Jumpin’ Jazz Catsis wonderfully 2000s. Here, we have aco-op party gamewhere you play as a bunch of cartoon cats, fighting against friends to get more points. When I heard about it, I thought of the days I spent playingMario Partywith my siblings, back in the good ol’ days of couch co-op.
This party game from indie studio Le Catnip Collective is all that and more. Jumpin’ Jazz Cats is certainly a call back to this simpler time, as up to four players in local multiplayer (or nine online) go up against each other in ridiculous minigames. Like the jazz music that inspires the game at every turn, Jumpin’ Jazz Cats wants to give you something new every time you play, and based on a quick preview atGamescomthis year, it could very well do that - at least, for a time.
The set-up is simple - you design your own cat and form a party. From here, you choose a level, each of which gives you an objective and a jazz backing track. The music you get mixes up the rules slightly, and it’s this combination of levels and unique music that the devs hope adds more variety than other party games.
For example, in a level that had us racing to eat the most fish, we’d be interrupted by toys raining down from above, which made us trip over if we didn’t watch where we were going. In another case, the song choice sped everyone up, making everything much more chaotic.
What We’ve Seen From Jumpin' Jazz Cats So Far
The devs tell me that they wanted to create as many different combinations as possible with the levels and the music so that even playing the same stage on repeat feels fresh every time. They proudly boasted more than 300 combinations, but the level pool is relatively small, so there’s a lot riding on this music mechanic’s ability to make everything feel unique.
It’s hard for me to say whether this works as I’ve only had half an hour with the game, but from what I played, it certainly kept my attention and paced each level well. Suddenly, a Mario Party-esque minigame felt more likeMario Kart, with a race to get to the end, rather than relying on dumb luck to screw over your opponents.
It helps that the jazz tracks themselves are fantastic, giving the game its own unique style.
However, after 30 minutes, I was still determining whether the tracks would be enough to add the exact level of variety that the devs are hoping for. As much as the new rules can change how you interact with the map for a brief period of time, you’re still heading towards the same objective - get more points than your opponents. The levels themselves are quite small too, and could risk getting repetitive faster than intended.
As it stands, however, Jumpin’ Jazz Cats is a party that does a lot to establish its own identity and playstyle. It might not have the sheer level of variety it promises, but it’s more than enough to mess around with, especially the more players you have. So, if you’re looking for something else to play with family, this is certainly worth keeping an eye on.
Jumpin' Jazz Cats
WHERE TO PLAY
🐈 Play as a cat 🐈 online 🐈 with your friends! 🐈Pawsome Parkour!Grind down handrails, swing from chandeliers, bounce off cushions, perform acrobatic jumps, slide across slippery floors and climb the curtains!Be the Zoomiest cats!While the humans are away, the cats will play! These amical mini-games are played in teams and include rip-roaring races, fat cat collectathons and epic showdowns between shadow cats and mighty lions! To win, your cat pack will need to collaborate and pull off the fanciest pussycat parkour!Welcome to the Ellington EstateThe fun takes place in the Ellington Estate, a jazzy cartoon mansion. Its spiral staircases, rooms and passageways are filled with devious distractions, a city of furniture, and so much more!Get Creative!Choose from a host of playable cats or customize your own! Get creative with your team’s style and unlockable accessories! There’s plenty of time to chill between matches, tweak the cosmetics, and try out new moves!Features:🎵 2-9 players online🎵 4 local players can join via split-screen🎵 6 levels across the mansion to discover🎵 6 cat-GIF inspired mini-games🎵 10 original jazz tracks that influence gameplay during the choruses🎵 Mix and match levels, mini-games and songs for immense variety🎵 Blend of co-operative and competitive strategies
