- DEVELOPER: Spoonful Of Wonder
- PUBLISHER: Neverland Entertainment, Nuuvem Publishing
- PLATFORMS: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, macOS
- GENRE: Adventure
- RELEASE DATE: 19. rujna 2024.
- STARTING PRICE: 14.79 €
- REVIEWED VERSION: PC
“But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world.” This famous quote from The Little Prince speaks to themes of trust, attachment, and forming bonds—topics often explored in literature and games alike. If I had a nickel for every indie adventure game featuring a cat searching for its home, I’d have two nickels. It’s not a lot, but it’s surprising that it has happened twice. The first game I’m referring to is Stray, an award-winning title where a cat navigates a long-forgotten cybercity. The second, Copycat from Spoonful of Wonder, has just been released, and I’m confident it will soon win your hearts as well.
Will you love me and let me meow forever?
In Copycat, we play as Dawn, a shelter cat who is readopted by a lonely older woman named Olive. Initially, Dawn is skeptical of her new situation, convinced she’s a wild cat and constantly plotting her escape. However, as Dawn and Olive gradually form a deep bond, their friendship blossoms, and Dawn’s doubts begin to fade. Just when things seem to be going well, Olive falls ill, and a stray copycat takes Dawn’s place, forcing her back onto the streets. Abandoned once more, Dawn begins to grapple with profound questions: Where do I belong? Who is the true copycat? What does home really mean?
We begin the game from Olive’s perspective at the moment she adopts Dawn. Once this pivotal event occurs, we switch to Dawn’s point of view and start to experience life as a cat. This means running through the house, knocking things over, creating hiding spots, scratching furniture, stealing food, and meowing to our heart’s content. Initially, navigating as a cat can be challenging, especially when it comes to jumping, but with practice, it becomes easier. As we become more familiar with our surroundings, a range of new activities is introduced, including reflex-based hunting, quick time events with various patterns, and even platforming. The diverse mechanics used to tell the story add depth and variety to the experience. Since the game is narrative-driven, players face numerous choices that impact their adventure, which I’ll delve into in more detail later.
Living the wildlife documentary
Let’s dive into the graphics and why I rated them so highly. If you’ve played the demo or seen gameplay footage or trailers, you might think the game looks a bit rough around the edges. I agree that achieving a realistic depiction of cats and the outside world isn’t the main goal of this game. However, the focus on the cats themselves is where the graphics shine. I did switch to a lower resolution at times to smooth out the gameplay, but I still wouldn’t consider the graphics bad.
The real standout moment came with the first change in art style, where we’re transported into a bright, geometric world of nature. This shift was both bewildering and fascinating. The movements, sounds, and surroundings were unique, and the music, reminiscent of The Lion King, was the perfect finishing touch. This transition between reality and a nature documentary fantasy cleverly highlights Dawn’s struggles with her identity and sense of belonging.
Beyond the initial art style changes, the creators continued to experiment. For instance, one cutscene employs slow motion to emphasize the animals' reflexes and speed. While the game starts with a specific point of view, it later allows us to explore different angles and perspectives. I also admired the use of lighting during darker moments—it was both symbolic and theatrical. Overall, the effort put into the visuals is commendable, which is why I awarded them the highest grade.
“Oh no, they choose violence.”
I have a feeling that cats are often misunderstood in media—they’re either depicted as silly, brainless goofballs (which, admittedly, isn’t entirely inaccurate) or as hidden masterminds plotting humanity’s downfall (a notion that’s not entirely without merit, to be fair). What I loved about this game is that it lets us experience a cat’s life firsthand. We see Dawn’s diabolical side as she intentionally destroys every piece of furniture in the house. We also get a glimpse of her humorous side through the remarks she makes as jokes during exploration (“Oh no, they choose violence” when approached by a gang of strays will forever be iconic to me). What makes Dawn a special protagonist is her silence combined with the ability to see her thoughts. This allows us to understand her longing for love, security, and a home, as well as her fear of attachment and abandonment stemming from her past. This connection makes us responsible for the choices we make.
The story of Copycat is linear, so there won’t be any actions or decisions that impact the outcome. However, players enjoy considerable freedom from the start—they can choose the color of the cat and its accessories. They are free to explore as much as they like, with guidance always available if they get lost. Players can choose to play around or not, and even the choice of picking up a piece of trash is up to them. These small details contribute to a more personal experience while keeping us engaged with the story.
Collecting parts
The "Bring the tissues" warning in the Steam description is no joke. Copycat is a game that will break you to make its impact truly resonate. It offers a devastating and tear-jerking experience as we delve into both Dawn’s insecurities and Olive’s struggles. The story revolves around an abandoned cat and a human who is giving up, both searching for the meaning of family and home as loneliness and darkness slowly envelop them. We discover alongside them that home can take many forms, leading to a profound emotional catharsis. In short, expect to cry a lot, and the tissues will disappear faster than Dawn can tear up the toilet paper.
Ending thoughts
This game is an experience for everyone, whether you have a cat or not. I highly recommend playing it in one sitting—it only takes about 3 hours to guide Dawn to her true home. For me, it was the best game I’ve played in a long time—not just because I have two cats, but because it reflected so much of our own lives. It’s comforting to realize that even in darkness, there’s light to be found.
Review copy provided by the publisher
5.0
English (UK) 
Hrvatski