These days, we’re used to seeing a lot of games with stunning graphics, intricate character designs, huge world maps to explore, and a host of other advanced features that people of a decade or two ago wouldn’t have thought possible. In fact, people from back then would have probably laughed if someone told them that you can play games with 3D graphics on your phone. At a time when Nokias (or Blackberries) were still the king of the hill, titles like Snake and Space Impact were basically the mobile games that preoccupied a lot of people.
Of course, this all eventually changed when smartphones became not just a household name but a household item. Almost everyone in the world had a mobile phone, which made the mobile phone game market very lucrative indeed.
With many gaming apps competing for attention and a piece of the consumer’s pie, many developers and publishers rode the rising tide and pushed out lots of games that were in keeping of today’s expectations of the available technology—which is to say that a lot of “modern” games are far from being the janky, pixelated polygons that they once used to be.
But once in a while, there’s a game out there that hearkens back to its old roots, with the classic charm of pixel art and simple game mechanics that nevertheless offer challenging stages to test your skills and patience. Sure, it doesn’t have those colorful 3D graphics or complex controls, but what it does give you is an experience that can either be nostalgic for old gamers or novel for those who aren’t familiar with the classics.
Super Cat Tales: PAWS is one such game.
Published by Neutronized, Super Cat Tales: PAWS is an adorable but challenging platformer that has a cast of cat characters who will help you complete stages, overcome obstacles, and beat equally adorable enemies. For those who are unfamiliar, a platformer is a genre where you have a hero that clears levels by navigating through an obstacle course of platforms, hazards such as pitfalls and spikes, while taking out enemies along the way.
Designed with simple but beautiful pixel art, playing Super Cat Tales: PAWS isn’t about how modern it looks—instead, it’s all about timing, quick thinking, and patience. As a platformer, its mechanics are pretty straightforward: you move your chosen cat left to right by tapping or holding left or right on your screen.
If you double tap either direction and hold, your cat will run.
Running towards enemies is considered charging for an attack, which can knock your enemies out.
Walking towards a wall will allow your cat to climb up that wall.
If your cat is climbing up a wall, tapping in the opposite direction will cause your cat to jump toward that direction. Jumping can be done in succession whenever a cat is on a wall.
Cats can also jump off the edges of elevated platforms if you charge just before reaching the edge.
From time to time, you’ll also encounter ropes hanging from elevated platforms or random places. Jumping on a rope will let your cat climb up. However, if you stop tapping a direction, your cat will begin to slide down the rope.
If you want your cat to jump off a rope, simply double tap facing the direction you want them to jump toward.
All in all, the game can seem rather simple as the controls aren’t too complex. However, don’t be fooled by its cute graphics and seemingly easy mechanic. What makes this game an entirely different experience altogether are how stages are designed and how enemies are placed.
In the beginning of the game, you can easily spot enemies in front of you, which makes them easy targets. However, as you progress through the different stages, you’ll encounter a sundry of enemies that pop up from walls or tubes; enemies that drop things that can hurt or stun you; or even enemies that you won’t know are there unless you move past them and they start chasing or rolling after you!
But you might be asking yourself, is this just Super Mario in cat form, where you go through stages in an attempt to rescue the equivalent of Princess Peach? Well, yes and no. Yes, because you do have a primary objective, which is to obtain a data drive that had been stolen from Pascal, the starter cat you’re given in the beginning of the game.
In this way, Super Cat Tales: PAWS can be considered rather similar to Super Mario since both these characters have a mission and they need to overcome each level to accomplish their task.
At the same time, Super Cat Tales: PAWS isn’t quite like Super Mario as there seems to be a mystery surrounding the data drive you’re asked to retrieve. Bits and pieces of the story will be revealed to you gradually, which is typical of classic platformers, but you’re never really quite sure when things would unfold. What’s certain, though, is that your foes won’t let you have the data drive so easily, and they’re going to put up a fight!
For that, you’re going to have to up your skills, and Super Cat Tales: PAWS is no walk in the park. For those who love platformers and are used to the difficulties of one, this game will certainly be up your alley and provide a pretty good experience that will keep you hooked for hours on end.
On the other hand, those who aren’t quite familiar with platformers might find this game a little frustrating at first, but nothing is impossible to overcome and the game has a charming way of growing on you that the difficulties you face in the beginning can turn into lessons that will make you appreciate the experience even more.
That said, whether you’re a veteran of platformers or a novice feeling your way into this type of game, our beginner’s guide for Super Cat Tales: PAWS is here to help you successfully complete each stage, triumph over enemies and obstacles, use your cats’ skills to your advantage, and bring you one step closer to ultimately retrieving that data drive!
Practice Makes Perfect
First things first: there’s absolutely no shame in repeatedly dying in platformers. In fact, failure is a common occurrence that isn’t meant to discourage players. On the contrary, this only means that you’re on the right track to getting better and mastering each stage regardless of how hard they can be.
As they say, practice makes perfect! Take these words to heart. Those who have played platformers before have spent tons of hours honing their skills, memorizing stages and even enemy placements and attacks—and it’s really no different in Super Cat Tales: PAWS. The good news is that stages in this game aren’t as lengthy as those you can find in classic platformers, and when you’ve already mastered the stage, you’ll be able to breeze through it in just a couple of minutes.
But the fact of the matter is, this level of mastery can only be achieved if you’ve practiced a lot and, well, died a lot! Some players might be faster at conquering stages while others can take quite a while before really getting the hang of the game—and either way is totally fine.
After all, you don’t have a limited number of lives and you can repeatedly play each stage as many times as you want. What’s important is having the patience, determination, and willingness to try again as these are vital traits that will carry you through, especially when there are more enemies to defeat and more complicated stages to complete.
Additionally, consistently practicing will give you a lot of insight on how to approach certain enemies and obstacles. Below are several tips you might want to consider bearing in mind as you go through each stage:
Get Used to the Controls
One thing that’s rather noticeable about this game right from the start is that the controls can feel a bit clunky. Most mobile games these days are generally optimized to give users a smoother experience when it comes to controlling your characters, but Super Cat Tales: PAWS is a little bit lacking in that department.
However, this could likely be by design as many platformers of the past had a slightly clunky feel to them, and this feature of the game might have been done in keeping with that classic experience.
In any case, the controls are something that you need to get used to. Simple as they may be, they can actually be pretty tricky, especially since you don’t have separate buttons for jump, charge, or attack. You only have your directional buttons to work with, and you’ll be able to achieve your desired effect or movement depending on whether you’re double-tapping, holding the buttons, etc.
However, there are some subtle cues that indicate what your cat is about to do. One good example is if you see your cat squinting after double-tapping, they’re charging for an attack.
Observe these cues as these can help you avoid getting hit or getting stunned by enemies when your attack is unsuccessful. An unsuccessful attack basically means you just walked into an enemy and didn’t charge
Getting stunned can be dangerous as being hit again while stunned can get your cat killed. If you die, you will be reset to the beginning of the segment of that stage. To clarify, you won’t be reset to the very beginning of the stage, only at the beginning of the segment you’re currently in.
Stages are divided into several smaller courses and each time you reach the end of the course, your progress is saved. You do have the option to backtrack between segments and re-explore previous ones, but enemies will respawn where you’ve found them in those segments.
That being said, you can use this feature to practice and get used to the controls so you can detect subtle movement cues, as well as familiarize yourself with traps and enemy attacks and how to approach them. The more you play, the more the seemingly clunky controls will feel smoother over time. There’s also another advantage to exploring stages in-depth, which we will discuss later.
Timing is Important
More than just getting used to the controls, timing is also a key factor in completing stages. What we mean by this is you can’t just rush into enemies or play aggressively. You need to be able to time your movements, especially your jumps. Occasionally, you may need to take a step back and assess the situation. This is because timing is something that depends on a couple of factors, most notably the layout of the immediate terrain, the enemies present, how enemies attack, and whether there are other enemies hidden within the terrain, such as walls, hills, elevated platforms, and others. Being patient and reviewing your surroundings with alertness will definitely minimize your chances of getting caught off-guard.
With this in mind, timing, coupled with observation, becomes a crucial part of successful gameplay. Rushing in will only get you killed faster as it will leave you little time to see what kind of dangers lie ahead.
Additionally, there are enemies that will be lurking within gaps between platforms, so you may have to wait and see how they attack to make sure you don’t get hit while making the jump. If you do get hit while making the jump, this will destroy your momentum and might even cause you to fall into the small gap, giving the enemy a chance to hit you, stun you, and ultimately kill you.
Aside from gaps between platforms, jumping up ropes and walls require impeccable timing as well. Usually, ropes are placed above tough terrain, such as water or tall grass, which can slow you down. Enemies are usually lying in wait below.
On the other hand, walls may have enemies stuck to them or hidden within crevices, and they’ll just suddenly pop out when you’re already jumping on the wall. In these instances, expect to get hit or even die, especially if you’re seeing these obstacles for the first time. However, your next attempt will likely be much better and you’ll be able to time jumps now that you’re familiar with what’s ahead.
As for some enemies, you might need to wait for them to face the other way or transform into a vulnerable state before you can charge at them. For example, some rock-looking enemies cannot be charged while they are moving around, but they can be hit by a charge once they clam up like a turtle hiding in their shell. You’ll be able to figure out an enemy’s active and passive states by taking the time to observe how they move from a safe distance.
This can also apply to mini-boss and boss fights: observe your enemy first and determine whether they have a passive state you can exploit. In addition, see if they’re the type of enemy to jump around or attack in a more straightforward manner. This way, you’ll be able to dodge what they can dish out.
For example, one of the mini boss fights you’ll encounter is against a giant log that bounces around. If you get hit by its body, you’ll be stunned. However, if you time it right, you’ll catch the log on the ground with its back turned to you as it sprouts its feet. There’s a short pause in its movements as the log’s feet reemerge. You can use this opportunity to charge onto the log as its back is turned. This should stun the log, giving you the chance to charge into it the second time, ultimately killing it.
In any situation, whether its against a small enemy or a big one, the important thing is that you don’t rush and take a step back before jumping or charging forward. Timing requires practice so keep at it!
Don’t Try to Kill Every Enemy—It’s Not Worth It!
If you’re the type to approach games as a completionist, then you might be compelled to kill every enemy you come across. This is definitely an admirable feat, but as a beginner, it’s not entirely a priority and you can do this again later.
In the meantime, as you’re trying to still get the hang of the game, you might want to generally avoid enemies as best as you can instead of attacking or killing them, unless absolutely necessary. This is because some enemies can be very tricky, and you’re going to need tons of practice and repeated gameplays to kill each and every enemy you encounter.
Generally speaking, you’d want to simply complete the stages with all the bells collected (more on collecting bells later). Since enemies don’t give any bells, it may be the wiser move to just avoid them and not engage.
Gauging which enemies you need to kill will, again, depend on the situation. If it’s something you really can’t avoid or find a workaround, then by all means, do your best to eliminate that foe, preferably with minimal damage.
Otherwise, you can take the road of least resistance by choosing to tread the path that has less enemies or enemies that are easier to kill. On the whole, though, don’t try to kill every enemy as it’s just not worth it, especially when you’re getting stunned or damaged.
Additionally, some enemies are impossible to kill without taking any kind of damage, such as the rotating scarecrows that have spikes on them. This type of enemy doesn’t have a weak point and you likely need to employ a helper (more on this later) to safely eliminate this foe.
As the old saying goes, choose your battles! Later on, when you can confidently say that your skills have gone past the beginner level, then you can replay a stage and try to kill every enemy you come across to satisfy your inner completionist.
Use the Terrain to Your Advantage
Besides getting an idea of how to approach a particular stage, knowing the terrain also means being able to use it to your advantage. This is particularly true for places that have slopes. For instance, if you charge up or down a slope, this can help your charge gain momentum, resulting in a faster, stronger charge that will let you take out big enemies without breaking a sweat.
Charging towards edges to jump across gaps will also make this action count as a mid-air charge, which can take out enemies that are floating, suspended from ropes, and the like. This is a good way of securing your cat’s safety while also taking out a foe. Just remember never to attempt this against enemies with spikes as they will automatically stun you if you get hit by said spikes.
Generally speaking, slopes will give your cat’s charge some momentum, thus providing an advantage you can exploit. Sometimes, jumping off a slope can let you jump higher onto a wall, which may avoid potential enemies or help you get up faster. Study the terrain and apply a bit of basic physics here and there!
Don’t Linger in the Tall Grass
Since we’re on the subject of advantageous terrain, it goes without saying that there’s also a part of the terrain that can be disadvantageous. We’re particularly referring to tall grass (and, by extension, water).
Specifically, tall grass causes your cat to move very slowly, making you vulnerable to speedy enemies or ranged attacks that tend to bounce a considerable distance (we’re looking at you, monkeys!). Avoid the tall grass at all costs! If you do make the mistake of falling into the tall grass, don’t linger and find a platform that you can walk toward to regain your normal movement speed.
Though tall grass can sort of hide your cat’s presence, the movement speed debuff it gives isn’t worth the trouble, especially since you’re susceptible to ranged attacks, or if enemies are also hiding in the tall grass. With slow movement speeds, you can’t charge up an attack and are basically relegated to simply walking, leaving you with no means to defend your cat.
Places or gaps with water are areas you might also want to avoid. The speed debuff isn’t as bad as what you’ll experience in the tall grass, but cats aren’t built for swimming so you’re also left defenseless in areas like these.
Again, you can’t charge an attack, leaving you quite open to being stunned or dying. Make an effort to get out of the water if you fall into them! Of course, timing should be taken into account when trying to get out of both the tall grass and water. But try not to linger and get out of there as soon as you can!
Avoid Enemies with Spikes
We’ve mentioned earlier that some enemies have spikes and there’s a type of enemy with this weapon that can be killed but you can’t get out of it without taking damage. However, that’s only one type of enemy and there are many more that have spikes, which can automatically stun your cat. Keep in mind that a stunned cat will die if it gets hit again during this state. In general, avoid enemies with spikes, especially the one that looks like a scarecrow!
That being said, there is a workaround for enemies that have spikes in case you can’t completely avoid them: wait for them to turn their spikes away!
Yes, some enemies have spikes only on one side of their body, unlike the scarecrow that has spikes on both sides and spins like a top. Trying to attack that minion will hurt your cat, but as for other spiky enemies, all you need to do is time your attack when the spikes aren’t facing you or have been retracted.
With their backs turned or if they’ve become spike-free, charge up an attack and hit them! This should kill these types of enemies, especially when they’re unavoidable. On the whole, you might want to try just jumping over them or finding an alternative route just in case there’s another enemy up ahead.
Switch Between Cats
Earlier, we’ve mentioned Pascal, one of the starter cats you’ll get. As you progress through the game, you’ll get other cats who, like Pascal, have their own special abilities that make them not just unique, but also very useful in various situations. For this guide, we’ll discuss 3 starter cats, namely Pascal, Rose, and Rigs, as well as their special abilities:
- Pascal: Pascal is the very first cat you’ll get to use and his special ability is that he can jump over platforms or up walls farther than other cats. This ability comes in handy when you want to reach moving or far-off platforms, as well as when you want to avoid enemies by simply jumping over them. In other words, Pascal is an excellent climber.
- Rose: Rose is the second cat who will join your team upon reaching World 1-3, and her special ability is to squeeze in through tight spaces or passages. This ability becomes rather useful when there are coins or bells placed inside areas cordoned off by a thin border of blocks, which you can only enter by going through a tight space.
- Rigs: Rigs joins your team when you enter World 2-3, and his special ability is that his jumping attack counts as a double jump. This ability can be really effective when you’re hanging onto a rope and need to attack an enemy while jumping onto another. This skill also proves to be useful whenever you need to take out enemies mid-air.
There will be several other cats that will join your roster as you progress, each one with their own useful skills that will prove handy in different stages and situations. Since this game is fairly new, there’s a good chance that more cats will be added to what’s currently available.
As for having different cats, you can switch between cats anytime while in the middle of going through a stage. All you need to do is click the white cat-shaped icon on the upper left-hand corner of the screen and select the cat who you think will fit the job.
This may be somewhat tedious considering that you have to mind your movements in general, but taking the time to switch between cats will definitely help you through different obstacles and enemies in an easier way. Take stock of what your cats can do so you can pick one that will get the job done!
Find and Collect All the Bells
Apart from surviving each stage, there’s one important item you need to collect before you reach the final finish line of each stage: bells.
In every stage, there are 3 bells that you can find and collect. In the early stages, you’ll be able to spot bells rather easily as most of them can simply be found lying around the path, ready to be taken. However, if you fail to collect a bell, replaying that particular stage doesn’t mean you’ll find the bell in the same place as it was since it gets relocated every time you play through a stage.
Additionally, when you play the higher levels, bells become harder and harder to find as many will be hidden among grass or placed in areas that can only be accessible via wall jumps or ropes. Some bells might also be hidden in places that need you to discover secret passages.
For instance, in our playthrough, we’ve encountered a bell that’s located beyond the finish line, which you can’t jump over. From inference, we can definitely say that there’s a secret passage in that stage somewhere, and we have a choice to either turn back and find it, or step onto the finish line to complete the stage, hoping that in the next playthrough, the bell will be placed elsewhere.
Collecting bells is rather important as you need a certain number to unlock different areas, especially those that might have boss fights.
Without the adequate number of bells, you won’t be able to progress. That said, try to collect all 3 bells in a stage, and if you’ve missed some (or all of them!), do another run and sniff them out!
Replay Stages for Coins
Replaying stages isn’t only for practice or for collecting bells. Coins are also an item you can stock up on whenever you do another run.
Why is this crucial, you might ask? Coins, as a form of currency, can be used to buy helpers and cosmetics in the PAWS Base once you unlock this area. Cosmetics, of course, make your feline friends look fetching, but other than that, they don’t really add to a cat’s special abilities.
Helpers, on the other hand, are assistants that you can use to take out minions or uncover secret passages, depending on their skill. For instance, Mr. Cloud is a lightning expert that can easily attack enemies moving vertically. Cupid, on the other hand, takes on a more supportive role as a Helper as it reduces your cat’s stun duration by 10 seconds.
There are about 13 Helpers you can currently unlock and playing the game continuously will give you the chance to become acquainted with them. Studying what each Helper can do will definitely help you pick which ones are the most suitable for certain levels.
But before you can get all the Helpers you need, you’re going to have to save up on coins, so keep replaying stages to collect more! Not only will you be able to gain mastery of stages, but you’ll also be able to earn enough to get the Helpers you need!
Finish Daily Quests
By the time you reach the PAWS Base, you’ll be able to get access to Daily Quests. You can finish one quest at a time, and quests will refresh after a couple of hours.
Like in many mobile games, Daily Quests are a staple and provide another way that players can earn bonus rewards on the side. In Super Cat Tales: PAWS, Daily Quests can get you some bonus coins whenever you successfully complete a quest.
As we discussed in the previous section, coins can be extremely useful in buying Helpers so take advantage of Daily Quests to accumulate more coins. Keep in mind that some Helpers are more expensive than others, amounting to as much as 500 coins. Finish enough Daily Quests and you’ll be able to get your Helper of choice in no time!
With that, we conclude our beginner’s guide for Super Cat Tales: PAWS! What’s the hardest stage you’ve played so far? Which enemies are the most difficult to approach? Do you have a favorite cat or Helper to use? Additionally, if you have more tips and tricks to offer your fellow players, don’t forget to share them in our comment area!