Pix the Cat

In short: it's a bit good. [Christmas 2014, p.95]

A classic arcade puzzler with gameplay compounded by a tremendous amount of scope for mastery and blistering retro aesthetics, Pix the Cat is one of the most essential pressure-puzzlers that you can buy on PlayStation right now.

It's not a system-seller, but definitely one of those addictive retro-ish games you enjoy playing.

Pix the Cat continues PastaGames’ reputation for making incredible bite-sized gaming experiences. There’s even a surprising amount of depth here thanks to its multiplier and variety of game modes.

PIX THE CAT is a great little game that can be played in short sessions or it can keep you entertained for several hours.

Pix the Cat is a fun and addictive arcade puzzler.

It's all a bit shallow for anything long-term. [Christmas 2014, p.78]

Fast paced and super responsive. Surely you cant blame the game for any mistakes you make. It takes time to master and there are many modes to keep you busy each with its own philosophy and challenge. The art style is super cute and the co-op super fun.

Pix the Cat is a good arcade game with varied modes (arcade, nostalgia, puzzle) that could be a GREAT game if the controls were more precise. I learned early on that the thumbstick was not going to be reliable. The d-pad is better, but some turns feel off. It's like I have to start them a bit earlier than I should. This becomes a real issue when you're going very fast an need to execute a few swift turns in series. I also wish there was an option to pick up at the last board/level you completed (or even perfected), albeit with a score reset. There are a few boards that I can't seem to get the hang of and it really **** to have to play through 15 levels just to practice one time. The daily mode is a fantastic feature that helps to keep the game fresh. It definitely works in coaxing me back on days when I would otherwise not play. The mission gallery is amazingly helpful. It keeps me motivated and helps me decide what to aim for next. I'm still not sure how I feel about the slight randomization. The level structure is always the same, but the eggs and drop points shift a little bit from one run to the next. I get what they were going for here, but at the same time I wish the stages were static so I don't feel shafted by unfavorable placement on an otherwise good run. Overall, I'm satisfied with this game. It's a good addition to the PS+ library and will continue to see a 2-4 hours of playtime from me for at least the next few weeks. ★★★★★★★✫✫✫ 7/10

It's a vibrant and addictive game that will make you spend some good hours. Never gets boring but sometimes it gets on your nerves on the hard levels, but that's part of the magic! You like Snake? This game is for you! You like Pacman? Great, this game is for you! This is a good game to make a pause on your AAA titles and enjoy a simple but amusing game.

We've all heard the adages: "If Snake and Pacman had a baby..." But it doesn't work quite adequately in describing Pix the Cat's juxtaposition of memorization and quick reflexes. Assuming you already know how Pix the Cat works (grab the eggs, plant the eggs, gain speed to get more points, rinse, repeat), the mechanics break down pretty quickly into two things: how well you remember the order of stages/stage layout, and how much you have to fight with the controls to get a perfect stage bonus. When you consider the previously mentioned adage (Pacman v Snake), it's missing the best parts of those two games. Snake doesn't try to trap you or force you to memorize patters; the skill comes at how well you manage a long tail once you reach a certain length. Pacman, on the other hand, implores memorization but boasts escalating difficulty (in faster moving enemies) and matches it's difficulty with quick, snappy controls and freedom of movement. Pix the Cat doesn't have these core mechanics. At it's heart, Pix the Cat is nothing more than a fast moving puzzle game. Rote memorization is pinnacle and higher score is really awarded not by how fast you can complete the puzzle but in how few moves it takes.. Repeating and replaying the levels only improves muscle memory and makes higher scores easier simply by allowing you progress further as a result of fewer moves. Slight variations in egg/hole layout in some levels as well as increases in speed with the ability to "eat" some enemies provides a tiny amount of improvisation but not in any significant manner. Add in a short game timer that only lets you play for a certain amount of time (depending on how well you do) before forcing a game over and you'll find yourself replaying the first set of levels in every group over and over. Most importantly, the tight controls of games like Pacman are absent. Controls are often wonky and made worse by the game's constant speed variations. Often times inputs will activate far too late (sometimes as late as after you've fully released the button), other times they will activate too early, and sometimes inputs will be dropped completely. Trying to find a balance in input lag will be the majority of the challenge for more advanced players. It should be noted that this is notable with the Dual Shock 4 controller and could be absent from the Vita version but I haven't expressly tested the differences. For a game that requires speed and precision (even rewarding it via wall grinding) this is somewhat unforgivable. But even if you can find a happy medium with the controls, enjoy the variety of modes included, and love the constant pressure to improve a high score, you'll probably tire of repeating the same levels far before seeing the game to the finish. Even after realizing this is only appearing like an arcade game, and is really a simple puzzle game, there is still an interesting game here. Unfortunately, the lack of tight controls (and the frustration it brings) keeps this from being passable.

Wow, this game is not bad. So let's everyone give it 10's and ruin the Metacritic Top lists? Seriously, why are those primitive subpar indie games receive higher scores than objectively much better games? How is this better than Destiny or Minecraft? Come on, stop it please. This game is 5 at best, and because it is not a complete garbage, it is not an enough reason to give it 10.