Introduction
Basic information
- Developer Name: Spoonful of Wonder
- Full Name: Copycat
- Release Date: 2024, 19 September
- Released on: PC,Â
- Cross Play: Not Available
Initial thoughts
I got this key for Copycat through Keymailer, knowing only that it was a visual story featuring a cat. That was about all I needed to know because, well, I love cats! What I didn’t expect was how emotional and heavy the story would become as I played through the experience. It was a lot more intense than I initially imagined.
Story and setting
Plot overview
The story revolves around Dawn, a cat who experiences abandonment and rejection, leading her to question her worth. She gets adopted by a older lady named Olive. But Dawn has some serious issues with humans. We soon learn Olive replaced her old cat Dawn with the new Dawn, and she expected things to be the same, this escalates rapidly.
World building and immersion
The world of Copycat feels raw and emotional, focusing on themes of loneliness, betrayal, and heartbreak, especially for animal lovers. The game pulls you into Dawn’s world, which is beautifully rendered yet filled with painful memories. The environment may not be vast, but it is detailed enough to immerse you in Dawn’s sorrowful journey.
Character development
Dawn’s emotional evolution is well-written and impactful. From a loving, trusting pet to a heartbroken, disillusioned creature, her journey is deeply relatable for anyone who’s felt abandoned or unappreciated. Her inner thoughts reveal a depth of character that adds layers to the story.
Emotional impact
This is the heart of the game. Copycat tugs at your heartstrings, particularly if you’re an animal lover. The emotional weight of the story is amplified by its simplicity—Dawn’s growing love for her human and her eventual despair feel raw and real. There are several gut-wrenching moments that had me on edge, and I even shed a tear during one scene. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, no doubt.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with an 10.
I am not going into too much detail, but any game that can make me shed a few tears deserves a 10 for its story.
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
The gameplay isn’t the focus here, but it does a decent job of keeping you engaged throughout the story. You’ll interact with Dawn’s thoughts, make split-second decisions, explore her environment, and deal with some quick time events. These choices impact the narrative, though the core experience is more about guiding Dawn through her emotional journey than mastering complex gameplay.
Difficulty and balance
There’s no real difficulty in the traditional sense, as the game focuses on its narrative. However, the pacing and decision-making are balanced enough to keep you engaged, even during slower moments. The quick time events are easy enough but provide a nice change of pace.
Pacing of the game
The pacing is steady, with emotional peaks and reflective moments spread throughout the game. However, the slower sections might feel drawn out to those looking for more action. That said, the exploration of Dawn’s feelings is central to the game’s atmosphere.
Innovation and uniqueness
While Copycat doesn’t reinvent the wheel in terms of gameplay, the emotional depth and focus on a cat’s perspective make it unique. The decisions you make on behalf of Dawn feel weighty, even if they don’t drastically change the outcome of the story. Yes, you have to connect with a cat on an emotional level for this review.
Controls and user interface
The controls are simple and straightforward, perfectly suited to the visual novel format. Navigating through the environments and interacting with objects is intuitive, though there are a few moments where the game feels like it’s holding your hand a bit too much.
Microtransactions
There are no microtransactions in copycat.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with a 7.5.
The gameplay is engaging enough, the emotional impact behind it enhances it while not being anything new.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The graphics are solid for a visual novel, with a cozy yet melancholic art style that fits the story. The environments are detailed enough to keep things visually interesting, though the long loading times were a bit frustrating. Still, the developers did a good job of making the world feel warm yet sad, in a way that complements the narrative.
Technical performances
The biggest drawback is the long loading times between scenes, which can pull you out of the experience. While it doesn’t ruin the game, it does detract from the emotional immersion when you’re forced to wait.
Environment and design uniqueness
The environments are simple but effective in setting the tone. The small world that Dawn inhabits feels personal and intimate, though it could have benefited from a bit more variety to keep things visually fresh.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with a 7.0
I really like the visual style of this game, the biggest downside is truly the long loading screens.
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The soundtrack is one of the strongest elements in Copycat. It’s subtle, setting a perfect atmosphere for each moment—whether it’s the peaceful times Dawn spends at home or the tension during her more difficult moments. The music heightens the emotional beats without being overwhelming.
Sound effects quality
The sound effects are mostly spot-on, though the audio balancing is a little off in certain parts, with some sounds being louder than they need to be. Still, the overall effect works well for the game’s emotional tone.
Voice Acting
All the human characters are voice acted, and the performances are decent. The voice acting brings a lot of the story’s emotional weight to life, even if some lines felt can feel a bit stiff, mostly from side characters.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with an 8
There has been a lot of focus on the main characters, their voice acting is good, even though the side characters are not as good, they are not often on the screen.
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
Copycat is a relatively short game, running about 3–4 hours for a full playthrough. It’s perfect for a single sitting but doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Extra Content
There’s not much in terms of extra content. While you can replay the game to unlock different achievements or explore alternate choices, the core experience remains largely the same. I do think you can get another ending.
Replay value
The replay value is moderate. If you’re interested in seeing how different choices affect the story, there’s some incentive to replay the game. However, the emotional impact of the story is strongest on the first playthrough, so multiple runs may feel redundant.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Copycat with a 6.5
It is like a perfect book, you read it once, feel the emotions, but you’d rather not revisit it since you know it will never be the same as the first read.
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
- Reduce Loading Times: Faster transitions between scenes would greatly improve the flow of the game and maintain immersion.
- Tighten Audio Balancing: Ensuring the sound effects are balanced would enhance the overall experience without taking players out of the moment.
- Expand the World: A bit more exploration or variation in environments would add depth to the story and world.
Comparisons
Copycat shares emotional depth with other narrative-driven games like Night in the Woods, though it focuses more on the experience of a pet. Compared to other visual novels, it stands out for its unique premise and heart-wrenching story but lacks the more intricate branching narratives found in games like Life is Strange.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
This game definitely caught me off guard. I expected a charming, lighthearted story but ended up with something much more emotional. At one point, I felt a lump in my throat. Watching her beg to be taken back by her human was heartbreaking, and it left me feeling raw and emotional. The connection between Dawn and her owner is so well-crafted that I genuinely feared for her fate.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Copycat, I give it a personal rating of 9
I mean, this game blindsided me.
Last words
Pros
- Deeply emotional story with a heart-wrenching premise
- Beautiful, melancholic art style that complements the narrative
- Engaging soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere
- Unique perspective focusing on the emotional journey of a cat
- Thoughtful, impactful choices that influence Dawn’s story
- Decent voice acting that adds depth to the human characters
- Simple yet effective controls for a visual novel
Cons
- Long loading times that interrupt the flow of the game
- Some audio balancing issues in key scenes
- Limited replay value beyond seeing alternative choices
Copycat is an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you feeling raw, especially if you’re a cat lover. The story is beautifully told, though the experience is marred by technical difficulties like long loading times and occasional sound imbalances. Despite these flaws, the game’s emotional depth and unique perspective make it worth playing. It may not be perfect, but it’s a journey that’s sure to tug at your heartstrings.
Final Rating
8.5
Please let me know what you think of Copycat in the comments!
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