PUSS!

PUSS! is the kind of arcade puzzle game that asks for quick eyes and quick hands, with a lot of pressure packed into tiny space. By our assessment, its big draw is the constant scramble: you are reacting, repositioning and trying not to get overwhelmed while the screen stays busy. That makes it lively, but also a little exhausting, because the game does not really slow down to explain itself. In practice it feels tense and twitchy, with the sort of trial-and-error rhythm that can be very satisfying once the patterns click. Compared with calmer puzzle games, it is less about thinking ahead in peace and more about keeping up. PUSS! suits players who like fast restarts and noisy challenge, and it gives very little room for anyone who wants a relaxed evening.