Super Phantom Cat Remake, from developer and producer Veewo Games, is the Nintendo Switch ported version of Super Phantom Cat, one of the most acclaimed iOS and Android platformers from 2016. In order to play ad-free and with the Switch’s hardware, however, the game costs $10.
Before gushing about how good the remake is, I would be remiss not to mention that both Super Phantom Cat and Super Phantom Cat 2 can be played for free on a phone or tablet.
But regardless of price-point, Super Phantom Cat’s previous success is well-founded. All platformers in some way resemble Super Mario Bros., and must accordingly set itself apart from its genre-defining conventions such as jump-based gameplay, colorful visuals, memorable music/effects, and a simple narrative. Super Phantom Cat finds that sweet-spot in between conformity and innovation, allowing for its own flourishes to complement an already solid base.
Gameplay:
Like any other 2D platformer, the majority of gameplay boils down to jumping puzzles fraught with traps and enemies. Here, Super Phantom Cat innovates by varying the ways the player can get around the levels with special abilities (creating vines to climb on, teleporting a short distance through walls, etc.) and with its level design (like launch-pad mushrooms, weight-sensitive blocks, floating drones, and different enemies).
The genius of many platformers originate from their difficulty and corresponding learning curves, and Super Phantom Cat never feels too easy nor too hard. It excels at the tried and true formula of (1) introduce a mechanic with low risk, (2) develop the mechanic further with more risk, (3) twist the mechanic to demand mastery or fresh perspectives, and (4) integrate the mechanic into normal gameplay.
The progressive difficulty of Super Phantom Cat is built even further by forgoing the convention of designing levels exclusively left-to-right. Opening up the levels in every direction, in effect, makes exploration and completionism one of the core facets of gameplay. Veewo knows this, and they added trackers which reward the player for venturing off the beaten path. Not only that, but the entire currency system and store become useless without enough exploration.
Super Phantom Cat’s world and difficulty expand with each advancing level, and never does the game feel bloated or incomprehensible. There is a soothing quality about the flow of gameplay. Even learning mechanics for the first time is rewarded with cheers and confetti on the screen. Often, positive reinforcement can come off as cheesy, but not here.
Art:
The visual artwork is captivating enough to draw cursory interest in app stores or the Nintendo eShop and is also charming enough to lull players into hours of gameplay. Bubbly and pastel-colored vector art is certainly popular at the moment and Super Phantom Cat demonstrates why. Simply put, the game is beautiful to look at and begs to be explored (and who doesn’t love the iconography of cats?!)
Sonically, Super Phantom Cat produces some rich environments and some catchy tunes but doesn’t quite match the standard set by its visual style. That is not to say the sounds are detracting from the overall experience, but I’m left desiring more engrossing music and effects.
Story:
Do not come to Super Phantom Cat expecting any kind of dramatic, comedic, or even rewarding narrative. Throughout the whole game, you chase after your kidnapped sister and random NPC’s show up asking to help with no context. In reality, the driving force to keep playing comes down to exploration and art–this is a game best not thought about too hard.
Verdict:
Overall, Super Phantom Cat Remake is a fur-midable riff on the 2D platformer genre made all the better by the Nintendo Switch’s purr-fect hardware. Irresistible cat puns aside, give this game a try!
Score: 9/10
Take a Look at the Super Phantom Cat Nintendo Switch Trailer:
Super Phantom Cat is available for Nintendo Switch now and PlayStation 4 in the future. The game is already available for PC via Steam, Google Play, and the App Store.
Nintendo Switch Review
Recent Michigan State University grad and current Game Studies researcher who plays fantasy RPG's to escape, Smash to compete, and Stardew to chill. Also have a +1 to rage/toxicity resistance due to the many hours sunk into WoW, R6, and LoL.
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