A masterclass in hardboiled atmosphere, Mouse: P.I. For Hire perfectly blends a gritty, 1950s noir narrative with a visual style that’s as sharp as a block of aged cheddar. Jack Pepper’s journey through a corruption-riddled city is a thrilling, cynical masterpiece that proves some conspiracies are simply too pungent to ignore.

A military veteran, ex-cop and now a P.I. – Jack Pepper seemingly lived through it all and yet his biggest catch is on the horizon. A case so convoluted, it would make a mice throw itself into a cheese trap willingly! With a banging rooster of weapons, loads of charisma, trusty rubber hose animations and a smooth jazz soundtrack, this detective will shoot through any and all clues. Do you have what it takes to put all the evidence on the board?

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is a solid first-person shooter with a great twist that cannot carry the game all the way. I loved the black and white cartoon presentation initially and liked the classic mechanics. But after three or four locations, the presentation is no longer surprising, and the gun battles start to feel repetitive. It doesn’t help that the environments don’t do a lot to keep player interest up and that boss battles are gimmicks rather than tests of skill. Play one or two levels of MOUSE: P.I. For Hire at a time, enjoy the gun fights, and ignore the elements that feel like unnecessary work, including the baseball card game and the safe cracking.