Mouse: P.I. For Hire developers share ambitions to create a game that is more than "just a cool project": A satirical, metroidvania shooting game with 'adult storylines, deep and gripping'

I had the opportunity to sit down with the Mouse: P.I. developers. Fumi Games is currently developing a first-person shooting game called for Hire. In a hands off presentation given to me by Maciej krzemien, lead producer, and Mateusz Michalak, CEO/Game Director, at Gamescom, I got to see a good chunk of gameplay as well as gain some insight into the development.

Fumi Games is faced with a unique challenge after a video posted on TikTok by its lead programmer went viral. "It gained a lot of traction, like an enormous amount of views. Back then, we knew we had something cool on our hand."

Both developers agree that the challenge is to make sure Mouse stands on two rubber hoses: "Many people," Krzemien explains, "tend to call our game 'just a neat art project'. Others refer to it as 'just another Boomer Shooter'. We know where it comes from, because we're heavily focused on art, and we're heavily focused on all of the key elements that make a FPS game enjoyable."

The studio has also improved the environmental artwork in Mouse. "If you're familiar with our previous materials and trailers, you might have noticed that we weren't really happy with our 3D environments back then.

Fumi Games has lofty goals for the game. They want to take it from viral hit to an actual solid title. If you're curious about what Mouse: P.l. Here's what the elevator pitch was in a cosy booth at a noisy Gamescom.

Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a first-person metroidvania shooter with a focus on the metroidvania aspect. There will be movement upgrades such as a helicopter slide and a grappling-hook (both of which can be achieved by using the mouse tail), and "NPC interaction with their own questlines... some minigames... some detective elements... and pretty adult, gripping, darker storylines."

I was initially confused by the mention of adult stories. I thought that Mouse was trying to be edgy, with its visually distinct visuals. It was a little unfair, but Steamboat Willie's public domain entry led to a flood of horror indies wanting to use the proto-mouse.

The more I see their ideas, the more I hope that they will be used for some thoughtful satire. The game takes place in the fictional city Mouseberg, in the 1930s, after an economic crisis. It follows a World War One Veteran named Jack. "We aren't avoiding serious subjects like political extremism, racial discrimination, poverty, and social inequality. In a way, Mouse represents the dark, twisted image of 1950s America."

Fumi Games will have to prove themselves if they are going to pull this off. Michalak responded to my question after the presentation: "We always try to be respectful with the themes we touch on, and some are quite serious". He notes that the tone of this discussion will still be satirical: "Basically, think about Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator."

On paper, I like the idea. Mouse's visual style is based on "Rubber hose", which was popular in the 1920s. Disney has a number of cartoons that use this style, including some with overtly racist caricatures, and others with problematic themes reflecting the time period. Fumi Games' refusal to ignore the entire discussion is a solid, if ambitious play. It's a refreshing change from the 'what if Mickey had a gun, and smoked a fat cigar' pothole Mouse might have easily walked into.

I was genuinely impressed by what I saw in Mouse and the enthusiasm that fueled its developers. However, with this enthusiasm comes the worry that the studio may be trying to take on more than they can chew. I got the distinct impression that the scope of the game has grown over time. I'm still rooting for it. Mouse: P.I. For Hire is slated to be released in 2025.