The Nintendo Switch, a console celebrated for its versatility and innovative design, often finds itself at the center of curious gaming narratives. One such story involves a long-anticipated blockbuster and an unexpected, yet charmingly named, arrival. While players patiently await the definitive word on Call of Duty`s long-promised debut on the hybrid console, a rather delightful, albeit distinct, title has recently pounced onto the scene: Cats on Duty.
Meet the New Recruits: Cats on Duty Deploys
From the creative minds at Prikol Team and published by ESDigital Games, Cats on Duty isn`t the military-grade, tactical shooter its name might playfully suggest. Instead, it presents a whimsical blend of genres, combining elements of real-time strategy (RTS), tower defense, and even match-three mechanics. Imagine the strategic depth of defending your base, but with a distinct feline flavor. Players are tasked with deploying `battle-hardened felines` against waves of persistent zombies, utilizing tile-matching puzzles to gain crucial upgrades and strengthen their defenses.
This charming title, which draws inspiration from popular games like Plants vs. Zombies and Tower Swap, made its initial debut on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms at the end of June. Its subsequent arrival on the Nintendo Switch offers a quirky, engaging diversion for those seeking a unique strategic challenge, complete with the playful antics and adorable meows promised by its developers. It’s a delightful demonstration that sometimes, the most effective defense involves a purr-fectly executed strategy.
The Persistent Patrol: Call of Duty`s Nintendo Horizon
While Cats on Duty offers immediate gratification, the shadow of a much larger, and far more anticipated, release looms large: Call of Duty on Nintendo. The prospect of Activision`s flagship first-person shooter series gracing a Nintendo platform has been a topic of fervent discussion for years. Activision has consistently reaffirmed its intention to bring the series to Nintendo`s ecosystem, though specific timelines remain elusive. There’s even a degree of speculation regarding whether this eventual release will target the current Switch model, or perhaps its rumored successor, the `Switch 2.`
The situation gained significant clarity in 2023, amidst the high-profile FTC versus Microsoft court proceedings concerning the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. During these proceedings, Microsoft formally committed to a “binding 10-year legal agreement” to ensure Call of Duty`s presence on Nintendo platforms. This agreement stipulated a remarkable parity: future Call of Duty titles would launch on Nintendo “the same day as Xbox, with full features and content parity.” This is a monumental shift, considering Activision`s decade-long hiatus from Nintendo consoles, with the last mainline Call of Duty release being a port of Call of Duty: Ghosts for the Wii U back in 2013.
A Divergent Path to Entertainment
The juxtaposition of these two titles is, if nothing else, a testament to the diverse landscape of gaming. On one hand, we have Cats on Duty – a whimsical, strategic indie game that has arrived on Switch, ready to entertain with its unique blend of genres and charming premise. On the other, we have the ongoing saga of Call of Duty – a global phenomenon whose long-awaited Nintendo debut is now a contractual obligation, promising a future where high-fidelity warfare could coexist with portable gaming.
So, as the gaming world continues its vigil for the tactical explosions and intense firefights of Activision’s titan to finally appear on the Switch, Cats on Duty offers a wonderfully chaotic, decidedly less violent, yet equally engaging, way to pass the time. It serves as a reminder that entertainment can arrive in many forms, sometimes with claws, sometimes with consoles, and always with the potential to surprise.
Ellis Thorne