If you're going to make a game about juggling cats in the air using your head and feet, you better have a damn good reason for the simulated animal cruelty. I'd say the threat of feline impact craters fits the bill.
This is Hackycat, a game by artist-illustrator Ken Wong, also known as the art director of Alice: Madness Returns. See, it all begins to make sense.
For his first solo project, Wong decided to create a game in which the player must tap collectible cartoon cats in order to keep them from hitting the ground. See, some cruel god created a special species of kitty that detonates on contact with terra firma—frankly I'm astounded they survived long enough to be gamified.
As with traditional juggling objects, keeping a single cat in the air is no problem. Keeping two is harder. Three is a real challenge. Four is crazy buckets. Five... well, you get the idea.
Thankfully Wong also included a means to dispose of the flying kitty—bombs. Collect enough cheeseburgers (yes, he went there) gives the player a superkick, which I'm assuming sends the cats involved into orbit, where they never need fear touching the ground again—or breathing, but that's beside the point.
It sounds awfully horrible, but it's a great deal of joy. Check out those Wes Anderson-inspired visuals.
Packed with collectible kittens, power-ups, cruel birds and the odd unlockable character (no seriously, he's really odd), Hackeycat contains hours upon hours of good time, just waiting for you to kick it. Meow.
Hackeycat
- Genre: Sports, I Guess?
- Developer: Ken Wong
- Platform: iPhone, iPad
- Price: $.99