Schrodinger’s Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark Review (PC)

good
key review info
  • Game: Schrodinger’s Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark
  • Platform: PC
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: Yes  
  • Reviewed on:
Schrodinger’s Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark review on PC

Puzzle platformers are a dime a dozen nowadays but very few adopt a physics-based approach, like the recent Schrödinger’s Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark, coming from studio Italic Pig and publisher Team17, does.

The game puts players in the shoes of the famous cat as it must explore a zoo after various particles escaped their enclosures and are causing havoc throughout the premises. With both old and new mechanics, not to mention a distinct theme centered around science and physics in particular, the game certainly looks mighty impressive.

Does Schrodinger’s Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark manage to perform a successful experiment or should we not open the famous cat box? Let's find out.

Story

In case you haven't paid that much attention in physics class, Schrodinger's Cat is the name of an experiment performed by physicist Erwin Schrödinger. He placed a cat, a decaying radioactive source, a vial of poison, and a small device in a box. If the device detects that the radioactive source has decayed, it breaks the vial of poison, thereby killing the cat.

The scientist used this experiment to support the quantum mechanics theory that was gaining traction during his years, as the cat was believed to be both alive and dead at any given time, due to the unpredictable nature of the conditions.

In the game, the cat is very much alive and is tasked with helping a so-called Particle Zoo by collecting loose particles that have escaped their enclosures. The story is pretty basic but the dialog is quite fun and you'll have a fun time talking with crazy characters and maneuvering the feline around the environment.

Travel through funky levels
Travel through funky levels

Gameplay

Schrodinger’s Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark handles like a pretty basic puzzle platformer, although its actual movement system isn't that precise. The cat protagonist has problems with stopping after extended periods of running, and it can be quite tricky to jump and then immediately duck in order to gain access to a shaft or other such locations.

However, the main claim to fame is the quark mechanic, which gives the feline the ability to gather quarks scattered through the environment. These come in four different variations and can be combined in groups of three to create different effects.

For example, combining three yellow quarks spawns a helicopter-like group that takes the cat up and above a certain distance. Combining three blue quarks spawns a sort of heavy object that can smash through vulnerable horizontal walls.

You can also combine the quarks between them, as blue and yellow results in a sort of missile that can smash vertical walls.There are 14 combinations but you shouldn't get scared because of the complexity, as pulling up the pause screen immediately shows a diagram with all the various combos.

Still, the game doesn't overwhelm players in the beginning, giving them just the right amount of quarks to get past their current obstacles. There are also checkpoints during levels where you need to drop off your remaining quarks and start the next section without anything else.

The whole quark system works pretty well in action and certainly elevates the puzzle platformer experience to new heights. It takes some time to get used, especially since the control scheme uses the arrow keys for the actual combinations. You control the cat using the WASD keys, while the jump can be handled, alternatively, by the space bar. Last but not least, you can employ a claw attack by pressing E. While the game supports a controller, by default, just the stick movements are compatible in the game. For the rest, you have to enter the configuration menu and manually bind your buttons.

The actual environments are relatively well designed but there are some issues with collision detection, not to mention some dangerous areas that are exposed even if they don't appear that way. The game does allow players to zoom out a bit by pressing the Tab button, and the overlay also depicts valuable quarks, dangerous enemies, or the exit.

The camera system is also a bit annoying, as it bounces around and flinches way too often while following the cat protagonist. Changing directions suddenly also causes a period of readjustment for the camera, so be careful when you're roaming through the many environments.

The quark combinations
The quark combinations

Visuals and Sound

The game has some pretty solid cartoonish visuals, especially when it comes to the characters and the quarks that are scattered throughout the zoo. The animations are well done, but unfortunately, the actual platforms and materials don't look all that great and end up disappointing a bit. There are also situations where the backgrounds are white and this causes enemies to appear almost invisible due to the lack of any contours.

The sound aspect of the game is very well done, with the voice acting taking the game to new heights. The well-written dialog is delivered effortlessly by the cast, and jokes manage to sound great most of the time. The soundtrack and a few sound cues do get a bit repetitive, but it's not that big of an issue.


The Good

  • Great premise
  • Innovative mechanics
  • Some good visuals
  • Impressive voice acting

The Bad

  • Erratic camera
  • A few control issues
  • Poor built-in controller support
  • Some audio effects get repetitive
  • A few levels have hard-to-distinguish visual elements

Conclusion

Schrodinger’s Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark is a good puzzle platformer that manages to innovate and deliver a hilarious time. There are some issues, however, that weigh it down, from the slight platforming quirks, to the camera or some visual elements. Even so, if you're a fan, you can certainly have a great time with it.

story 7
gameplay 7
concept 8
graphics 8
audio 9
multiplayer 0
final rating 7.5
Editor's review
good
 
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Schrodinger’s Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark (17 Images)

Schrodinger’s Cat and the Raiders of the Lost Quark review on PCHelp the friendly particlesExplore the zooCollect different quarksUse them in combinations
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