mens Sana Interactive
In the everlasting discussion of whether you’re a dog or cat lover, I’m firmly in the dog corner. Maybe it’s because I’m very allergic to cat hair. My allergies, however, didn’t play up when I downloaded Shy Cats Hidden Orchestra. The Hidden Orchestra is on tour, a talented group of cute, very shy cast. You can find them in various landscapes, and it’s up to you to find these hidden musicians.
Hiding in the Scenery
The game presents you with ten different vistas, each one even more fantastic and unreal than the next. In each one, you must find a certain number of cats hidden in the scenery. This may sound easy, but as they are in the same colour palette as the background, this is surprisingly difficult. The image has different layers as well, and a lot of it moves in some direction or other.
I like the fact that you don’t have to find all the cats to move on to the next level. Of course, your goal is to find them all and uncover the actual band. But you don’t have to get frustrated at finding the last stragglers.
Let the Band Play
When you find a cat, it’s moved to the bar below the vista and immediately starts playing the instrument it holds. Can you imagine that by the time you find 20 of them, it’s a cacophony of sound? The developer has taken into account that you might not love the wall of sounds, so you can click on a cat to silence it. In fact, that’s part of your goal in a level.
You have to find a little golden key in the picture and a box. Once you have both, you can open the box and see what band is actually performing in this landscape. Silence all cats aside from the band, and you will hear the tune as it’s supposed to be. When this happens, there are subtle changes to the vista, too.
Controls, Graphics and More
Shy Cats Hidden Orchestra performs well on the Switch; it’s a perfect fit for the touch screen, though you can also use the buttons. The left and right shoulder lets you zoom in and out, allowing you to peer closely. There’s always something going on on the screen, like falling snow whirling about when the band plays in a winter landscape.
The graphics look lovely. Every little cat is detailed in chibi form; each has a special instrument and its own characteristics. The music, of course, is the centrepiece and special for every level.
Conclusion – These Cats Can Play
Are you looking for something sweet, short and innovative? Then, this little hidden object adventure is for you, offering great gameplay. Shy Cats Hidden Orchestra stands out in its genre because of the novel way music is used. Finding all the cats, but also finding which
Tired of peering at the screen? No problem, just move on to the next landscape, and no need to get frustrated by having to find them all. You might find, however, that you can’t resist taking one more good look. Do you feel the game should be longer? Well, next year, the Shy Dog Hidden Orchestra will start performing, too!
Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up