Digital Shorts: ‘I Love Finding Cats! – Collector’s Edition’ Review (Switch)
In DIGITAL SHORTS we review some of the latest video games that are only available digitally (at least in the UK), in a short-form review format. In this edition, we take a look at another point and click puzzle game from genre specialists Ocean Media.
I Love Finding Cats! – Collector’s Edition is the latest point and click, hidden-object adventure/puzzle game from publisher Ocean Media, who have seriously specialised in bringing this particular genre of gaming to the Nintendo Switch.
Much like the recent Faircroft Antiques game, I Love Finding Cats! follows the familiar formula, however with some significant updates to the gameplay. Of course Switch’s touchscreen is built for games such as these. Yet I’ve always thought that the screen size of the Switch hinders your discovery of items. Though in terms of graphics it’s VERY hard to not do these types of static hidden object games badly; and to be fair to this release, it looks even better than before, with pin-sharp detail throughout. In fact, so pin-sharp that this game cleverly uses the higher resolution afforded it to better hide objects!
Oftentimes when playing these Ocean Media distributed titles, I find myself either squinting at the screen or using the “show objects” hint waaaay too many times – again due to the Switch’s smaller screen size and my fading eyesight (I’m getting old folks!). However, I Love Finding Cats! – Collector’s Edition changes the game by not only allowing you to zoom into the image/scene but also adding EXTRA hidden items in certain areas that can only be seen by zooming in!
The cleaner, more accessible, controls that were present in the last Faircroft Antiques game, are back again here, making everything feel more natural to play. Now you can use BOTH sticks to control the cursor and the A button is the mouse click now. Plus, as mentioned earlier, you can use buttons to zoom in and out AND use specific buttons to “double zoom” into special extra hidden object areas on a particular scene!
I’m a sucker for the hidden-object puzzles that proliferate that Ocean Media put out, they’re relaxing games for all ages and being able to sit and merely press the screen to solve these puzzles is a lot of fun. Once again you get a myriad of puzzles, mini-games and quests that are easy to jump into which will, if you like this kind of thing, tick all the right boxes. I know these point-and-click puzzlers aren’t for everyone, but they have their audience. Plus with plenty of new and fresh gameplay mechanics to set it apart from the various similar games out there AND move the genre forward, it’s still familiar enough to appeal to fans who want more of the same.
I Love Finding Cats! – Collector’s Edition is available on the Nintendo eShop now from Ocean Media.
