It usually always starts with a dame, but this time it started with a missing magician, who was missing his dame, and then a dame showed up. Hold on, let me start again.

This case smelled like overripe cheese from the very beginning, when I heard my old wartime pal and hoity-toity magician Steve Bandel disappeared I said ‘Whoa, great trick!” then I heard he disappeared for real, leaving a messy trail of curds in his wake. Needing a new gig I started looking into him and that’s when the trail started to mold over and all sorts of cops, clowns and cultists crawled out of the woodwork.

All I wanted was an easy case, some quality Comté cheese and a nice glass of red at the end of the night and instead I get shot at, deceived, and worst of all had to visit a circus. Something is rotten in this town and it’s not the blue cheese, it’s this case.

It all leads to Steve, in the middle is politics, greed and the dame who finally showed up at my office. I added her case to my pile, convinced they are linked. Now, I got a dozen leads, a gun full of bullets and a headache only a stiff drink and a whiff of cheese can cure.

Tonight it all comes to a head, I just need to know who to trust, how to get myself out of this mess and finally solve the case to bring some sanity to our town. After visiting the Old World and getting a taste of war I thought danger was behind me, but now I have to walk right into it.

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The Game: A Noir Masterpiece in Rubber-Hose Animation

The narrative tone of MOUSE: P.I. For Hire from Fumi games is a glorious blend of pulp, noir, and satire. Playing through the campaign feels like The Naked Gun meets Chinatown in the Mickey Mouse Universe, and the result is every bit as compelling as it sounds.

Set in the rain-slicked, corruption-heavy streets of Mouseburg, you play as Jack Pepper, a hard-boiled, war-veteran mouse detective voiced by the ubiquitous Troy Baker. This FPS noir boomer shooter swaps hellish demons for tommy-gun-wielding rats and “cheeselegging” gangsters, all rendered in breathtaking 1930s rubber-hose style animation.

The Big Case: The Narrative and Atmosphere

As the narrative intro suggests, the story is surprisingly dense for a retro-style shooter, tackling heavy themes like city corruption, kidnappings and cheese prohibition.

• The Investigation: Jack is hunting for his former war buddy turned stage magician, Steve Bandel. The trail leads through a murky conspiracy involving a high-stakes mayoral election and the shadowy Big Mouse Party.
• A Visual Hybrid: The world utilizes a perfect 3D/2D hybrid engine. While the environments are fully 3D, characters are hand-drawn 2D sprites that always face the player, maintaining an authentic flat cartoon look within a deep, moody space.
• Cheese Puns & Gritty Truths: Expect a constant barrage of cheese-based puns. It’s “Gouda” fun, though it serves as a lighthearted mask for the genuinely dark, unsettling subject matter lurking in the shadows.

Gameplay: Fast, Frantic and Slapstick Violence

While the story pulls you through the pulp satire, the gameplay is pure, retro-style FPS action. MOUSE: P.I. For Hire delivers this with aplomb, featuring an ever-growing arsenal and multiple traversal methods to freeze, blow up, and pulverize enemies.

The gameplay loop is satisfyingly consistent: investigate a new district, witness a crazy set of story beats, and then face off against hordes of enemies as areas lockdown. As you progress into larger levels, you are rewarded with new skills or weapon types. Thanks to the diverse loadouts and silky smooth performance on the PC, the action always feels fresh.

The weapons are truly inspired and appropriately slapstick violent, among many other you have access to:

• The Boomstick: A classic, heavy-hitting shotgun.
• The James Gun: A rapid-fire Tommy gun.
• The Devarnisher: My personal favorite. This weapon literally melts ink-based enemies into puddles of soot with eyes. Watching enemies writhe and dissolve instantly reminded me of the iconic ending of Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

The Hub and “Busy Work” Extras

Between the high-octane shootouts, there is a fair amount of extra activities designed to fill out the world of Mouseburg. You’ll find yourself hunting down stacks of newspapers for lore, collecting baseball cards, and sniffing out comic book strips hidden away around the world.

While the baseball card battle minigame at the local bar is a decent distraction and the safe-cracking puzzles offer a brief respite from shooting, most of these extras feel like check-box collectibles rather than essential experiences. They add flavor to the 1930s setting, but they don’t do much to heighten the stakes or provide a mechanical advantage that justifies the detour from the main shooting gallery.

The Verdict: Is It a Legendary P.I. Tale?

While the game is incredibly fun and original, I did find myself wishing for more “P.I. work” regarding the clues you collect. Currently, Pepper simply lays them out on a board and leads magically appear to unlock new areas. Had the developer explored more creative, interactive deduction mechanics, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire could have evolved from an excellent game to a legendary one.

Regardless, the game is a true treat. The execution, from the character designs and music to the voice work and story beats, surprised and impressed me. Yes, it’s a boomer shooter, and it isn’t overly complex to complete, but the experience is so fascinatingly unique that I felt lucky to play it and experience what it had to offer.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire swung for the moon with its art style and setting, and it landed in a very successful orbit. It’s not perfect, but it’s an incredibly fun ride that is well worth your time.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is available now for PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and Switch 2 platforms. We were given a Steam code for review purposes from the Publisher via Keymailer.