A Charming, Old-School Trip
There are heroes so renowned that their name alone can sell a game or a film. In this bracket, we can name, of course, Indiana Jones, Miss Marple, and Rambo as prime examples of franchises where the character’s name is key.
In the gaming world, sometimes the selling point is the developer or the author; you might see Sid Meier’s name before a strategy title, or Tom Clancy introducing a tactical shooter.
Scott Whiskers is a new name in this lexicon of game heroes, but as this is the second game of his we’ve reviewed, I know it won’t be his last.
A New Point-and-Click Hero
There is something undeniably cosy about playing a point-and-click adventure; it reminds me of the happy days spent playing LucasArts games in the 90s. Scott Whiskers’ first game – Scott Whiskers in: the Search for Mr. Fumbleclaw which we reviewed in 2024 – reminded us of those halcyon days. So, it was with great excitement that we stepped into the boots of this hapless adventurer once more, this time in The Search for the Golden Cat.
The story starts with Scott Whiskers moving into a new apartment with his feline buddy, only to win a crossword competition that grants him a two-week holiday in Guatemala. However, this isn’t going to be a standard holiday spent sunning on the beach and getting drunk on cocktails by the pool before midday. No, once at the hotel, Scott finds out about a local village that has been cursed with bad luck after lightning struck their golden cat idol. Because Scott is a kind-hearted soul and falls in love with the place, he promises to find the replacement Cat Idol, lost somewhere in the jungle. And so, the adventure begins…
The story and writing for Scott Whiskers: The Search for the Golden Cat are charming and delightful. It is a tale full of humour, winks to the audience, and complete with plenty of interesting characters and animals to meet along the journey. There are a host of varied locations to explore that have that old-school Indiana Jones feel to them too.
It feels like a tighter, better adventure this time around compared to the last game, and I think that’s because the developers know the character and the world he inhabits much better now. Previously, I felt the game had too much dialogue at times and could be accused of being a bit waffly. But now? The dialogue feels more streamlined and comical, in a more engaging way. Overall, I liked the story and the charm of the tale a lot.
Hotspots and Head-Scratchers
The gameplay is exactly what you would expect from an old-school point-and-click adventure. In terms of movement, you can’t freely walk around; instead, you have to click on the screen to direct Scott or interact with items. You may have several objectives on the go at once too, and that means you should get used to returning to certain locations a few times, as is the norm for these types of games. To aid, you have a journal to keep track of all these interactions and a map so you can easily travel to all the different places you have discovered.
A modern element, which is most useful, is the ‘hotspots’ button, which highlights all the things you can view or interact with in a level. It is very handy indeed.
The puzzles range from making perfect sense to being quite obtuse. They are excellently put together, but be warned: you will get stuck. There isn’t any kind of hint system included here either, so you must rely on exploring and talking to everyone to find clues. I admit there were some puzzles I wouldn’t have solved at all on my own, and so, when in times of need I was thankful to my internet friends for helping me with a solution.
Graphically, I think Scott Whiskers: The Search for the Golden Cat has improved since the last entry, perhaps because the locations are more exotic this time. The colourful design is brilliant, and it feels like a modern game, even though it has definite retro mechanics on display.
The characters are well-designed, featuring simple animations that work well and the sound design is also very good, with some great tracks that reflect the different areas you explore. I particularly like the voiceover work; the actor in the English version makes Scott Whiskers sound kind-hearted – someone you would like to invite around for a cup of tea. The rest of the cast also do a splendid job throughout.
A Great Yarn for the Modern Adventurer
I do love a good point-and-click adventure, and Scott Whiskers: The Search for the Golden Cat is a great yarn. It feels like a lovely family friendly game, mostly because of its themes and the wholesome main hero. However, younger gamers may well struggle with some of the puzzles as they can be a bit tricky at times.
Overall, though, you should enjoy joining Scott on his holidays. The question is, what epic adventure awaits him next time?
Important Links
Scott Whiskers: The Search For The Golden Cat Is Now On Xbox – https://www.thexboxhub.com/scott-whiskers-the-search-for-the-golden-cat-is-now-on-xbox/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/Scott-Whiskers-the-Search-for-the-Golden-Cat/9ND6XNKDVF1W
