Curse of the Sea Rats

Curse of the Sea Rats is a good metroidvania game. Playing it solo is quite challenging, and playing it with up to three other friends in local mode is fun. While it's not a perfect game, it left us with a good taste thanks to a very original art style complemented by a somewhat basic but decent gameplay.

What I’m saying is that I’m not entirely sure who is going to enjoy Curse of the Sea Rats. I do know that there’s going to be an audience out there for it, because while it has several issues it also has many redeeming qualities. However, when it’s one of a few million Metroidvanias that are already on the Switch, I fear that Sea Rats will struggle to find that audience, despite being a clear passion project from everyone involved.

There are elements to Curse of the Sea Rats that really shine. It is exciting to progress through the world in Metroidvania-style watching the animations, cooky boss fights, and listening to the music. When it comes to gameplay such as combat and platforming however, the shine wears off. Pervasive loading screens on the Switch, neutered boss fights, and finicky platforming can make it too difficult to enjoy. The world is worthy to be explored, but with better gameplay.

Overall, Curse of the Sea Rats is a game I think has a lot of potential, but the samey characters and bugs hold it back from being what it seems like it really could be. If you’re really itching for a new metroidvania experience, or just really like rats for some reason, you could definitely do a lot worse than this one, but I sadly cannot say I would recommend you dash to the eshop as fast as you can for it.

Curse of the Sea Rats is a competent 2.5D Metroidvania that offers an absolutely delightful style. The story and gameplay are basic at best, with design oversights and shallow combat that unfortunately drive this simple narrative. Still, the small package comes with a fun four-player coop that complements the classic cartoon animation and critters throughout the journey. This platformer won’t rattle the scene, but it’s a great game for families to play.

Like I said, it’s Curse of the Sea Rats’ atmosphere and art style that really carry it: if you can tolerate some less-than-stellar writing, this game delivers on Redwall-esque “rodent fantasy” adventure with a pirate twist. Underneath that is a metroidvania that hits the right foundation but struggles to stand out, and lets some odd design choices and clunkiness get in the way of the exploration that the whole genre is built around. There’s still fun to be found here, but in such a crowded field full of creative twists on the form, Sea Rats struggles to leave a lasting impression.

Overall, Curse of the Sea Rats is an interesting choice if you want to get initiated in the metroidvania genre, but the technical issues make it hard to recommend at the time of reviewing.

Thanks to uneven difficulty, grating writing, and a general lack of polish in every other area, its appeal is only skin-deep, and quickly outstayed its welcome.

Curse of the Sea Rats is a truly beautiful Metroidvania-like, with stunning, hand-drawn characters, a charming story, and an intriguing world. Unfortunately, its sluggish controls and input delay hold it back, making this swash-buckling bonanza feel more punishing than it needs to be.

Despite my many gripes, I think there is still an audience out there for Curse of the Sea Rats. Sure, it’s packed to the rafters with frustrating design choices that should have been made to walk the plank, but it’s also a title that has clearly had a ton of love and passion poured into its development. That I felt compelled to stick with Curse of the Sea Rats despite the uneven gameplay is a testament to the art direction and light-hearted narrative, both of which instantly brought me back to a happy place; sitting in front of the TV on a Saturday morning, feasting on whatever sugar-laced cereal was trendy at the time, all while enjoying my favorite cartoons. While it’s not an easy sell due to its gameplay fumbles, I do still think Curse of the Sea Rats is worth a playthrough for anyone who can look past its flaws and focus on the product as a whole, which ends up being a serviceable videogame, elevated greatly by a wonderful sense of style and charm.