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Mouse P.I. for Rent has precipitated fairly the stir because it was revealed by Polish developer Fumi Video games a few years again. Its rubberhose animation fashion, Doom-inspired boomer shooter gameplay, and Mickey Mouse-esque solid of characters helped it to face out within the indie scene, and it’s already loved a wholesome dosage of optimistic reception from critics and gamers alike.
Overview information
Platform reviewed: Nintendo Change 2
Out there on: PS5, Xbox Collection X|S, Nintendo Change 2, PC
Launch date: April 16, 2026
So, once I acquired the possibility to attempt it out on Nintendo Change 2, it’s secure to say I used to be fairly excited. Taking part in detective in a noir, rodent-filled world sounds fairly attractive, proper? And provided that I had some long-haul flights up forward, going with the Change 2 version to mouse round on the go felt like a no brainer.
- Nintendo Change 2 Mouse P.I. for Rent (Change) at Walmart for $39.99
However simply how good is Mouse P.I. for Rent on Nintendo Change 2? And does the indie title nail the boomer shooter method and Thirties cartoon aesthetic? Right here’s what I believe after greater than 20 hours with the sport.
Say hey to my little pal
(Picture credit score: Fumi Video games / PlaySide Studios)
Welcome to Mouseburg, the place the cops are extra crooked than an outdated shrew’s tooth, the ‘cheesehibition’ brings unrest, and the stench of crime lurks on nearly each nook. For personal investigator Jack Pepper — a conflict hero and former police officer — thriller awaits, with the circumstances of a lacking magician, a murdered mouse, and a shrew-trafficking ring all drawing his consideration.
You’ll should snoop round Mouseburg, shoot by your foes, dig round for clues, and remedy these key circumstances, which can or might not be interlinked. It’s a enjoyable premise for positive, and though the sport is fairly linear, this ensures that the thriller is paced fairly properly.
In the case of the investigative points, Mouse P.I. retains issues comparatively easy. Throughout numerous places, you’ll stumble throughout clues — resembling misplaced notes or images — and be tasked with pinning them up at Jack’s workplace. Right here, he’ll be capable of ponder proof, resolve leads, and resolve what motion to take.
As a participant, you’re not in a position to give a lot private enter into the investigation course of — a lot of it unfolds earlier than your eyes as Jack discusses his findings. It may’ve been attention-grabbing to see some a number of selection choices or to suppose up correlations between items of proof, however personally, I used to be comfortable for the sport to take a extra agile, easy method.
Aside from the principle story, you’ll be capable of tackle facet gigs, like gathering information for Jack’s journalist ally Wanda, or finding elements for his bar-owner buddy John Brown. The rewards for these aren’t at all times large, however getting some additional cash to purchase newspapers and comedian books, in addition to baseball playing cards required for a easy bar recreation, is at all times welcome.
Finest bit
(Picture credit score: Fumi Video games / PlaySide Studios)
Though Fumi Video games nailed the black and white Thirties aesthetic, getting into the movie studio and seeing a burst of shade was a intelligent twist and a feast for the eyes.
The primary factor to debate, nonetheless, is the sport’s fight. This can be a first-person shooter that wears its inspirations on its sleeve. The boomer shooter method is executed very properly, with fast-paced, brutal, and chaotic shoot-outs that really feel thrilling to blast by. There is a little bit of platforming blended in too, which feels surprisingly sharp — and equally forgiving, as falling will merely respawn you from the place you left off.
My solely situation with Mouse P.I.’s rodent-packed shoot-ups is the unlucky lack of enemy variety. Throughout the recreation’s approximate 20-hour run time, you will encounter the identical foes over and over, which turns into a bit boring within the latter levels. There’s the occasional odd creature or robotic sprinkled in, and the bosses provide some problem, but it surely feels just like the Devs may’ve given your enemies extra weapon varieties and extra distinctive appears to be like relying on the world you are in.
For Pepper, nonetheless, issues are a bit totally different. He is given a neat number of weapons to wield towards his opponents, together with the James Gun (a playfully named Tommy Gun), the Boomstick (a shotgun), the Free Cannon (a cannonball shooter), and extra. The James Gun is definitely probably the most dependable, and it makes loads of areas straightforward to tear by, however there’s a tough mode if you wish to check your abilities.
As a participant, you can even select to play with a controller, with an ordinary handheld setup, or with…ahem…mouse controls. The latter genuinely works fairly properly, though I desire the consolation of utilizing a Change 2 Professional Controller, personally. One factor I’ve seen loads of gamers lament, nonetheless, is the dearth of gyro, which is packed into loads of rival first-person shooters, and it will’ve been nice to see right here.
A step down on Change 2
(Picture credit score: Fumi Video games / PlaySide Studios)
I have been fairly optimistic about Mouse P.I. for Rent thus far, and I genuinely suppose it is a recreation that followers of video games like Doom Everlasting will love. However we’re trying on the Change 2 model particularly at the moment, and on this platform, the sport runs into far too many technical points.
The largest situation for this title is its unreliable body fee. With the Change 2 docked, Mouse P.I. is concentrating on 1080p at 60fps (frames per second) in efficiency mode and 1440p at 40fps in high quality mode. In handheld, it is 900p at 60fps and 1260p at 30fps, respectively. That is already not probably the most spectacular, in spite of everything, that is hardly probably the most demanding recreation on the market. However Mouse P.I. nonetheless struggles to achieve a few of these figures.
The worst offender is Efficiency mode. In handheld mode, the sport has fixed body drops, which might be pesky throughout fight conditions and a little bit of an immersion killer throughout exploration. Issues are a bit higher in docked, however I nonetheless skilled frequent drops, even when visiting areas just like the kitchen by the bar.
Positive, issues are a bit steadier in high quality mode, however there are nonetheless occasional drops, and the decrease body fee simply does not lend itself very properly to the fast-paced, fluid nature of Mouse P.I.’s gameplay.
On prime of this, I found different technical oddities, like menus scrolling with out me urgent any buttons (it doesn’t matter what controller I used), overlong loading screens, and even a crash once I was mid-mission.
Do not get me mistaken, Mouse P.I. for Rent continues to be playable on Change 2. As irritating as these points are, the port continues to be workable, and I used to be in a position to push by the pesky body drops to recover from the road. Apparently, there’s a patch within the works to handle among the recreation’s efficiency points, which is a optimistic signal, though I might argue that it ought to’ve performed smoother from launch.
(Picture credit score: Fumi Video games / PlaySide Studios)
Having mentioned this, there’s nonetheless rather a lot to like about Mouse P.I. for Rent. Its story is fairly partaking, and the characters are voiced to absolute perfection. Sure, not all the jokes about cheese land, however utilizing it as an alternative to alcohol through the prohibition period actually provides to the Thirties setting.
The rubberhose animation fashion can also be stellar, and fits the noir vibe to a T. In the identical manner that Cuphead charmed audiences years in the past, Mouse P.I. for Rent thrives off its charismatic, frantic, and typically weird animation. Oh, and that is to not point out the soundtrack, which options jazz hits from the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, in addition to some iconic classical tunes.
All in all, then, Mouse P.I. for Rent on Nintendo Change 2 leaves me feeling conflicted. On one hand, I might argue it hits loads of the correct beats in terms of gameplay, narrative, and visible fashion. However alternatively, I’ve to say, the sloppy efficiency was a little bit of a let down, and makes this particular model of the sport more durable to suggest. And that is the place I am at: Mouse P.I. for Rent is a largely fulfilling, fantastically animated boomer shooter — however if you happen to personal one other system, like a PS5 or PC, I might keep away from the Change 2 model, until there is a main repair rolled out, that’s.
Do you have to play Mouse P.I. for Rent?
(Picture credit score: Fumi Video games / PlaySide Studios)
Play it if…
Do not play it if…
Accessibility options
There are a good few methods to customise your expertise in Mouse P.I. for Rent. As an example, there are three issue ranges, you’ll be able to both toggle or maintain down R3 to crouch, you’ll be able to flip blood results off, and you’ll remap controls to your liking. On prime of this, you’ll be able to alter sensitivity, digicam controls, purpose help ranges, and even visible results, like depth of subject. Subtitles are additionally obtainable, and you’ll choose from a wide selection of textual content languages.
(Picture credit score: Fumi Video games / PlaySide Studios)
How I reviewed Mouse P.I. for Rent
I spent greater than 20 hours enjoying by Mouse P.I. for Rent, throughout which period I accomplished the principle story, completed a bunch of facet quests, and tried nabbing as many collectibles as I may.
More often than not, I performed the sport in handheld mode on my Nintendo Change 2, utilizing the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones to listen to in-game audio. Nevertheless, I did play the sport docked every so often, and had my system related as much as the Sky Glass Gen 2 tv and Marshall Heston 120 soundbar.
Extra typically, I’ve reviewed a bunch of titles right here at TechRadar gaming, together with the whole lot from Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Darkish Ties by to Kirby Air Riders.
First reviewed April-Could 2026
Nintendo Change 2 Mouse P.I. for Rent: Worth Comparability
