Many of you may remember Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails. The crazy rail shooter took its name rather literally and featured a gunner that moved along physical rails, with the goal being to shoot all the evil mice in a space station and save all the cats. It was a pretty strange setting; but nonetheless we really liked it, with the only reservations being some unfair level design and awkward controls.
The developer of Scram Kitty, Dakko Dakko, recently performed an interview with Eurogamer - with the title now landing imminently on PS4 and Vita - about the studio's philosophy and future plans. Inevitably, the Wii U was brought up in the discussion and Rhodri Broadbent - Dakko Dakko's lead designer - was quite enthusiastic about the console, explaining how it takes a unique console to make a unique game. He also rather casually stated that there's something else in the works at Dakko Dakko coming to Wii U, though no details were given. Here's the relevant quote from the interview:
I love it! It's still a little joy box to me. As a developer, I'm still working on a project right now I can't talk about now on the Wii U. It always brings a lot of new potential to gameplay, because you think about things in a different way. It's always nice to have more control options, and more weirdness in your hardware in terms of being able to inspire new ideas in a developer. I'm sad it hasn't reached the market it was supposed to, or I expected it to. But in terms of delivering good games I think it's doing well.
I'm a big fan of all crazy hardware. As a kid, and as a developer, I've always been interested in things that use hardware and interesting ways, and interesting hardware that brings new interesting experiences. That is the essence of gameplay for me, that fusion of the hardware and software together - when the hardware's more quirky, the software can become so.
It's always nice to see developers talking up the Wii U, and Dakko Dakko has a track record for creating weird and wonderful games, so this new project will be something to keep an eye on. You can read the full interview here.
Were you a fan of Scram Kitty? What would you like to see next from this studio? Sound off in the comments below.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 19
That game is really charming and really hard. I look forward to seeing what they do next!
I really loved Scram Kitty, which was really hard for me because I really don't like cats XD
I love their few on hardware/software-corelation and that having somewhat strange/quirky hardware which is functioning properly can push developers to be more creative.
I reaolly hope that their next game is as good as Scram Kitty and I will probobly buy it day 1 after this interview and their last game ^^"
They have my money since I finished Scram Kitty.
Scratch that, since I started Scram Kitty.
Scram Kitty was amazing. Will definitely keep an eye out for whatever they're doing next.
@sinalefa @JaxonH
I bought it and played it a bit. There was a lot to like, but I was annoyed at chasing the cat that hides. It just wasn't that fun and even the basic enemy shooting was introduced in frustrating scenarios, like that elusive saucer. I thought he really had a unique approach following the rails but that it would be more fun with more destruction and less fretting over the jumping and just trying to catch and hit a single enemy. Overall it just seemed to stress the challenges I didn't enjoy. :/
I'll get back to it someday, maybe it'll grow on me.
That said, I'll check out anything this guy comes up with and I like his attitude.
I'd love to see a Scram Kitty sequel. The first one was pretty good and I imagine a sequel would really improve on it.
I actually found Scram Kitty to be fairly entertaining. Not the best game ever, but fun.
I really loved Scram Kitty. Glad to see it's going to reach even more players in Vita and PS4! Everyone who loves classic shooters should play that game!
I own this game, but it's in my backlog of shame. Need to get to it, but I like the fact it's praised for being difficult. Glad to hear he is making another game for the system.
I liked Scram Kitty but never finished it. I might continue soon though.
@aaronsullivan
Keep in mind those cats are the hardest to get and by no means necessary to beat the game.
I know the jumping can be frustrating but to me it was like going back to my kid days when I had to learn how to play a totally new game. So fresh and challenging. Hope you can finish it.
@sinalefa
Yeah maybe I'll just ignore those then. I do enjoy learning new mechanics and that's what excited me enough to buy it.
I do need to pick it up again, but I also was frustrated by chasing the cat that runs away and some of the jumping required.
It's hard to say what else I'd like to see. Often the most interesting games are ones you wouldn't have thought of and I think that's the mark of a really good designer. Just make a good game that's fun to play!
I did not like Scram Kitty. I couldn't wait to download it, but once I did I couldn't wait to play something else! The controls are what did it for me.
The bit where you need to find the cat with the tablet controller is painful and is the reason i dont play it.
@sarethums Switch the view to the TV if you don't like playing it on the Gamepad. And as already said, chasing the cats is optional. You can still beat the game without them.
@sarethums @jariw
Well, I went back to it on @sinafela 's recommendation and ignored the cat's that run away. It really is a well put together game and it is fun. I was even using both screens more and looking forward to new stages.
I think the problem is that the running cats are the easiest to stumble on and that I was focusing on getting every cat — was feeling completionist from the get go — and then got annoyed at it. Trying to perfect the jumping and get those cats in the early stages is the frustrating-steep-hill way to approach the game but the design is inviting you to do just that.
Still, I do love this type of game where there the controls feel really analog and there's quite a bit of advantage you can gain with subtly applied skill.
Also, I'm fine with a tough challenge, but I think the game could still use a dose of rewarding fun areas in the stages. Sometimes I just want to slide around and blast away things without fearing failure all the time.
Scram Kitty has ensured that whatever else they release on Wii U gets bought Day 1 by me, so bring it on!
Scram Kitty is pure action skillz, for gamers not for players.
I wasn't into the silly cat theme, but the spot on controls+physics and the fresh challenging fast on-rails action were totally doing it for me.
Can see the similarities between this and a Treasure action gem. They really nailed that uncompromised 16bit arcade shooter feeling.
Obviously Dakko Dakko's next game has a reserved space on my Wii U menu.
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