Scram Kitty and His Buddy on Rails was a game that I tried at E3 2013, but never fully got the hang of. I was super bummed as it looked like such an interesting experience at the time, yet I wasn't fully convinced by it. Fast forward a few months later to the Eurogamer Expo and I was totally hooked on the title. What caused this total shift in attitude towards the product? I can't say for certain, but what I do know is that Scram Kitty is now my most anticipated Nintendo eShop release.

The game is all about traveling through large 2D landscapes and being as careful as you possibly can. This was, for me, quickly thrown out the window as my attention shifted to cute kitten dolls, which are all across the level. They require you to use some very cool tricks and put on your thinking cap from time to time. You move across the edges of various platforms and jump with your ship to move across gaps. It makes for a strangely engaging experience which is further encouraged by your end goals.

You need to collect four keys to get access to a vault where a kitten is held and these are put behind a motherload of enemies. This is where the shooting mechanics come into play and you start with a simple double pea shooter, which only shoots forward. As you begin to explore these levels, you will be surprised by some new and fun weaponry. There is a laser which destroys everybody in your path or rockets which snaps the mice from a distance. Also present was a special flame wheel attack, which makes you invisible for a short time while increasing your movement speed.

It helps that the controls are as smooth as butter and the elements that are represented in levels are very unique. The enemy and obstacle placement require you to think ahead and make use of the tools given to you. There are places where you can replenish your health, but that doesn't make the ride completely easy going though. There are spikes, mice, machines and lasers everywhere to block your every move. You get further help from jump pads and hints in the environments, but it all comes down to your gaming skills. It will certainly put them to the test, as your arcade mindset gets set to overdrive.

The presentation is very charming with a cool and sharp retro aesthetic covering the various stages. It’s colorful visuals particularly shine through when watching someone else playing on the television. Viewers are informed on the progress through a live cam, similar to a television broadcast, with updates on weapon pick-ups and other important feats. This happens while the player is enjoying the adventure on the Wii U GamePad, though it is possible to switch the views and make the big screen the main focus.

Scram Kitty is one of the most interesting demonstrations I got to experience this year. I played through all three levels multiple times during my time at the show and I kind of want to play more of it. My hands are itching, my will is building and my excitement is rising. I seriously hope that Dakko Dakko will bring this unique title to our humble digital shops soon!