Far From Furtive Felines In Cats And The Other Lives

Bloody cats. They already dominate the internet, and now they’re muscling in on all the games, too, but when it’s titles such as Cats and the Other Lives by Cultic Games, it makes me wonder whether or not the dogs really have to up their game.

Once again, I’d heard of this when it arrived in my inbox. Cats? Pfft! Nah, you’re alright. I’ll check out the video to see what kind of nonsense this may be. But hold on… the pixel art here is… really good. Is this a point and click?! I may have been a bit premature in my judgment. Let’s take a look.

Cats and the Other Lives is, sort of, a point and click adventure where you play a cat named Aspen. This is just an ordinary cat, though. It has no special powers, can’t speak, licks its own arsehole, and frequently eavesdrops on the family’s conversations on an alarming level. Ok, maybe this is no ordinary cat, but that’s for later.

Cats and the Other Lives: Always Listening

We’re drawn to this story when the head of the household, Bernard, passes. His widow and estranged children return to the large family home to finalise where his assets will be going and whether they can cash in or not. There are obviously a ton of memories here for everyone – from the immediate family but also for the staff, such as the maid and handyman.

As Cats and the Other Lives progresses, we see flashbacks to pivotal moments in the family’s history – from how each one has directly affected another to quiet, isolated moments of reflection. Aspen sees everything – not just the present but the past, too.

Emphasis on this being a simple cat once more, as while these people are having poignant conversations, Aspen is licking himself on a table or hunting a rogue mouse. Hover around long enough, though, and you’ll pick up some compelling discussions which help you live out that fly-on-the-wall analogy. The family aren’t really aware of some stupid fleabag other than an early comment from the boy who points out that Aspen is always listening.

The Cat’s Pajamas

Cats and the Other Lives isn’t a walking simulator, though – there are interactive elements, and sadly, that’s what lets this down. For starters, the initial play area is the house, and while it’s on the larger scale, it’s far from a stately home, and you’re literally moving back and forth to each room to listen to conversations or sniff out a clue.

Other interactive bits include timed puzzles of moving Aspen about, but on the Switch, it’s so clumsy, and there are so many times you have to repeat them as you move the stick in the wrong direction or run out of time. If you get stuck, there’s a hint system, but even then, it’s unnecessary as the narrative is easy to follow – pending you’re close to those speaking.

In truth, I’d much prefer Cats and the Other Lives as a passive experience, either as a film or reading it as a book or graphic novel. Unfortunately, the gameplay elements aren’t very good, the framerates are off, and it’s just not entertaining. On the far end of the spectrum, the story is absolutely brilliant – a well-thought-out concept with some exciting storytelling from different perspectives. Alas, the controls and mechanics burst that bubble. If you can bear that part of it, the story as a standalone is fantastic.