The Cat in the Hat (video game)

{{Infobox video game

| title = The Cat in the Hat

| image = The Cat in the Hat 2003 Game.jpg

| caption = PC cover art

| developer = {{Plainlist|

Magenta Software (PS2, Xbox)
Digital Eclipse (Windows, GBA)

}}

| publisher = Vivendi Universal Games{{efn|Released under the Coktel brand name in PAL regions.}}

| platforms = Game Boy Advance, Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox

| released = {{Video game release|NA|November 4, 2003 (PS2, Xbox, GBA{{Cite web |date=November 4, 2003 |title=Universal Vivendi Ships Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat Video Game |url=http://pc.gamezone.com/news/11_04_03_12_28PM.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502224514/http://pc.gamezone.com/news/11_04_03_12_28PM.htm |archive-date=May 2, 2007 |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=GameZone}})|NA|November 9, 2003 (Windows)|EU|March 19, 2004}}

| genre = Platform

| director = {{Plainlist|

Paul Johnson
Dave Allsopp

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Jared Brinkley
Stephen Townsend

}}

| composer = Keith Leary (Game Audio Ltd.)

| modes = Single-player

}}

The Cat in the Hat (also known as Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat) is a 2003 2.5D platform game for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance. The PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions were developed by Magenta Software. The Windows and Game Boy Advance versions were developed by Digital Eclipse. All versions of the game were published by Vivendi Universal Games. It is based on the 2003 film of the same name, which was released shortly after the game. A version for the GameCube was planned but was never released.{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqA3EMs_l98|title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat GameCube Gameplay|date=May 19, 2011|publisher=IGN|via=YouTube|access-date=January 30, 2019|archive-date=December 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221021041/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqA3EMs_l98|url-status=live}}{{Citation |title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat GameCube Gameplay - IGN |date=15 May 2003 |url=https://www.ign.com/videos/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat-gamecube-gameplay |language=en |access-date=2022-11-27 |archive-date=2022-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127235248/https://www.ign.com/videos/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat-gamecube-gameplay |url-status=live }}

Plot

On a stormy day, Conrad (Chase Chavarria) and Sally (Andrea Bowen) are confined inside their house while their mother is gone. The Cat in the Hat (Chris Edgerly) arrives to bring them cheer, but their next-door neighbor, Larry Quinn (Fred Tatasciore), steals the Crablock which seals the Cat's magical crate, causing magic to flood the house and unleash chaos that threatens the world.The Cat: "It was a windy, rainy day. Then, to everyone's surprise, I turn up and cheer up some kids. But then, what do you know? My magical crate is opened — the lock stolen — magic leaks out, and the whole world is in danger. Thus, I ... have to recapture the loose magic, which has transformed the house, and recover the lock from Mr. Quinn, the nasty next door neighbor, who's also collecting the magic in order to make himself immensely powerful". The Cat makes his way through different stages—household objects or rooms which have been corrupted by the magic—with the guidance of the family's fish (Nolan North), recaptures the magic, and chases Quinn, who is after the magic in a quest to become immensely powerful. After cleaning the house of all magic and besting Quinn, the Crablock reattaches to the crate, sealing away the magic.

The plot of the Game Boy Advance version is largely the same, with the exception that Conrad removes the lock, as Quinn is not present.

Gameplay

= PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows =

File:Cat_in_the_Hat_2003_gameplay.png

Conrad and Sally's house serves as a hub world whose stages are household objects or rooms which have been corrupted by magic.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P50ST_KVzo |title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat Videogame Longplay (PC) 2003 |date=Feb 11, 2017 |publisher=Tech & Nostalgia Kingdom |access-date=September 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221021043/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P50ST_KVzo |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{Efn|When the player starts a new game, they can only explore the living room, as Conrad and Sally prevent the Cat from going upstairs and into the kitchen and garage until certain levels are cleared.}} The Cat explores worlds and chases Quinn out of them while gathering the scattered magic. In the game's boss fights, the Cat fights Quinn's machine{{Efn|If the player revisits a boss fight after completing it, Thing One and Thing Two pilot the machine instead of Quinn.}} and fires projectiles into its exhaust pipe to damage it and obtain a portion of the Crablock. There are ten levels, a bonus level, and three boss fights.{{Efn|The PC version has two boss instead of three.}}

To traverse levels, the Cat can jump, glide and slam the ground with his umbrella, and collect enemies and explosive goo in bubbles for use as projectiles, among other maneuvers. The Cat has five hit points and takes damage by colliding with enemies, projectiles, and hazards. Losing all five hit points or falling into a bottomless pit causes the Cat to lose a life and be placed at the most recent checkpoint. Losing all lives results in a game over, sending the Cat to the beginning of the level. Collecting cupcake slices and hearts, respectively, restores hit points and lives.

The game's primary collectible is small clusters of magic whose value varies by color. Entering each stage requires a certain amount of magic, and collecting every cluster in a stage returns its appearance in the hub world to normal. Each stage contains four keys – stolen by Thing One and Thing Two – which unlock a bonus door.{{Efn|The bonus stages are skipped in the PC version; the door instead yields the magic and gems immediately.[1]}} Bonus doors contain a short segment of gameplay with additional magic and a gem. The game's bonus level, Mystical Mirror, is unlocked by collecting every gem. Finally, clapperboards can be found which unlock clips from the movie for viewing in the menu.

= Game Boy Advance =

In addition to platforming stages, the Game Boy Advance version contains four stages where the player scuba dives to obtain pieces of the Crablock. There's also a bonus stage where the Cat drives his cleaning machine to catch Thing One and Thing Two. Collectibles include icons related to the theme of the stage as well as enemies that have been defeated.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

|GR=(Xbox) 52.67%
(PS2) 50%
(GBA) 46.50%
(PC) 19.50%

|MC=(Xbox) 56/100
(PS2) 56/100
(GBA) 40/100
(PC) 40/100

|CVG=30/100

|Fam=27/40{{cite magazine | title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat | magazine=Famitsu | volume=798 | date=April 2, 2004}}

|GSpot=3.8/10 (GBA)

|GameZone=(PC) 8/10
(PS2) 7.2/10{{cite web | url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2003/11/16/dr_seuss_the_cat_in_the_hat_ps2_review | title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat - PS2 - Review | author=Tha Wiz | publisher=GameZone | date=November 16, 2003 | accessdate=December 8, 2013 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201064031/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r22026.htm | archivedate=February 1, 2008 | url-status=live}}
(GBA) 5/10{{cite web | url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2003/12/17/dr_seuss_the_cat_in_the_hat_gba_review | title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat - GBA - Review | last=Hollingshead | first=Anise | publisher=GameZone | date=December 17, 2003 | accessdate=December 8, 2013 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828235333/http://gameboy.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r22026_GBA.htm | archivedate=August 28, 2008 | url-status=live}}

|IGN=6/10{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/02/07/the-cat-in-the-hat-2 | title=The Cat in the Hat | last=Hwang | first=Kaiser | website=IGN | date=February 6, 2004 | accessdate=December 8, 2013 | archive-date=December 23, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223080411/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/02/07/the-cat-in-the-hat-2 | url-status=live }}
(GBA) 4/10{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/12/02/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat | title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (GBA) | last=Tierney | first=Adam | website=IGN | date=December 1, 2003 | accessdate=December 8, 2013 | archive-date=February 22, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222095411/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/12/02/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat | url-status=live }}

|NP=2.3/5{{cite magazine | title=The Cat in the Hat | magazine=Nintendo Power | volume = 175 | date=January 2004 | page=160}}

|OPM={{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine | title=The Cat in the Hat | magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine | date=January 2004 | page=133}}|OXM=5.5/10{{cite magazine | title=Review: The Cat in the Hat | magazine=Official Xbox Magazine | date=January 2004 | page=73 | issue=27 | last=Egger | first=Dan | url=https://archive.org/stream/OXM_2004_01-web#page/n29/mode/2up}}

|PCGUK=9%

|PCZone=30%{{cite magazine | url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/104188/reviews/the-cat-in-the-hat-review/ | title=Review: The Cat in the Hat | author=PC Zone Staff | magazine=PC Zone | date=May 10, 2004 | accessdate=December 8, 2013 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20131208191850/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/104188/reviews/the-cat-in-the-hat-review/ | archivedate=December 8, 2013 | url-status=dead}}

|XPlay={{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web | url=http://www.techtv.com/xplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3631690,00.html | title='The Cat in the Hat' (PS2) Review | last=Miller | first=Skyler | publisher=X-Play | date=March 10, 2004 | accessdate=December 8, 2013 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040414105117/http://www.techtv.com/xplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3631690,00.html | archivedate=April 14, 2004 | url-status=dead}}

}}

The Cat in the Hat received mixed reviews,{{cite web|title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (Xbox)|url=https://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/915382-dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202012436/https://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/915382-dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat/index.html|archive-date=February 2, 2018|accessdate=March 17, 2012|publisher=GameRankings}}{{cite web|title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (PlayStation 2)|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/915608-dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202012357/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/915608-dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat/index.html|archive-date=February 2, 2018|accessdate=March 17, 2012|publisher=GameRankings}}{{cite web|title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat for Xbox Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128030305/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat|archive-date=November 28, 2013|accessdate=December 8, 2013|publisher=Metacritic}}{{cite web|title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat for PlayStation 2 Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709024628/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat|archive-date=July 9, 2013|accessdate=December 8, 2013|publisher=Metacritic}} except for the PC and Game Boy Advance versions, which received unfavorable reviews.{{cite web|title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat for PC|url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/915425-dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202012413/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/915425-dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat/index.html|archive-date=February 2, 2018|accessdate=March 17, 2012|publisher=GameRankings}}{{cite web|title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat for PC Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128030308/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat|archive-date=November 28, 2013|accessdate=December 8, 2013|publisher=Metacritic}}{{cite web|title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (GBA)|url=https://www.gamerankings.com/gba/915604-dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202012411/https://www.gamerankings.com/gba/915604-dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat/index.html|archive-date=February 2, 2018|accessdate=March 17, 2012|publisher=GameRankings}}{{cite web|title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat for Game Boy Advance Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123105254/https://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat|archive-date=November 23, 2013|accessdate=December 8, 2013|publisher=Metacritic}}

= Windows =

GameZone gave the Windows version an overall score of 8/10, praising the gameplay as fun and easy, the graphics as "bright and vivid", and the soundtrack as "catchy", saying the presentation "captures the essence of Seuss" better than the movie. However, they criticized levels as "tend[ing] to be very similar to each other", the backgrounds as "pixelated", and the content as ordinary.{{cite web | url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2003/12/10/dr_seuss_the_cat_in_the_hat_pc_review | title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat - PC - Review | last=Hollingshead | first=Anise | publisher=GameZone | date=December 10, 2003 | accessdate=December 8, 2013 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017020727/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r22026.htm | archivedate=October 17, 2008 | url-status=live}}

Computer and Video Games gave the game a 3.0/10 and called it "a shameless cash-in", "just trash", "a big pile of sh...", and "fit for the litter tray".{{cite magazine|date=May 10, 2004|title=The Cat in the Hat|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=104188|url-status=dead|magazine=Computer and Video Games|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523180717/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=104188|archive-date=May 23, 2007|access-date=December 21, 2020}}

PC Gamer UK gave it a 9%, calling it "steaming effluent" and the worst platform game they played. They criticized the Cat's performance as "annoying", cited bugs they experienced with the game such as collision issues, complained of poor level design, and called the graphics "drab" and outdated.{{cite magazine|last=Edwards|first=Tim|date=June 2004|title=The Cat in the Hat|url=https://archive.org/stream/pc-gamer-uk-136#page/n97/mode/2up/|magazine=PC Gamer UK|issue=136|page=98|access-date=December 21, 2020}}

= Game Boy Advance =

GameSpot gave the Game Boy Advance version a 3.8/10, calling games like it "the reason why licensed games have such a bad reputation". They said the game "isn't any fun to play", calling the gameplay boring and unimaginative. They praised the graphics as "pleasing to the eye", but called the sound design lackluster. They concluded that Vivendi "missed a great opportunity" and called it "just a generic punch-and-run".{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat-review/1900-6085622/ | title=Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat Review (GBA) | last=Provo | first=Frank | website=GameSpot | date=December 15, 2003 | accessdate=December 8, 2013 | archive-date=March 21, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321141923/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat-review/1900-6085622/ | url-status=live }}

Notes

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20050221034125/http://www.catinthehatgames.com/ Official website (defunct)]
[https://www.mobygames.com/game/dr-seuss-the-cat-in-the-hat Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat] (PlayStation 2, Windows, Xbox) at MobyGames
Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (Original Video Game Soundtrack) by Keith Leary
[https://archive.org/stream/Dr.SeussTheCatInTheHatManualPS2 Game manual for PlayStation 2 version]
[https://www.gamespot.com/videos/cat-in-the-hat-official-trailer-1/2300-6077229/ Official trailer]