honestgamer's Kitten Squad review

Oh, wow, this sounds like one of those dopey games on PETA's website. Much more interesting things going on here, but for naught, as the compelling arguments here would suggest. Lot of personality in your reviews, Jason; I always know where you're coming from. I think this is in part due to what comparisons you make (the early Zelda tipoff brings to mind not only gameplay similarities but also the author's sensibilities), as well as the dry, understated humor about the game's mechanics and art direction, which are important for the review to have the lengthier dissertation on the whole thematic strangeness feel natural to the writing. Good work, as always!

but again, at least it wasn't as bad as the PETA games https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNG-p83v4xrFZj7PZCePRlnPG6HFPXcB3

I'm glad you enjoyed reading the review, Freeman! The game caught me by surprise. I somehow missed the finer points of what I was downloading back when I downloaded it, so when I played it now I was able to go in fresh until the game soured the experience for me. I'm familiar with some of PETA's past efforts to use games to promote its agenda, but there's a difference between going in knowing what you're getting and going in with the expectation that you'll get to enjoy a decent twin-stick shooter, only to get... this.

I must have missed the jump off point where PETA could address the ethical treatment of animals - which is the norm, not the exception - but then I remembered the sort who back the organization. Some of them would happily reset civilization if it meant getting what they want, except that they haven't considered what that means for them.

It's a shame that this game represents PETA in a less than rational light, and even moreso that Nintendo had no problem approving it and its brutal imagery. Good review! I'm glad you covered it... though I steer away from "free" games hard, these days.

The game isn't exclusive to Nintendo Switch, by the way. It's also on PC and PS4. I just happened to play and review the Switch version, because that's the platform where I most readily notice and snag new releases.

I'm just surprised this game was developed by Arcade Distillery. They made Plague Road, and if I recall, one of the first enemies you attack in that game is an animal.

So... this is an interesting change of pace.