Game:

Space Cats (2024)

Category:

Let's Play

Duration: 16:06

1,889 views

33

PLAY THE GAME:
https://jontopielski.itch.io/cats-on-mars
https://newgrounds.com/portal/view/776144

FOLLOW THE CREATORS:
https://twitter.com/jontopielski (Programming)
https://twitter.com/Thoof4 (Art)
https://twitter.com/mafgar_online (Audio)

Cats on Mars is a rhythm RPG played (mostly) with a keyboard. The game can be played in a browser on itch.io and Newgrounds (links provided above). It can be downloaded to Mac, Windows, and Linux on itch.io. The Windows and Mac versions support the use of a gamepad.

Cats on Mars is a bizarre blend. That doesn’t just refer to the title but the game itself, which mixes the mechanics of an RPG with those of a DDR-style rhythm game. It’s one of those concepts that sounds strange on paper. And yet it works, as does its subject matter.

The Martian setting allows for a touch of wild creativity. Most of the cats you come across are humanoid, like yourself. But there are also giant lounge cats lazing all over the place. As you explore the space colony, it becomes clear that the cats have created their very own slice of utopia. Here the main source of agriculture is catnip. Rooms are littered, in more ways than one. Some cats love to revel in their own filth. Others just like to play video games all day long. They can afford to because they have mice working for them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are allusions to popular video games sprinkled throughout the environment, as well as a somewhat suspicious reference to Among Us. Observations are playful and plentiful.

Regarding the flip side, Cats features a swinging selection of tunes to swish one’s tail to. Its soundtrack is an eclectic mix of bouncy ballet, heady trip-hop, slinky jazz, smooth disco funk, trance-like EDM, and foot-stomping jungle. What's more the catchy audio is complemented by the winsome pixel art. Items are rendered in a whimsical cartoon style – note the shape of the computer mice – and the animated NPC cats seem to bop their heads and swing their tails to the background music.

The art, music, and gameplay gel together well. So much so that, once the music comes to an end, the player might just find themselves purring for more.

This playthrough was published with the permission of the developer. Thanks for watching.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/arcadecurious

CHAPTERS

0:00 Title Screen
0:17 Bedroom
1:29 Lobby
1:45 Courtyard
2:34 Ballet Shoes (120 BPM)
3:21 Power Center
4:06 Arboretum
4:18 Catnip Farm
5:04 Fish Tank
5:32 Entrance Hall
5:52 Bathroom
6:32 Lounge
6:50 Gym
7:14 Leotard (90 BPM)
8:13 Gym
8:45 The Fat Cat Club
9:43 Fancy Hat (107 BPM)
10:39 Kitchen
11:15 Dance Hall
11:59 Dance Competition (120 BPM)
13:21 Sudden Death (136 BPM)
14:10 Credits

DANCE BREAKDOWN

There are four beats in every bar. Each move is made on the beat. An “x” means to skip that beat.

↖ = ↑← ; ↗ = ↑→ ; ↘ = ↓→ ; ↙ = ↓←
△ = ←↑→ ; ▽ = ←↓→
＋ = ←↑↓→

Ballet Shoes (120 BPM) 2:34

← x ← x / → x → x / ← ← → x / ⇆ x ⇆ x /
↑ ↑ ⇆ x / x ↓ ⇆ x /↓ ↓ ⇆ x / ↑ x ⇆ x /
← ↑ → x / ⇆ x ⇅ x / → ↓ ← x / ⇅ x △ x /
← ↓ → x / ↖ x ↗ x / ↑ ↓ ↑ x / ⇆ x ＋ x /

Leotard (90 BPM) 7:14

← x ← x / → x → x / ← ← → → / ← → ← → /
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ / ⇆ ⇆ x ⇅ / x ↓ ← → / ⇆ ↓ ⇆ ↓ /
← ↑ → ↓ / x ↖ x ↖ / x → ← → / x ↘ x ↘ /
← ↑ → ↓ / x △ x △ / x → ↓ ← / x ⇆ x ＋ /

Fancy Hat (107 BPM) 9:43

← x ← x / → x → x / ← ← → → / ← → ⇆ x /
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ / ← → ⇆ x / ↓ ↓ ↓ ⇆ / ← ← → → /
↑ ↓ ⇆ x / ↓ ↑ ⇆ x / ← ↑ → ↓ / ⇆ ⇆ x ＋ /
x ← x ↖ / x → x ↘ / x ← → ↓ / ⇆ ⇆ x ＋ /

Dance Competition (120 BPM) 11:59

← x → x / ← → ← → / ⇆ x ⇆ x / ← → ← → /
↑ ↑ ⇆ x / ← → ← → / ↓ ↓ ⇆ x / ↑ ↓ ⇆ ↓ /
x ↖ x ↘ / x ← → ↓ / x ↖ x ↘ / x ← ↑ → /
⇆ ↑ ⇆ ↓ / x ↖ x ↘ / ⇆ ↑ ⇆ ↓ / x △ x △ /
x ← → ⇅ / x ↖ x ↘ / x ⇆ ⇆ ⇅ / x ↖ x ↘ /
x ⇆ ⇅ ⇆ / x △ x △ / x ⇅ ⇆ ⇅ / x ▽ x ▽ /
↑ ↑ ⇆ ⇆ / ← ↘ ← ↘ / ↓ ↓ ⇆ ⇆ / → ↖ → ↖ /
x ↘ ↖ ↘ / x △ x ▽ / x ↘ ↖ ↘ / x ＋ x ＋ /

Sudden Death (136 BPM) 13:21

← x ← x / → x → x / ← ← ← ← / → → → → /
↑ ⇆ ↑ ⇆ / ← → ↓ ⇆ / ↑ ⇆ ↑ ⇆ / ← → ⇅ ⇆ /
x ↖ → ↖ / ← ↘ ← ↘ / → ↖ → ↖ / ← ↘ ← ↘ /
→ ↖ → ↖ / ← ↘ ← ↘ / → ↖ → ↖ / x ＋ x x /

Other Statistics