Cats on Duty Review

In the crowded arena of strategy games, where complex mechanics and gritty realism often dominate, Cats on Duty leaps into the fray with a refreshing and whimsical twist. Developed by Prikol Team and published by ESDigital Games, this title marries the engaging intricacies of real-time strategy (RTS) with the addictive elements of tower defence, all while featuring an army of adorably militant cats. Yes, you read that right—furry, purring soldiers ready to defend their territory with claws and cuteness in equal measure.

Cats on Duty isn’t just another cutesy game trying to capitalize on the internet’s obsession with cats; it’s a well-thought-out strategy experience that offers depth, challenge and a surprising amount of tactical gameplay. The game cleverly balances the lightheartedness of its theme with the kind of strategic depth that will appeal to casual players and seasoned RTS veterans. Whether you’re a fan of feline antics or just someone looking for a fun and engaging strategy game, Cats on Duty has something to offer.

The core of the gameplay revolves around managing two interconnected game fields—your base of operations and the battlefield. This dual-layer approach adds a unique challenge to the genre, requiring players to focus on upgrading and managing their cat towers and think strategically about how they deploy their forces on the front lines. The cute exterior belies a game that demands quick thinking, resource management, and the ability to adapt to ever-evolving threats.

As you guide your fluffy warriors through waves of enemies, upgrading their towers and abilities, you’ll immerse yourself in a world where strategy meets charm. The game’s vibrant art style, coupled with its engaging mechanics, ensures that Cats on Duty isn’t just a novelty but a genuinely enjoyable and satisfying experience. In this review, we’ll dive deep into what makes this game stand out, exploring its setting and story, gameplay mechanics, multiplayer and replayability, and graphics and sound.

Setting and Story

The world of Cats on Duty is as charming as it is whimsical, offering a delightful blend of humour and strategy that sets the stage for the feline-centric adventure. Set in a fantastical realm where cats reign supreme as the ultimate protectors, the game’s narrative introduces players to a colourful universe where the stakes are as high as they are fluffy. The story doesn’t take itself too seriously, but that’s precisely the point—it’s a tongue-in-cheek adventure that keeps players smiling as they delve deeper into its strategic layers.

The premise is simple yet effective: a group of brave and noble cats have taken it upon themselves to defend their land from an array of quirky and persistent foes. These enemies, ranging from mischievous rodents to nefarious birds, are determined to overrun the cats’ homeland, and it’s up to the player to ensure that doesn’t happen. The cats are not just warriors; they are guardians of their realm, and their mission is to protect their territory at all costs.

Each level in Cats on Duty presents a new challenge, with different environments and enemy types that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. From lush forests and serene gardens to bustling towns and mystical landscapes, the game’s settings are as varied as the strategies you’ll need to employ. The environments are not just backdrops—they play an integral role in the gameplay, with each location offering unique strategic opportunities and obstacles.

The narrative is woven into the gameplay through light-hearted dialogue, charming cutscenes, and in-game objectives that guide the player through the story. The cats, each with distinct personalities and abilities, add to the narrative depth, making you care about your furry soldiers and their mission. Whether it’s the grizzled veteran cat who’s seen one too many battles or the eager young kitten ready to prove their worth, each character contributes to the game’s endearing charm.

While Cats on Duty may not feature a sprawling epic narrative, its story perfectly suits its style and tone. It’s a tale of bravery, camaraderie, and the importance of defending one’s home—albeit told through the lens of an adorable cat army. This narrative framework keeps players engaged and provides context for the strategic decisions they must make throughout the game.

Gameplay and Mechanics

Cats on Duty shines with its unique blend of real-time strategy (RTS) and tower defence mechanics, offering a gameplay experience that is both engaging and strategically deep. The game takes elements from familiar genres. It infuses them with a fresh, feline twist, resulting in a game that is both accessible to newcomers and challenging enough to keep veterans of the genre on their toes.

At the core of Cats on Duty is managing two interconnected game fields: the base and the battlefield. This dual-layered approach requires players to balance their attention between upgrading and defending their base while simultaneously deploying and managing their cat troops on the front lines. The strategic depth comes from the need to juggle these two aspects, ensuring that your defences are strong while also maintaining an active presence on the battlefield.

The base management aspect of the game involves upgrading cat towers, which act as the primary defence against incoming waves of enemies. These towers can be customized and enhanced with various upgrades, allowing players to tailor their defences to meet the specific challenges of each level. The upgrades range from increasing the towers’ attack power to adding special abilities to turn the battle tide. Players must carefully manage their resources, deciding when to invest in tower upgrades and when to focus on bolstering their offensive capabilities.

On the battlefield, the game shifts into a more traditional RTS mode, where players control their cat units directly. These units each have unique abilities and roles, from agile scouts that can quickly take out enemy units to heavy hitters that can soak up damage and protect weaker allies. The key to success lies in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each unit and deploying them effectively in response to the enemy’s strategy. The battlefield is dynamic, with environmental hazards and opportunities that can be exploited for strategic advantage.

The enemies in Cats on Duty are varied and increasingly challenging, requiring players to adapt their strategies as they progress through the game. From swarms of fast-moving rodents to heavily armoured birds, each enemy type presents a unique threat that demands a different approach. The game’s AI is intelligent and responsive, ensuring that players cannot rely on a single strategy to succeed; instead, they must think on their feet and adjust their tactics as the situation evolves.

The game also introduces special abilities and power-ups that can be activated during battle to give players an edge. These abilities, which range from temporary boosts to devastating attacks, add a layer of strategy to the gameplay, allowing for moments of tactical brilliance that can turn the tide of a difficult battle.

Multiplayer and Replayability

Cats on Duty extends its charm and strategic depth into the multiplayer realm, offering a variety of modes that allow players to test their feline armies against others or work together in cooperative play. The multiplayer features add significant replayability to the game, ensuring that players have plenty of reasons to return to their cat-filled battlegrounds long after completing the single-player campaign.

Multiplayer Modes:

The game includes both competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes. Players can pit their strategic prowess against each other in competitive head-to-head battles. These fast-paced matches demand quick thinking and adaptability as each player attempts to outmaneuver the other by deploying their units and upgrading their towers strategically. The thrill of going paw-to-paw with another player adds an exciting layer of tension, making every match a test of skill and strategy.

Cooperative mode, on the other hand, allows players to team up and take on waves of enemies together. This mode emphasizes teamwork and coordination, as players must communicate effectively and synchronize their strategies to defend against increasingly difficult foes successfully. Cooperative play is particularly rewarding, as it fosters a sense of camaraderie and shared achievement when players fend off a challenging wave of enemies together.

Replayability:

Replayability in Cats on Duty is further enhanced by its dynamic gameplay and its various challenges. The game features a progression system that rewards players with new units, abilities, and tower upgrades as they advance. This system encourages players to experiment with different combinations and strategies, continually refining their approach as they unlock new content.

Each level in the game has multiple paths to victory, allowing for a high degree of player choice in tackling the challenges presented. Whether players prefer a more defensive strategy focused on fortifying their base or a more aggressive approach that prioritizes controlling the battlefield, Cats on Duty offers the flexibility to play in a way that suits their style.

The game’s AI is also designed to keep things fresh by adapting to the player’s strategies, ensuring that no two playthroughs are identical. As players become more proficient, they face tougher opponents and more complex scenarios, keeping the gameplay challenging and engaging.

Moreover, Cats on Duty includes daily and weekly challenges that offer additional rewards and leaderboard rankings. These challenges are a great way for players to test their skills in specific scenarios and compete against others in the community. The sense of progression and the desire to climb the leaderboards provide strong incentives for players to return to the game.

Graphics and Sound

Cats on Duty brings its whimsical and strategic world to life with a vibrant and colourful art style that perfectly complements the game’s lighthearted tone. The graphics are a key part of what makes the game so endearing, offering players a visually engaging experience as delightful as it is strategic.

Graphics:

The visual design of Cats on Duty is characterized by its playful and cartoonish aesthetic, with each cat unit, enemy, and environment rendered in a charming, stylized manner. The cat warriors are particularly well-designed, each boasting unique appearances that reflect their roles in battle—whether it’s the agile scout’s sleek form or the burly tank cat clad in makeshift armour. The animations are smooth and expressive, adding personality to the characters and making the action on screen a joy to watch.

The game’s environments are equally well-crafted, featuring distinct themes and settings ranging from lush forests to bustling towns and mysterious ruins. The attention to detail in these environments helps to create a sense of place and immersion, making the world of Cats on Duty feel alive and dynamic. The use of colour is particularly effective, with bright and contrasting hues that make each level pop and ensure that the action is always clear and easy to follow.

The UI is clean and intuitive, with a layout that is easy to navigate and does not clutter the screen. The information players need—such as resource levels, unit stats, and upgrade options—is presented clearly, allowing players to focus on the strategic aspects of the game without getting bogged down by excessive menus or interfaces.

Sound:

The sound design in Cats on Duty is another area where the game excels. The audio complements the visual style perfectly, with a catchy and thematically appropriate soundtrack. The music is upbeat and lively, providing a cheerful backdrop to the strategic gameplay without becoming repetitive or distracting. Each level features its own musical theme, adding to the diversity of the environments and helping to set the mood for the battles ahead.

Sound effects are equally well-executed, with each action—whether it’s the clashing of swords, the meow of a cat, or the explosion of a defeated enemy—accompanied by satisfying and well-timed audio cues. These sound effects enhance the feedback players receive from the game, making every decision and action feel impactful. The playful nature of the sound effects also adds to the game’s overall charm, reinforcing its lighthearted tone.

Voice acting, though minimal, is used effectively to add character to the cats and their enemies. The occasional quips and reactions from the cats during battle are both amusing and endearing, helping to further immerse players in Cats on Duty. These audio elements work together to create a cohesive and engaging soundscape that enhances the overall experience.

Final Thoughts

Cats on Duty is a delightful blend of real-time strategy and tower defence that stands out for its unique premise and execution. The game balances depth and accessibility, offering a strategic challenge that is both engaging for veterans and approachable for newcomers. Its charming graphics, smooth gameplay, and well-crafted sound design create an experience that is as enjoyable to watch as it is to play.

The dual-layer gameplay, combining base management with active battlefield control, offers a fresh twist on the traditional tower defence formula. At the same time, the variety of units, enemies, and upgrades keeps the gameplay dynamic and interesting. Including multiplayer modes and the game’s inherent replayability ensure that Cats on Duty has lasting appeal, providing players with plenty of reasons to return to the battlefield.

For anyone looking for a strategy game that is both challenging and fun, Cats on Duty is a purr-fect choice. It’s a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously yet offers enough depth and strategy to keep players engaged for hours. Whether you’re a fan of cats, strategy games, or just looking for something new and entertaining, Cats on Duty delivers a positively enjoyable experience.

We prepared this review with a digital copy of Cats on Duty for the PC version provided by Evolve PR.