No one really knows what cats get up to on their travels. Sure, they might bring home sacrificial rats or rummage dumpsters for scraps of tuna, but what are they really doing in the alleyways and sewers at night? Well, in the twisted world of Mewgenics, not only are the shady antics of these scrappy felines revealed, but the brutal reality of the survival of the fittest and the sickening disposition of local residents means these kitties don’t exactly get to live out their most comfortable lives.
Almost indistinguishable as a game straight from the mind of The Binding of Isaac creator Edmund McMillen, and in collaboration with Tyler Glaiel, Mewgenics wears its revolting and perverse nature on its sleeve, so players must quickly accept that this isn’t going to be the cutesy depiction of cats that video games often present them as. To that extent, any cat lover might have a hard time wrapping their head around the premise of scientific experiments being conducted on these fluffy creatures, where it is rare to expect any four-legged furball to look like anything but a normal, functioning cat.
This roguelite sees players taking in strays in their newly owned home and sending four of the (un)lucky souls out into the streets for an adventure of turn-based proportions. Handing out collars to each kitty assigns them a role that will be familiar to any RPG gamer, granting unique active and passive abilities that allow them to function as damage dealers, tanks, healers, ranged attackers, thieves, mages, and other unlockable classes that become available as progress is made.
Dark and sadistic humour permeates its way into every inch of the world, but in melding this crudeness into its gameplay, Mewgenics sets itself apart from its contemporaries. These poor kitties undertake some real beatings, breaking bones and developing mutations caused by intense enemy attacks or even unfortunate random events that play out in between bouts of combat. Curled up in pain and wrapped in bandages, moggy fans will face difficulty seeing the hurt these brave cat-venturers go through!
In fact, one thing that must be adapted to fast is to not get super attached to certain cats because once they’ve set off on their travels, even if they return home alive and well, they will become “retired”, unable to venture forth again in the future. They still serve much purpose after this point, however. They can become breeders that pass on abilities they have learned in their quest to newborn kittens, which is the key to developing stronger teams that have the potential to get that little bit further through the alleys, taking down gruesome bosses, and making it to other areas like junkyards, caves and sewers, all inhabited by despicable and deformed creatures of their own.
Alternatively, cats can be “donated” to various (equally mutilated) locals that offer up perks for shipping over target amounts. Unlock more space in your house for additional kitties, purchase new goods and gear to boost their skills and stats, obtain new collar classes or increase your storage capacities. Some vendors only want newborns, or cats that have been on long adventures, or even ones that have suffered broken bones or are mutated.
Deciding whether to part with such felines or make use of them for breeding or questing adds a layer of choice that balances the sometimes-frustrating high random chance element that exists throughout Mewgenics’ gameplay – but both parts in combination are the reason why there is such a strong desire to keep coming back and setting off for another run.
Every single adventure will play out differently from the previous, and it is all about making the absolute most of what you have at your disposal each time. Some items from storage can be saved and equipped onto these precious feline friends, but knowing that the end of the run will mean the end of each cat’s quest pushes players to really think about what they are doing. Building up a powerhouse of a kitty that is capable of taking down multiple foes on its own is great, but losing it mid-run will surely bring about disaster – and a few tears – so it is equally important to protect this tabby beast at all costs.
Then there is the fact that passing on genes to their children will deliver the best chance of keeping stronger and more advanced cats going. Thankfully, there is some leeway during battles if a cat gets downed; it won’t be lost completely as long as that battle is won before it takes any more poundings while laying defeated.
Mewgenics seems intent on punishing players at many a given opportunity, though. Multiple choice events can determine whether a positive or negative outcome is dished out, and the random element means one is almost as common as the other. Indeed, even trying to bypass certain ones may spell doom later; it’s just about whether players want to take the risk and see if they can deal with whatever mutation or disease is thrown onto them down the road.
Heck, kittens can be born with side effects or abnormalities from the get-go – but there may be ways for the negative to be used to your advantage. Cats with disorders that force them to poop at the start of battle, for example, can utilise the mess as barriers against enemies, combine it with other moves for massive environmental damage, use it as a means to spawn a nasty allied familiar, or even have some sickly mogs eat it to heal themselves.
This is just one case of the sheer astonishing amount of possibilities in Mewgenics’ satisfying combat – but it is a system that requires a fair amount of investment and tolerance for randomness that will be a lot to take in for those not quite experienced in the roguelite genre. What it means, however, is that even a hundred runs later, gameplay is kept fresh and unpredictable – and is the reason why it is so easy and appealing to keep coming back for more…along with the hilarious soundtrack that will have other room occupants turning their heads with mouths agape at the absurdity of the vocals.
There could be better explanations in some areas that would serve newcomers to this type of game well, but getting over a few hurdles and making mistakes – of which there will be many – is rewarding when you realise how much depth there is here. Players really must make the most of the abilities (and disorders) they’ve been dealt with, and choose upgrades and new abilities at level-up wisely, thinking about how to get the most out of each kitty-cat’s individual traits. Some runs will inevitably end badly, but with enough careful consideration, monsters and bosses can be brought down in crafty – and humorous – ways that would never have been thought possible ten hours ago.
As with any title in the turn-based vein, Mewgenics is perfectly suited for Switch 2 portable gaming, looking crisp when played off the TV – although the old-timey film special effects may require adjusting or being turned off entirely for the most distraction free sessions.
Snappy Joy-Con mouse controls and touch screen implementation are very welcome additions, but the inability to rotate or zoom maps is a strange and annoying omission that becomes more apparent when it seems like click-dragging or swiping the screen should adjust the point of view. Maps can get a bit busy with some units and objects obscuring each other, so camera manipulation would have helped a lot in crowded scenarios.
