Chris InglisDog Man: Mission Impawsible is an action-platformer developed by Floor 84 Studio and published by Mindscape and released on December 6, 2024 on PC and consoles. The game takes on the same fun and goofy charm that defines Dav Pilkey‘s graphic novel series, and the catchy music maintains a light-hearted and fun vibe. Aimed squarely at younger audiences like my 7-year-old daughter, the game successfully translates the comic’s visual style and slapstick humour into an interactive experience, though it occasionally stumbles on its way to canine heroism.
The game’s story is a loose adaptation of the books. The key to the city has fallen into the hands of a supa bad guy, unlocking all the prison doors and releasing many evildoers. We must help Dog Man and his friends Li’l Petey and HD-80 to chase down the supa bad guys in their most impawsible mission yet. The story unfolds through animated cutscenes that faithfully capture the comic’s hand-drawn aesthetic, complete with Pilkey’s signature scribbles and silly sound effects. My daughter, a huge fan of the Dog Man book series, immediately recognised all the familiar characters and was instantly drawn into the game’s world.
Gameplay is a mix of 2D platforming and using the character’s special abilities and unlocked gadgets to track down hidden items or solve simple puzzles. There are five major hubs each with 10 levels themselves which are vibrant and varied, ranging from city streets Downtown to the Cops Station, Marshmallow Factory and more. Each level is brimming with bones to collect, collectibles that unlock actual comic strips in the game’s main menu, and helps you navigate around monsters or environmental hazards.
While the keyboard controls for Dog Man: Mission Impawsible were a little tricky for my daughter to get the hang of initially, she quickly mastered them, highlighting how the game is designed to be accessible and easy for young children to pick up and play. Pressing Z allows you to switch characters on the fly when you face blockages that require one character or another. This versatility really comes into play once you start unlocking character-specific gadgets. Older gamers who are fans of the books or have kids like mine that love the books will get some fun out of this game, but if you have no connection to the source material, this is likely going to feel too easy for the average platform gamer.
A particularly clever gameplay mechanic in Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is the way the game utilises each character’s unique size to solve environmental puzzles and traverse the levels. Dog Man can jump higher than Little Petey, making him essential for reaching certain platforms. The towering HD-80 can leap even further than Dog Man, allowing access to higher areas. However, Li’l Petey’s small stature proves invaluable for squeezing under low-hanging ledges that his larger companions cannot reach. Similarly, HD-80’s bulk means he’ll fall straight through crumbling blocks, whereas Dog Man has just enough time to leap off them. Li’l Petey, being the lightest, often won’t even trigger the crumbling effect, allowing him safe passage. This dynamic character switching on the fly is a lot of fun.
Another charming detail is the visual representation of taking damage. When a character gets hit, their supahero persona, complete with a flowing cape, momentarily disappears, reverting them to their everyday appearance. It’s a fun visual cue that clearly indicates a loss of health rather than showing blood or bruises, maintaining the safe gameplay for young children. Thankfully, players can quickly restore their health by collecting health blips scattered throughout the levels, at which point the character’s supahero form and cape are joyfully restored.
Players can collect various items scattered throughout the levels, such as sprockets. Gathering enough of these sprockets unlocks new Supa Gadgets for Dog Man and the crew, further enhancing their abilities and opening up new avenues for exploration. For instance, one of the first Supa Gadgets players can acquire is a pair of dirt-proof pants. This upgrade allows Dog Man to dig underground through dirt allowing you to go under certain puzzle areas. Other gadgets available are a grappling hook, rocket shoes and power gloves.
Overall, Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is a faithful adaptation of the book series by Dav Pilkey that delivers a fun and accessible experience for younger audiences. Its charming presentation, light-hearted humour, and easy-to-learn gameplay make it a solid choice for younger players and fans of the Dog Man series.
This review utilised a Steam key provided by Mark Allen PR and Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is available now on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.
#roundtablecoop
