It's 1977, and we're sailing towards Ireland on a British ship, not as part of the crew, but as prisoners. A spell has transformed us into rats, but in return, we can fight for our freedom by rescuing the admiral's son, who was kidnapped upon arrival. Find out in our review why the game is so chaotic even beyond its storyline and whether it could be the next indie hit.
A difficult birth
Curse of the Sea Rats It certainly wasn't easy. With a goal of €15.000 and the dream of releasing the game in April 2021, the indie studio "Petoons Studio" launched their campaign for their new "Ratoidvania." The first trailers appeared back in 2020, and if it hadn't been for the pandemic, the game would likely have been playable years ago. Now, with €242.395 raised through Kickstarter, the game is finally scheduled for release on April 6, 2023.
Metroidvania through and through
A large map that you explore and unlock by fighting your way through countless enemies and unlocking new abilities, which in turn allow you to explore new parts of the world and become ever stronger – sound familiar? Probably, because this is practically the original definition of a Metroidvania. It must be said that this magic formula works well here too, provided you're generally drawn to the genre. The level design is varied, the boss fights are equally engaging, and even the story, with all its pop culture references, has something to offer. This gameplay variety is further enhanced by the fact that, in addition to the main character David Douglas, there are three other characters, each with their own unique abilities.
The game's greatest strength is undoubtedly its graphics. A significant portion of Curse of the Sea Rats' appeal stems solely from its visuals and animations. The game clearly benefits from a relatively large budget and several years of development. The skill system is comprehensive yet logically structured and easy to navigate, requiring players to genuinely work hard to acquire their abilities. The game offers numerous opportunities to collect spiritual energy, essential for upgrades, which is lost upon death and must be replenished. This creates a sense of tension and challenge throughout the 6-8 hours of gameplay.
The dark sides
To pick up directly on the topic of tension and ambition, let me introduce the downside with the low difficulty level. Once you acquire the ability that converts 25 percent of damage into hit points, every enemy will be down in no time. The co-op mode also completely negates any sense of challenge, especially since it's very noticeable that the game is designed more for a solo player. Getting in each other's way and stealing spiritual energy doesn't offer any real added value. It's relatively fun with two players, but with three or even four, it's basically pointless.
Finally, I'd like to mention various treasures and other tasks that are unfortunately too often uninteresting. I myself have finished the game, but haven't completed all the optional tasks, as they often offer me nothing in any way. It doesn't always have to be something that makes you stronger; if an optional task is defined more by the fun of the journey itself, and the goal is ultimately just the success of this little trip, then it can still feel very rewarding. In the case of Curse of the Sea Rats These small tasks feel more like filler and only reinforce the tunnel vision with which one wants to plod linearly through the main story.
Thanks for the review. I like Metroidvania games and I already had this one on my radar. Now I'm just waiting for a sale.