There are numerous, many, many retro-themed first-person shooters, aka boomer shooters, available on the market. Some may say there are too many. I’m inclined to agree with that, if solely as a result of there’s loads of crap and slop on the market pretending to be strong throwbacks to fast-paced FPS motion. MeowGun: Hell Denizen, out now on Steam, isn’t a kind of disappointing video games.
MeowGun’s largest power is that, like another great retro shooters including Wrath, it’s constructed utilizing an open-source model of a basic FPS engine. On this case, MeowGun makes use of FTEQW, which is a wonderful open-source model of the unique Quake engine. And as is normally the case with these boomer shooters constructed on the tech of the previous, it helps make MeowGun really feel improbable.
Each gun in MeowGun is snappy, loud, and lethal. You progress quick, however at all times really feel in management. And blowing away demons with pistols, shotguns, bombs, and grenade launchers is a pleasure. It helps that MeowGun’s builders perceive that individuals play boomer shooters to blow shit up and kill a lot of enemies whereas sprinting by numerous ranges that ought to by no means be too large. I additionally recognize that MeowGun’s beginning pistol is sort of highly effective and proves helpful in fights for selecting off enemies or saving ammo. This ain’t a peashooter you’ll by no means use after you get a brand new weapon.
MeowGun’s voice appearing is at occasions distracting, particularly as the principle character–a half cat/half demon girl named MeowMeow–speaks virtually completely in film quotes and popular culture references. They usually begin to repeat fairly rapidly. Fortunately, I used to be usually blowing up a lot shit that I hardly ever may hear these strains. But when a speaking protagonist is an excessive amount of for you, MeowGun could be a grating expertise. Alternatively, when you love cats, there are small and really cute kittens to search out and save. Sure, earlier than you ask, you possibly can pet the cats you save. Oh, and there’s a devoted button to make your character meow. I’ll allow you to resolve how that makes you are feeling.
To be clear: MeowGun: Hell Denizen isn’t some revolutionary first-person shooter that I’m going to come back again to yr after yr to get pleasure from. However it’s a rattling good retro FPS that understands what individuals need out of those sorts of video games: A number of enemies to kill, quick music, satisfying weapons, and quick load occasions. And MeowGun delivers on all of that and prices lower than $15. In 2026, I can’t ask for way more.
