Copycat leaps onto Steam

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

Demo also available for emotional narrative-driven animal adventure on Windows PC

The special relationship between a beloved pet and its owner can never be replaced, by either animal or human. Or can it? Might it even have to when circumstances dictate? This question lies at the heart of Copycat, the newly released narrative adventure from indie developer Spoonful Of Wonder. 

The star of the game, a cat (eventually) named Dawn, has had a difficult life, with bad former owners and a long time spent in the shelter. She imagines herself a wild cat and all she dreams of is being free. Then Dawn is adopted by a sickly, lonely old woman named Olive, as a replacement for her previous cat that went missing not long ago. Suspicious of Olive and still intent on escaping the first chance she gets, gradually Dawn comes to accept Olive's affection and the two "develop an intimate friendship, as two broken hearts mend one another and learn to beat as one." Then everything unravels, as Dawn falls victim to an "elaborate plan" that forces her out into the street while a "jealous, stray copycat steals her place in the household." Now Dawn must "wander alleyways, fences, and rooftops" to make her way back to Olive, as for the first time she comes to "learn about the true meaning of home." But even when she gets there, how will Olive recognize and choose her as the right pet? And perhaps more troubling is another question to consider: Was "Dawn the copycat all along?"

Copycat is a free-roaming, third-feline 3D adventure sprinkled with more linear, first-person interactions at times. The action is narrated like a nature documentary every step of the way through the "cozy family house, sunkissed backyard, creepy alleyways, and lush national parks." Instead of traditional puzzles to solve, there are choices to make and a variety of required tasks to complete using the many cat-like actions you can perform, whether it's to "make mischief, knock things on the ground, hide in boxes, run through the long grass, [or] meow at everything that moves." A gamepad is advised but keyboard controls are supported as well, and this is not a test of quick reflexes but rather a thoughtful, slow-paced narrative-driven adventure that explores emotional themes of "love, loneliness and letting go." With its colourful visuals, a "diverse score spanning jazz, lullaby music and tribal music," and a fully voiced (human) cast of actors, the game tells a three-hour "intimate, magical and hopeful Australian story that cherishes the human-pet bond in all its forms," while also challenging players to consider "our own existence and place in the world." 
 
If you're ready to pounce, the complete Copycat is now on Steam for Windows PC, or you can stalk your potential prey more cautiously with the lengthy playable demo available to download. Console versions for PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch are already underway, though no release details have yet been announced.