GAME: Cat Bird by Raiyumi

GENRE: Platformer, adventure

PLATFORMS: Android, iOS

Platforming games, that is, games like Mario, are one of the oldest genres of video games. Yet, every year, more and more platforming games are created. Cat Bird is one such pixel-inspired game for mobile phones, and a really good one at that.

You play as a half-cat half-bird character who’s able to walk and jump like Mario, but can also glide. The catbird gets thrown into a strange yet beautiful world and must cross dangerous paths to find its way home. The levels are made up of tricky obstacles, tough platforming areas to traverse, hidden collectibles to find and even cute bosses to fight.

The controls are simple: just three buttons for left, right and jump. Controls are tight and accurate, and while you will need some practice to land precise jumps with perfect timing, it is extremely satisfying when you finally nail it. Holding the jump button after a jump makes you glide and stay longer in the air. This is what makes catbird unique and makes moving around the world fun. As with games like Super Meat Boy and Celeste, you will die multiple times while learning the core controls, but it never feels frustratingly hard.

There are four worlds in total, each with a theme and new features of its own. For example, World 3 introduces wind that allows you to fly up while gliding. Each world has 15 levels, and each level takes about five minutes to complete. The levels are handcrafted and the puzzles don’t feel repetitive at all. There is enough variety to always keep things interesting and to have enough depth. For those looking for more challenge, there are hidden crowns that are tougher to find and collect, although it’s possible to clear the level without them. But there were still some sections that felt way too familiar, like pushing a box to activate a switch, a puzzle that has been done to death over the years in different games.

The world is delightful to look at. I personally love the pixel-art style, but even anyone who doesn’t would agree that the art is stunning. There are tiny animations that make the screen lively and force you stop and admire them. An original 8-bit music track adds another dimension to the experience and makes it worth playing the game with headphones on. There is a basic narrative for why the catbird is lost, but it’s not deep. It wasn’t explained why you’re fighting the bosses in their own homes, and I didn’t feel like harming them without sufficient reason. There are also some ads that come up every few minutes, but they’re not irritating.

VERDICT: Cat Bird is a quality game with beautiful art, satisfying controls and smart design. In spite of a lot of pixel-based platforming games already existing on the store, Cat Bird manages to be a great game because of its gliding control and attention to quality. There are few ads, but a free game of this quality totally deserves making some money like this. If you are into platformers then I’d recommend playing this. I would rate this game nine out of 10.