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The Cat in the Hat (video game)

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This article is about the platformer published by Vivendi Universal Games. For other uses, see The Cat in the Hat (disambiguation).
The Cat in the Hat
Developer(s)Magenta Software (PS2, Xbox)
Digital Eclipse ( Windows, GBA)
Publisher(s)Vivendi Universal Games[a]
Director(s)Paul Johnson
Dave Allsopp
Producer(s)Jared Brinkley
Stephen Townsend
Composer(s)Keith Leary (Game Audio Ltd.)
Platform(s)Game Boy Advance, Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Release
  • NA: November 5, 2003 (PS2, Xbox, GBA)
  • NA: November 9, 2003 (Windows)
  • EU: March 19, 2004
  • JP: March 25, 2004 (Xbox)
Genre(s)Platform

The Cat in the Hat (also known as Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat) is a 2003 2.5D platform game for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows, and Game Boy Advance. The PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions were developed by Magenta Software. The Windows and Game Boy Advance versions were developed by Digital Eclipse. All versions of the game were published by Vivendi Universal Games. It is based on the 2003 film of the same name, which was released shortly after the game. A version for the GameCube was planned, but was never released.[1]

Plot

On a stormy day, Conrad (Chase Chavarria) and Sally (Andrea Bowen) are confined inside their house while their mother is gone. The Cat in the Hat (Chris Edgerly) arrives to bring them cheer, but next-door neighbor, Larry Quinn (Fred Tatasciore), steals the Crab Lock that seals the Cat's magical crate, causing magic to flood the house and unleash chaos that threatens the world.[2] The Cat makes his way through different stages—household objects or rooms which have been corrupted by the magic—with the guidance of the family's fish (Nolan North), recaptures the magic, and chases Larry Quinn, who is after the magic in a quest to become immensely powerful. After cleaning the house of magic and besting Larry Quinn, the Crab Lock reattaches to the crate, sealing away the magic.

The plot of the Game Boy Advance version is largely the same, with the exception that Conrad removes the lock, as for unknown reasons, Larry Quinn is not present.

Gameplay

PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows

The main objective of the game is to explore worlds and chase Quinn out of them while optionally gathering the scattered magic. There are ten levels and three boss fights, though there is also a bonus level which can be unlocked by completing the bonus stages in each level. To traverse these levels, the cat can jump, glide with his umbrella, zipline, slam to the ground, and collect enemies and explosive goo in bubbles for use as projectiles, among other maneuvers.

The game has a variety of collectibles. Each stage contains small clusters of magic whose value varies by color; if every cluster is collected within a stage, the stage's appearance in the hub world returns to normal. Collecting all magic in the game results in the game's true ending where the crate is sealed. There are also gems which can be collected in bonus levels, of which one exists in each stage and can be unlocked by acquiring four keys from Thing One and Thing Two; collecting all of these gems unlocks the bonus stage. Finally, there are clapperboards hidden throughout each stage that, when collected, unlock a clip from the movie for viewing in the menu.

In the game's three boss fights, the Cat fights Quinn's machine – which is powered by the Crab Lock – and must fire bubbles full of enemies into the machine's exhaust pipe to damage it. Upon defeating Quinn, the Cat obtains one-third of the Crab Lock by hitting it with explosive goo. Upon revisiting the stage, Thing One and Thing Two pilot the machine instead of Quinn.

Bonus stages are short segments of gameplay where the goal is to outrun hazards such as such as rolling objects, rising liquids, and laser beams to collect a crystal. Collecting the crystal at the end of every bonus stage will open a bonus level called Mystic Mirror.

Game Boy Advance

In addition to platforming stages, the Game Boy Advance version contains four stages where the player scuba dives to obtain pieces of the Crab Lock. There's also a bonus stage where the Cat drives his cleaning machine to catch Thing One and Thing Two. Collectibles include icons related to the theme of the stage as well as enemies that have been defeated.

Reception

The Cat in the Hat received mixed reviews,[3][4][7][8] except for the PC and Game Boy Advance versions, which received unfavorable reviews.[6][10][5][9]

Windows

GameZone gave the Windows version an overall score of 8/10, praising the gameplay as fun and easy, the graphics as "bright and vivid", and the soundtrack as "catchy", saying the presentation "captures the essence of Seuss" better than the movie. However, they criticized levels as "tend[ing] to be very similar to each other", the backgrounds as "pixelated", and the content as "not anything above the ordinary."[14]

Computer and Video Games gave the game a 3.0/10 and called it "a shameless cash-in", "just trash", "a big pile of sh...", and "fit for the litter tray", remarking: "They say it's for kids, but kids can't be fooled."[11]

PC Gamer UK gave it a 9%, calling it "steaming effluent" and "the worst platform game [they'd] ever played." They criticized the Cat's performance as "annoying", cited bugs they experienced with the game such as collision issues, complained of poor level design, and called the graphics "drab" and "years out-of-date."[22]

Game Boy Advance

GameSpot gave the Game Boy Advance version a 3.8/10, calling games like it "the reason why licensed games have such a bad reputation". They said the game "isn't any fun to play", calling the gameplay "downright boring and unimaginative." They praised the graphics as "pleasing to the eye", but called the sound design lackluster. They concluded that Vivendi "missed a great opportunity" and called it "just a generic punch-and-run".[13]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Released under the Coktel brand name in PAL regions.

References

  1. ^ Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat GameCube Gameplay. IGN. May 19, 2011 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ The Cat: "It was a windy, rainy day. Then, to everyone's surprise, I turn up and cheer up some kids. But then, what do you know? My magical crate is opened — the lock stolen — magic leaks out, and the whole world is in danger. Thus, I ... have to recapture the loose magic, which has transformed the house, and recover the lock from Mr. Quinn, the nasty next door neighbor, who's also collecting the magic in order to make himself immensely powerful."
  3. ^ a b "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (Xbox)". GameRankings. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (PlayStation 2)". GameRankings. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (GBA)". GameRankings. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat for PC". GameRankings. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 28, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat for Game Boy Advance Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 23, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 28, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  11. ^ a b "The Cat in the Hat". Computer and Video Games. May 10, 2004. Archived from the original on May 23, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  12. ^ "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat". Famitsu. Vol. 798. April 2, 2004.
  13. ^ a b Provo, Frank (December 15, 2003). "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat Review (GBA)". GameSpot. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  14. ^ a b Hollingshead, Anise (December 10, 2003). "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 17, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  15. ^ Tha Wiz (November 16, 2003). "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 1, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  16. ^ Hollingshead, Anise (December 17, 2003). "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat - GBA - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  17. ^ Hwang, Kaiser (February 6, 2004). "The Cat in the Hat". IGN. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  18. ^ Tierney, Adam (December 1, 2003). "Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (GBA)". IGN. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  19. ^ "The Cat in the Hat". Nintendo Power. Vol. 176. January 2004. p. 160.
  20. ^ "The Cat in the Hat". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. January 2004. p. 133.
  21. ^ Egger, Dan (January 2004). "Review: The Cat in the Hat". Official Xbox Magazine. No. 27. p. 73.
  22. ^ a b Edwards, Tim (June 2004). "The Cat in the Hat". PC Gamer UK. No. 136. p. 98. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  23. ^ PC Zone Staff (May 10, 2004). "Review: The Cat in the Hat". PC Zone. Archived from the original on December 8, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  24. ^ Miller, Skyler (March 10, 2004). "'The Cat in the Hat' (PS2) Review". X-Play. Archived from the original on April 14, 2004. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
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