A First Look At Mouse: P.I. For Hire—Rubber Hose and Rubber Bullets

It should probably go without saying that when I first saw Mouse: P.I. For Hire—initially just titled Mouse—I was immediately intrigued. It was another one of those games that found its way across one of my socials, and I loved what it was doing. I've mentioned before that I've come to really enjoy the combination of 2D characters in 3D environments, seen in games like Demon Turf, Ruff and the Riverside and Forgive Me Father. But Mouse: P.I. For Hire was really taking it to the next level.
With Summer Game Fest being as crazy as it is, CGM was unable to sit down with Fumi Games personally to take a more in-depth look at Mouse: P.I. For Hire, however, the team was gracious enough to share with us some first-look footage of the game in action and I've got to say—its quite an evolution. What started as a fairly simple shooter with an incredible aesthetic has transformed into something wildly creative and seriously inventive.
The gameplay video we were shown saw Jack Pepper—the game's protagonist, voiced by the one and only Troy Baker—tracking down a lead to an old Opera House where it seems a mayoral candidate is about to be the target of a murder. Jack's gotta fight his way through a bunch of mooks in order to stop it and get his next clue to crack the case.
What was immediately interesting about the demo was how it seemed to showcase a bit more than the standard combat—which has been the focus of many of the game's pre-release trailers. While it may still take on the fairly straightforward level structure of a lot of classic FPS games, it almost seemed to show off gameplay that might suggest Mouse: P.I. For Hire even has a few Immersive Sim elements.
In approaching the Opera, players were given the choice to pay off one of the waiters for access inside without alerting the crowd, or they could potentially sneak in through the vents. Not only that, it showcased a brief moment where Jack snapped a photo of some suspicious happenings, suggesting there may be an element of mystery solving going on in this game. While it wasn't much, it would play well to the game's Noir style, incentivizing players to look around, gather clues and approach situations in a number of ways.
The combat itself looked incredibly tight and exciting in the same way that so many of the classic shooters are. Tight spaces and multiple enemies will keep players on their toes, and they'll need to not only take advantage of a plethora of traditional and interesting weapons, but also the environment itself—as explosive barrels can be used to gain a strategic advantage.
But of course, the highlight of the trailer was seeing the game's incredible aesthetic come to life. It's a technique that dates back to the days of the Nintendo 64—take a 2D object and have it always face the camera. However, Fumi Games has put an extraordinary amount of work into capturing the look and feel of classic cartoons in a fun and creative way. From the way Jack picks up new weapons in a way that's both realistic and silly, to the way those weapons bounce up and down like they're made of rubber, to enemy deaths that are both slapstick and gory—think more Itchy and Scratchy than Steamboat Willie.
And the creativity of Mouse: P.I. For Hire shines through in the weapons themselves. While the demo showcased a majority of them that are fairly standard for the Noir setting, the one that really caught my eye was the Turpentine Gun. I couldn't help but laugh at a weapon that, in any other shooter, would've just been a Plasma or Acid Gun, but here it is using a chemical that specifically dissolves paint. It was this little detail that really had me anticipating what other fun ways Mouse: P.I. For Hire would play with its premise.
While it's still a little ways away from release, it's amazing to see just how far Mouse: P.I. For Hire has come in its development. It's a solid reminder that even games that are simple in genre can be made all the more transformative by an inventive premise. Games like this are the reason I'm always saying the Indie scene is more worth keeping an eye on than the 'AAA' one.

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