The magical cleaning squad is a team of gifted individuals who possess extraordinary powers to clean and restore order to any space. These individuals are not your typical janitors or housekeepers, but rather powerful beings who can harness magic to effortlessly eliminate dirt, grime, and clutter. Each member of the squad possesses unique magical abilities that contribute to their cleaning prowess. Some can summon winds to whisk away dust, while others can instantly transform dirty surfaces to their pristine state with a simple wave of their hand. There are even those who can communicate with household objects, persuading them to clean themselves. The magical cleaning squad is highly sought after, as they can tackle the most daunting cleaning tasks with ease.
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Sadly for me though, the limited combat and boss fights undermine the experience and rank it lower than many other great metroidvania titles recently. Known primarily for the video game adaptations of established IPs like the most recent Peppa Pig World Adventures, Peetons Studio have embarked on an adventure of their own.
The magical cleaning squad is highly sought after, as they can tackle the most daunting cleaning tasks with ease. Whether it's a neglected attic filled with cobwebs or a dirty kitchen that hasn't seen a sponge in years, the squad can handle it all. Their services extend beyond just physical cleaning.
Curse of the Sea Rats - Switch Review
Looking back at messages with our editor, I first put my hand up for Curse of the Sea Rats back in January 2021. A lot has happened and changed since then, but one thing remains; my thirst for a good metroidvania! My thirst has been quenched all too infrequently recently, with some hits like Aeterna Noctis, Souldiers and Ghost Song, but also quite a few misses too that have been middle of the road. Admittedly, the metroidvania formula is a tough one to crack in such a crowded genre, but Curse of the Sea Rats certainly has the potential to be worth the wait!
The Good
Curse of the Sea Rats is a pirate-themed ratoidvania (a term coined by the developer Petoons Studio, not me), with a cartoony art style. The story follows a group of human pirates who have been mysteriously transformed into rats. Amidst all of this, the captain’s son, Timothy, has also been kidnapped by the mysterious Flora Burn. You can choose to play as one of four rats (Douglas, Buffalo, Akane, and Bussa) as you hunt Flora Burn and her piratey crew along the way. Each character has full voice acting which is impressive for an indie title. Sure the script is a bit hammy at times, but it makes for a welcome change to relying on drab dialogue boxes.
More on those multiple playable characters; you can switch between them at save points which are marshalled by the mysterious Wu Yun. Wu Yun also allows you to redeem a souls-like currency to use in upgrading each character’s defence, attack and magic powers. Sadly, there are no traversal benefits or attributes between each character which makes the character switching system in Curse of the Sea Rats less nuanced than, say, Astalon: Tears of the Earth, but they each have different combat styles, meaning you can pick which character suits you. There’s also the option to play local co-op, which I tried with my wife and it was an absolute blast. It took me back to the good old days of playing as Sonic and Tails, and for a metroidvania, it was a refreshing and original take on the genre.
In line with the pirate theme, the soundtrack in Curse of the Sea Rats is awesome. There’s everything you’d expect; some sea shanties and plenty of upbeat ditties right out of the late 90s/early 00s Rare play book. There are also a number of moodier, more brooding tunes for the boss encounters. This dovetails perfectly with the art style, which makes for a vibrant and visceral experience.
TL;DR
- Voice acting is an impressive inclusion
- Local co-op is a hoot
- Catchy retro soundtrack
The Bad
Sounding and looking like a turn of the millennium game can certainly be viewed as a positive, but sadly Curse of the Sea Rats also plays like one in some aspects. The combat is pretty one-note as most character’s static attacks involve jabbing the nearest enemies with your sword or staff or whatever weapon they have. There are magic abilities too which are somewhat more exciting, but what with it being rather easy to farm the souls-like levelling up currency, you’ll have your chosen character to be pretty strong, pretty quickly. This has two outcomes; first, it means you’re unlikely to switch characters because getting one character up to full strength is pretty easy. And two, it means that, despite how uninspiring as the static sword-jabbing is, it actually gets the job done pretty well, so there’s not much incentive to use the magic powers.
The bosses are also quite uninspiring and criminally easy for a metroidvania. I don’t like ridiculously hard bosses, but I still like a challenge. However, the bosses in Curse of the Sea Rats are so straightforward that I didn’t even need to break stride. Normally when you come across a boss in a metroidvania (or indeed any game), there’s an element of preparing and stocking up on vital health items. But here, when a boss fight was telegraphed (by way of the room you’ve just entered being red on the mini-map), I was just thinking ‘Oh cool another boss fight, this will be fine’, and nine times out of ten, it was.
There’s a litany of other minor frustrations, like unnecessary perma-deaths when falling down some pits and Wu Yun’s incredibly frustrating sarcastic comments every time you die (‘Have you considered NOT failing?’ - hilarious, thanks mate). There’s also no quest log which makes some of the collectible side quests hard to follow. While these are all minor frustrations, they all sadly add up.
TL;DR
- Combat is uninspiring and too easy to level-up
- Dull, easy boss fights
- Annoying sarcastic comments from Wu Yun
They also possess the ability to purify spaces of negative energy, bringing an added sense of tranquility and harmony to any area they work on. Clients often claim to feel a renewed sense of energy and positivity after the squad has completed their cleaning. The squad operates discreetly, and their magical abilities are known only to their clients. They understand the importance of confidentiality and respect the privacy of those who seek their help. Their utmost goal is to provide a clean and harmonious environment for their clients without compromising their comfort or peace of mind. In addition to their magical abilities, the members of the cleaning squad are known for their professionalism and dedication. They take pride in their work, going above and beyond to ensure that every detail is perfect. Their attention to detail is unmatched, and they strive to leave no corner uncleaned. The magical cleaning squad has earned a reputation for being the best in the business. Their clients often rave about their exceptional service and recommend them to others in need of a little magic in their lives. Whether it's a small apartment or a sprawling mansion, the squad is always ready to work their magic and leave a spotless space in their wake. In conclusion, the magical cleaning squad is a remarkable team of individuals who possess extraordinary powers and use them to clean and restore order to any space. Their magical abilities combined with their professionalism and dedication make them the go-to team for anyone in need of a little magic in their cleaning routine..
Reviews for "The Magical Cleaning Squad: Making Dreams of Sparkling Clean Homes Come True"
1. Jane - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really excited to read "Magical Cleaning Squad" as I love fantasy books. However, I found myself extremely disappointed. The plot was weak and predictable, and the characters were one-dimensional and lacked development. It felt like the author was trying to cram too many magical elements into one book, which made the story confusing and disjointed. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written fantasy read.
2. Mark - 1 out of 5 stars - "Magical Cleaning Squad" was a complete letdown. The writing was amateurish, filled with clichés and poorly constructed sentences. The dialogue was cringe-worthy and lacked any depth or realism. The magical world was poorly explained and the rules were inconsistent. It seemed like the author was just making things up as they went along. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and found myself skimming through the pages hoping for something interesting to happen. Save your time and skip this book.
3. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I had high hopes for "Magical Cleaning Squad" as it seemed like a fun and whimsical read. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The concept of magical cleaners was interesting, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was slow and it took too long for the story to get going. The magical elements felt underdeveloped and the world-building was weak. The characters were forgettable and the dialogue was stilted. Overall, I found it difficult to stay engaged and would not recommend this book to others.