Protagonist Emma Jones returns in digital form, this time dropping the firefighting gig for the role of a private investigator on the trail of a serial killer. This time she’s joined by Francine, the eponymous cat with the stylish hat. Players will take control of the duo in a side-scrolling 3D platformer with plenty of noir styling. I had a chance to play an early demo and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere conveyed through the jazzy music and dialogue.

Lest you be afraid that the game is nothing more than a mere exercise in running and jumping, players will need to explore the city, questioning oddball characters along the way to find new clues. Dialogue trees provide both a source of humor as well as useful information. There’s also a Metroidvania influence with powerups discovered for Emma’s revolvers including knockback and grappling abilities. These upgrades allow access to new areas to help further the plot along.

Part platformer, part adventure game, explore a seedy city to catch a killer.

Glass Bottom Games has spent five months putting together a demo, and estimates that it will take another six or so to complete the game. In order to do so, they’ve launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $20k. Much of that money is going towards art/audio assets and Kickstarter, but you can get a full breakdown on the campaign page. One Hamilton ($10) nets gamers a copy of the game when it releases, which is a bit of a bargain since it will launch at 15 bucks. Other tiered rewards include early access, digital and physical coffee table books, and the opportunity to get yourself a story into the game.

Check out the trailer below, then head on over to the Kickstarter page or the Hot Tin Roof official website for more info. Glass Bottom Games will be at PAX with the demo, so give it a try if you’re at the convention.

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