MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Review

First shown in 2023, Fumi Games and PlaySide Studios’ MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is here to transport players back to the 30s in what amounts to a gritty jazz-fueled adventure.

See whether its protagonist Jack Pepper is the big cheese with our review…

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Review

A seasoned private eye, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire follows the adventures of one Jack Pepper on his latest case.

As it turns out, someone has gone missing – and the police haven’t been much use in finding them.

Not held to the same rules as the police, Jack Pepper is able to get results much more quickly as a result.

After some initial searching, Jack finds clues that lead to other cases alongside corruption seeping into the the city of Mouseburg.

As it turns out, this case won’t be that simple after all – but that’s not a problem for Jack Pepper.

Quite the looker, MOUSE: P.I. for Hire’s art style is easily one of its greatest strengths. The soundtrack, atmosphere, characters, and even the way guns shoot feel legit to the 1930s era.

One quick look can almost immediately show you what they were going for – and they nailed it.

MOUSE: P.I For Hire is easily worth checking out for its aesthetic alone.

A first-person shooter, MOUSE: P.I. comes in guns-a-blazing – we’re talking DOOM and Wolfenstein levels.

Each of its fights is akin to an arena battle, complete with ammo, heals, and explosive barrels ripe for use.

All of MOUSE: P.I. For Hire’s guns handle extremely well, to the point that a pistol or Tommy gun can land a shot on an enemy sniper.

When things get too hairy, Jack Pepper can also toss dynamite to clear large groups or break certain walls.

Put simply, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire’s combat steals the show.

It’s just a shame the detective part of MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is a little lackluster.

Players will head back to one’s office after each level as they pin clues on your board. While this part is fun, gathering said clues always requires killing a bunch of enemies.

There definitely are hidden clues to find in each level, but one will still need to clear out enemies beforehand. We would have loved to occasionally give peace a chance, with some investigation that didn’t involve killing.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire also features a number of secrets.

Some are simple nooks with a few extra dollars, while others have safes filled with schematics. These safes have a tail lock picking mini-game that becomes second nature before too long.

Players can also upgrade guns with Schematics, allowing players to tap into alternate firing rates, more damage, extra ammo, and additional buffs.

The difference between a level one gun and a level three gun is night and day – my Tommy Gun in particular made me a killing machine once fully buffed.

Seeking out MOUSE: P.I. For Hire’s Schematics is always worth going off the beaten path.

In-between missions, players can explore the town of Mouseburg…or at the very least a very small part of Mouseburg.

While here players can dive into its baseball mini-game (more on that later), do some shopping, talk to NPCs, upgrade your guns, and put clues together.

However, its shop doesn’t have much to buy outside of baseball cards. While one can refill ammo, there isn’t much need since levels provide so much. One can purchase missable comics – while a nice touch, I was expecting a bit more from the hub.

The big mini-game in MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is in the form of the aforementioned card baseball game. While simple, it’s the main reason to spend cash outside of bullets and missed comic strips.

In it, players use cards as both pitcher and hitter for five rounds as one scores more points than one’s opponent.

From there, the winner is chosen from the person that has a higher number than your opponent on their card. Players can also add support cards to buff speed or alternatively hit harder.

While a nice distraction, one eventually gets OP cards that nearly guarantee wins – a double-edged sword.

While MOUSE: P.I. For Hire doesn’t quite scratch that detective itch, its incredible aesthetics and lively cast make it well worth the trip to Mouseberg.

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