This Isn’t Just Style Over Substance
I went into Mouse P.I. for Hire expecting the art style to carry it.
Within the first hour, I realised that wasn’t the case at all.
Yeah, the 1930s rubberhose animation is stunning, straight out of early Disney and Warner Bros, think steamboat Willie. vibes, but the real surprise is how much game there is underneath it. This isn’t a gimmick. It’s a fully fleshed out, action heavy boomer shooter with real ideas.
A Living Cartoon World That’s Hard to Put Down
The presentation is unreal.
Everything is dripping with personality, plants with faces, spiders in shoes, slugs dancing around like they’ve got somewhere better to be. It’s weird, creative, and constantly throwing little visual details at you that make exploration feel rewarding.
Every level feels handcrafted too. Back alleys, swamps, labs, docks, even film sets, it never gets stale. They’re not overly linear, but they don’t drag either. Just the right balance where you feel like you’re discovering things without getting lost.
Noir Storytelling Done Right
You play as Jack Pepper, a war vet turned private investigator, pulled into a messy case involving a missing magician, strange disappearances, and some seriously shady political forces.
It leans hard into noir, and it works.
Clues get pinned to a corkboard as you progress, and piecing things together actually feels engaging rather than just being background fluff. It gives the whole experience a bit more weight than your typical run and gun.
Combat That Carries the Game
Let’s be real, this is a shooter first.
And it absolutely delivers there.
Combat is fast, punchy, and satisfying. You’ve got a mix of straight firefights, arena encounters, and light puzzle elements like safe cracking that break things up just enough.
Movement plays a big part too, dash, double jump, grapple, it all feels smooth and responsive, letting you stay aggressive and mobile.
That Tommy Gun… Unreal
The weapon lineup is solid overall, but one stands way above the rest.
The “James Gun” (basically the Tommy Gun) is ridiculous in the best way. The sound, the power, the feel, it’s easily one of the most satisfying weapons I’ve used in a game this year.
Weapons can be upgraded through blueprints as well, which gives you a reason to explore and experiment a bit more.
Plenty to Do, Plenty to Find
There’s a good amount of content here too.
Roughly 13 hours for the main campaign, with side jobs, collectibles like baseball cards, and hub areas that tie everything together. There’s even a stylised overworld that adds to the charm.
It never felt bloated, just consistently engaging.
A Few Rough Edges
It’s not perfect.
There are a couple of difficulty spikes later on that felt a bit abrupt, and not every weapon hits the same highs as the early standouts.
And I’ll be honest, I really wasn’t sold on Troy Baker here. It felt like the role wasn’t really built around him, more like he was brought in for the name. It didn’t ruin anything, but it stood out.
Final Thoughts
Mouse P.I. for Hire is one of those games that surprises you.
You come for the art style, but you stay for the gameplay. It’s creative, confident, and just a blast to play. A proper boomer shooter with personality to spare.
Definitely one worth checking out.
8/10
