Reviews

Review by elias all reviews by elias

I loved this game, it's the most memorable from this TINS for me. All the strange art that I would absolutely believe was really created by cats (or else by some weird AI). And then actual puzzles to solve! I'm just sad there was only 3 rooms/puzzles. I could see this developed into a complete game that I would buy to play on a long flight or train ride.

Scores: Overall 5 Artistical 5 Technical 4 Genre 3

Review by awergh all reviews by awergh

Genre (Fable)
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There were lots of cats but I don't believe there was an actual fable in this game.

Technical (Overall and use of chart)
====================================
There was a nice chart in the third level that was part of the riddle for the level. It was technically impressive doing a 3d game (no one else did it quite like this).

Artistical (Generally and Iridescence)
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One of the art installations was iridescent and looked nice although this doesn't have much impact on the game.

Mittens talked in speech bubbles which really suited the game, I am not sure why the introduction didn't also use the speech bubbles.

The speech bubbles really fit the game and made good use of dialogue.

Nice use of 3d in this game to give you the art gallery experience and atmosphere.

Conclusion
==========
I thought the game looked and played quite well. It was a first person game (the only one) and had a nice atmosphere and a fun main character.
I wonder what happened to all the humans and when cats became sentient (perhaps there is another game in this world to explain it).

Scores: Overall 4 Artistical 4 Technical 4 Genre 3

Review by Bananalazer all reviews by Bananalazer

I found this to be a very charming game. I could imagine this to become an open world museum riddle solving game, I think there is value in that concept! Mittens the museum guide talks a lot, which added to the fun for me. My favorite line was about the color of the human furr.

The rules are followed very well,
All character are indeed animals

There are iridescent sculptures

Technically not ALL dialog is in the speech bubbles, but eh who cares. The speech bubbles look nice!

The chart was a piece of a puzzle in the last level, which unlike some others (including my own :D ) did not feel like a slapped-on chart just because chart.

For me this was the most fun game of jam. I just think it is so cute.

Scores: Overall 5 Artistical 4 Technical 5 Genre 4

Review by victorwss all reviews by victorwss

WARNING: Beware the spoilers!

1. Rules implementation

1.1. Animals:
The game heavily focuses about cats. The 3rd level goes a step further and hints the existence of a cat civilization developing theories about the existence and behaviors of humans. This is a core concept in the game. If it was replaced by plants, soda cans robots or anything other, it would be a completely diferent game. Even if we replaced the cats by fishes, birds, dogs or pandas, it would be something very different instead.

1.2. Fable:
Up to the 2nd level it was a fable about cats telling stuff about arts. But in the 3rd level, the strong fable-ness shows up, hinting the existence of a cat civilization developing theories about the existence and behaviors of humans. However, as it is, the fable-ness is still far from complete and there is a lot that can be done in further levels that I hope will be eventually developed.

1.3. Iridiscence:
The sculpture shows iridiscent reflections, and its true iridiscence not just colorfullness or rainbowness. However, this isn't a core concept of the game, it is just a detail.

1.4. Speech Balloons:
Mittens speaks a lot, all the time, and this contributes to the charm of the game art. However, if there was just text without the speech balloons, it would be roughly the same. Still not a core concept but it is not far from being one.

1.5. Chart:
There is a chart in the 3rd level and it is the key for solving its riddle, being an important part of the history. However, it is just that, a gimmick of one of its levels and nothing more.

1.6. 2-players:
Not implemented.

2. Game concept and idea

Interesting, unique and well-developed game concept idea.

3. Technical and code

Typing can be hard or unintuitive to do sometimes.

The code is very complex and detailed C++, a piece of some hard work.

3. Graphics

The 3D is very well implemented. The images in the gallery are excellent and the art is fantastic. The iridiscence in the sculptures is great, although this is a mere detail.

However, the humans sculptures in level 3 need some work and are significantly cruder than what they could be.

4. Audio

Excellent music. Relaxing and fits the game with excellency.

5. Fun

The biggest problem of the game is that it is too short. Once you had looked everything and solved the riddles, it has few to no replay value. And all 3 riddles are quite easy to solve, so you may be able to finish the game in 10 to 15 minutes. However, when you still didn't finished it, it is very fun.

6. Suggestions for improvements

As the "v0.1.17" and the level selection menu implies, this is still far from complete. So, here are my suggestions:

* More levels. Much more!

* More stuff, more sculptures. Add a Moncat Lisa! Add some Vincent van Cat and Pablo Picatto works. Add the Eiffel Catower. Add Pyramids with a Cat-headed sphinx.

* This has a strong potential for being a very nice game about art for 6-10 years old children.

* Add sound to Mittens voice and, with the assistance of an adult, children 4-5 years old who can't still read or write would also
be able to play the game and they would be very fascinated by it.

* Also, it could be much better if Mittens showed different expressions when (a) looking at different arts or when (b) you failed the riddle or when (c) you got it right. Also, please, animate its sprite!

* Add a second cat later in the game when you add more levels could be interesting.

Scores: Overall 4 Artistical 5 Technical 4 Genre 5

Review by KillerWasp all reviews by KillerWasp

It's sad that don't working good with those errors, Many are visual glitches, which I imagine ruins portability by not loading files correctly.

I don't see iridescence or charts. This rest points.
The bubble of text is very good, although the introduction is NES style.
He looks more like a fan of cats than talking animals from fables, one would hardly guess that he has to do with fables.

The idea of the game is good, and the music is immersive, more interesting puzzles are needed than short poems with simple answers, it would be better if each museum has a set of puzzles before moving on to the next one.
A very quiet game for lovers of arts and peace.... And CATS!!!

This's my gameplay, check the result.
https://vimeo.com/841408975

Scores: Overall 3 Artistical 3 Technical 1 Genre 2

Review by Yubi all reviews by Yubi

"I like this art!"

Art Gallery of Cats was the first game from a speedhacking competition that I have ever played, and I am glad that it was. I was thoroughly charmed by your galleries and its upbeat sense of humour. I smiled and laughed the entire time.

I only wish that the curator Mittens had a more to say about some of the pieces, and that there were a little more variety in some galleries. It is already an excellent selection that leaves me hungry for more.

The third gallery was especially good, and I could certainly imagine such a place in a parallel universe where cats run the world.

Genre:
How fortunate that the theme of this competition was very much in your favour! I had thought the art was entirely AI generated until I recognized the print from the second gallery on your website.

Technical (comic speech bubbles, chart):
Ah, the cat to human lifespan. Now that I think about it, the text of the third riddle was not strongly related to its answer, but it's whatever since it is not meant to be difficult anyway.

Artistic:
I chuckled at the iridescent sculpture. I've never done 3D programming, but I was told that mapping textures and lights to shapes is difficult to do right. I don't know if this was your intent, but I appreciated that the amorphous rainbow effect was so "easy to get right" that it was almost cheeky. And I found that cheekiness funny, if only in the context of the competition and it's time limits: "look what I put in here just to fulfill the artistic requirement! Now let's get back to looking at nice pictures!"

Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but that's the modern art experience.

Now for the whining:
I guess it's not a big deal, but the game closes after the final stage so you can't return to the title menu to view your achievements.

Also, if you enter the riddle solving screen prematurely (which you absolutely will, because the solve key is on 's' and muscle memory dictates using WASD for movement), there's no way to escape the riddle screen except by typing in a wrong answer. The inconvenience is only minor, though.

Parting thoughts as a first-time not-Speedhack game player:
When I first heard of TINS, I had expected that technical skill would be its basis - i.e. how impressive a game can you churn out in 72 hours? - but you've singlehandedly demonstrated that fun, creative expression will be the contest's true essence. I was glad I played your game first, for it set my expectations aright for the other entries.

Scores: Overall 5 Artistical None Technical None Genre None