Game Review: Sneaky Rat

By Al

Players: 1
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, XBox One, XBox Series XS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

There's been somewhat of a rise in Sokoban-like titles over the years, and the game we're going to be looking at today is yet another. Sneaky Rat is a puzzle game developed by Cronostase, and published by Penguin Pop Games. It's out now on all major consoles, and we're going to be taking a look at it today on the Nintendo Switch. This isn't a title that requires a lot of intro, so let's just get into the review straight away!

Sneaky Rat doesn't really have any story beyond a mouse wanting to get to some cheese, but that's fine by me. Puzzle games rarely benefit from strong narratives, so I won't give this game any flack for not having a plot. Gameplay is where it's at, and that's mainly what we're going to talk about here. Though it plays similar to games like Sokoban, Sneaky Rat has plenty of features that make it unique. Rather than pushing a series of boxes to make your way to an exit, you instead push around a series of objects that deflect light away from the cheese you so desperately desire. Each level has at least one beam of light shining in from the outside world, and your goal is to clear a path of darkness to get to that tasty floor cheese. Standing in the light allows you to fall victim to the cat that is always waiting just off-screen for you to mess up, and allowing the cheese to be touched by the light will cause it to melt in a matter of seconds. In other words: light is your enemy here. The game has 50 puzzles, with most of them requiring multiple tries to get through successfully.

Controlling your rat couldn't be easier, as all you ever really need to worry about are the main four directions. Each step moves you one complete square on the stage's grid, and you'll automatically push anything that's in your way if you're pressing against it. It's important to remember that you can only push items, not pull them, so you can very easily trap yourself into an unwinnable situation if you're not careful in your planning. With that said, there are two buttons that can get you out of just about any sticky situation. One button moves you backwards one move at a time, and the other resets the room completely. You can also simply step into the light to get back to the beginning of a puzzle, though the button press is much faster. These two buttons are also the only other controls you'll ever have to worry about other than the up, down, left, and right. Each level must be completed in sequential order, and you move on from one stage to the next as soon as you clear it. Cat and cheese melting animations aside, a loss also gets you back into the main game quickly. This is a fast-paced game, so don't expect much down time. This isn't a timed puzzle game though, so you can also complete stages at your leisure.

Getting to that delicious cheese may look easy enough, but getting around the light is trickier than it seems at first. The most common objects you'll use to manipulate the light are mirrors, and these are typically angled in a way that will send the beam of light off into other directions. You'll want to pay attention to which mirror you place where, since you can very easily direct light directly onto yourself if you're not careful. Moving mirrors can also set off a chain reaction, so planning ahead is a must. Now is also as good a time as any to remind you that light not only means a game over for your rat, but it also melts the cheese. Beams of light aren't always to be avoided though, as they can also be used trigger switches that open doors, or be diffused by centrally-placed prisms. There are also standard obstacles like walls that you'll have to contend with most stages. New gameplay elements are thrown at you every ten levels or so, and they do a good job of keeping you on your toes. The overall difficulty seems to go back and forth as the game progresses, so you don't have to worry about getting stuck on every single level in the later stages of the game. I personally found Sneaky Rat to be the perfect balance of challenging yet fun, and most players will be able to solve even the most difficult puzzles by way of simple trial and error. All the puzzles are rather simple at the end of the day, but there's no denying the sense of accomplishment that comes with clearing a puzzle that's been giving you trouble for five minutes or more.

Though I have nothing but praise when it comes to Sneaky Rat's gameplay, I can't say that the same goes for its presentation. Graphics are fine for the most part, but they're also the very definition of basic. I'm no stranger to barebones, retro-esque visuals, but I couldn't help but think that the gameplay portions looked odd when compared to the title screen. I'd have liked the graphics more if they went for the cartoon-y look seen in the key art, but I also have to admit that they aren't exactly bad either. Simply put, the music is just there. I have to assume that the soundtrack doesn't simply come from a stock music library since it gets special shout-out in the eShop description, but it honestly sounds like music created for something else. Once again, it's not that it's bad per se, it's just that it doesn't fit the game very well. It doesn't help that the sound mix is very quiet overall either, as I actually had to go back to the game in order to write this bit because I realized that I couldn't remember a single thing about the music. The presentation isn't the worst I've ever seen, but the budget nature of the game does reveal itself a bit as far as the audio and visuals are concerned.

I was able to fully beat the game in about two hours, and that's after getting stuck more times than I care to admit. I don't consider myself a pro puzzle gamer by any stretch, but I can say that I'm quite familiar with games of this type. I may have sped through the game somewhat quickly, but I don't think my time is truly indicative on the overall length of the game. I imagine the average player will be able to beat it in about 3-5 hours, and I think that's perfectly fine for a puzzle game of this scope. It's currently available for only $5.99, so you can pick it up now if you want an evening of puzzle game fun. I'd of course recommend you get some wine to go with that cheese, but that's just me.

There isn't really anything else to say about Sneaky Rat. I wouldn't say that it's a must-buy, but it's a good game for what it is. If you're a fan of Sokoban-likes, and want something that actually changes up the genre, then this is the game for you. The same goes for puzzle gamers in general, though at that point there might be other games that are worth playing over this one. Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this game, and I'm thinking about checking out other games from this developer. Until then, I'll see you in the next one!

Check Out Sneaky Rat on Nintendo Switch:
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/sneaky-rat-switch/

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Story: N/A
Gameplay: A
Graphics: B
Music/Sound: B
Value: A

Overall: B+

Pros:
+ A unique take on the puzzle game format popularized by Sokoban.
+ The perfect mix of challenging, yet fair, gameplay.
+ Each of the game's 50 stages feel unique, with new gameplay elements added over time.
+ At just 5.99, there's a lot of value in this package.
+ You get to play as a rat who wants cheese!

Cons:
- The overall presentation is on the weaker side, with the game's visuals being particularly not great.
- Though the soundtrack is apparently unique to this game, it sounds like it came from a stock library.
- Even though the game will provide lots of fun for puzzle game fans, there isn't much to do once you clear its 50 stages.

A copy of this game was provided to us free-of-charge by the publisher for the purpose of this review. This did not affect our review in any way.

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