Catlateral Damage

It’s not to be taken seriously, and that’s obvious right from booting the game up; from its blocky and over-simplistic graphic style to the plethora of cat-themed puns that you’re ambushed with right from the get-go (the “Paws” menu, for instance). If you have a sense of humour and a bit of time to kill, Catlateral Damage has plenty to offer; it’s just a delight to play. If cats aren’t your thing though, you’ll probably wonder why on Earth you’re spending your precious time just knocking things to the floor.

Cat lovers in particular are likely to get more enjoyment from stepping into the paws in this cat simulator and hunting down the various cat pictures than those who do not enjoy feline companionship.

Catlateral Damage isn't a cat simulator, really. It simply takes the shove-things-off-the-ledge aspect of a cat's personality and runs that concept into the ground. Different cats don't do anything different, and different rooms don't feel all that different either. Cute for a little while, and fun for a couple swings, but boredom set in before I'd even unlocked every cat or wrecked every room.

Catlateral Damage is a simple gaming experience that doesn’t offer up much variety outside of swiping items off shelves, but it does occasionally offer up some cute humor. Nothing really more or less than that, though.

“Adorable” is about the biggest compliment I can give to Catlateral Damage as a whole. As a cat lover, I relished the chance to vicariously experience the destruction they cause, only to find that knocking things over ad nauseum wasn’t all I thought it would be. In any case, there are plenty of laughs and smiles to be had if you’re of a mind to enjoy this silly “Simulator” stuff, and creator Chris Chung has seen fit to stuff the game with a plethora of cutesy collectibles (including a surprise “Pawlatinum!”). Go in with modest expectations and a lighthearted attitude and you’ll be sure to have a good time.

For the cat lovers and the curious amongst you, Catlateral Damage is pretty much purr-fect, but anyone else may want to give it a hiss.

Overall, there may be a surprising amount of content to unlock, but the gameplay just isn’t diverse enough to really hold a player’s attention for long. It’s a game that would perhaps be enjoyed more thoroughly by younger players, but for the rest of the gaming community, Catlateral Damage is one that’s probably better off played in short bursts.

With Catlateral Damage, Chris Chung has created an adorable game that is sadly lacking any real substance. You'll have fun for the first hour or so, but will get tired of the same old formula rather quickly, and find little reason to return.