If you were a weeb in the 90s, you were basically from another planet. It was a subculture that was like an ant in the afterbirth, barely able to stand and all alone. If you saw anything in the world that acknowledged anything weeb-related, it was like coming home.
Weebs today have it good. Thanks to the way the internet connected the world, weebs everywhere share their love for anime and memes for decades. It has become to ingrained in internet culture that it’s easy to take it for granted. Teku Studios’ game reminds me of the early days of weeb culture on the net; the time when it was an absurdist wild west of humor and anime references.
What if you took irreverent weeb memes and packaged them into a rambunctious action platformer? How much can you flex on extra-terrestrials? What’s with the buff cat in underwear? Find out in our KinnikuNeko: Super Muscle Cat review!
KinnikuNeko: SUPER MUSCLE CAT
Developer: Kamotachi
Publisher: Mameshiba Games
Platforms: Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch (reviewed)
Release Date: March 19, 2025
Price: $17.99
I knew I was in good hands when Super Muscle Cat opens with its first level throwing Evangelion memes at me and has me assuming the role of a profoundly muscular cat who posedowns on evil aliens. The invaders are a pastiche of various aliens from classic anime and feature a familiar trio who evoke the villains from Yatterman.
Muscle Cat is normally just a regular cat, but when he wears the super underwear given to him by Lemon, the kawaii alien girl, he becomes Super Muscle Cat. Endowed with unbelievable pectorals, heroic lats, and biceps that can crush bone, this kitty become humanity’s only hope from the encroaching alien threat… but not before pinching a few loaves in a litterbox.
Muscle Cat‘s premise is thin, yet effective at giving the player enough amusement. The set up is an excuse to have as many sight-gags packed into every stage while bombarding gamers with platforming challenges and the odd minigame or shoot-em-up sequence once in a while for some variety.
The gameplay is your proto-typical action platformer with a few notable gimmicks. Muscle Cat can flex and pose for melee attacks, slide, and do a pathetic dodge roll which isn’t helpful. The imagery of a cartoony cat head on a Mr. Universe body, wearing a speedo, while bodying little green men is a lot to take in and may make you question your life decisions.
One thing to note is that the aerial attack has a soft lock on mechanic that magnetizes Muscle Cat’s jutting knees to better connect with foes. This becomes helpful when stringing together attacks to pogo across gaps on multiple enemies. It’s satisfying to bop massive, hard knees on soft, chewy alien craniums for more airtime.
Stages are linear but may split with multiple routes or side excursions that demand more from the player. Players may find themselves in a space gym, surrounded by sexy green alien babes in workout tights with a weight bench beckoning. These bonus areas will level up Muscle Cat’s power if they can mash the button fast enough, making it feel like you, the player, did a real workout.
There’s more to Muscle Cat than his defined traps and pecs. While surviving the gauntlets, players may encounter Lemon and talking to her will have her rip off Muscle Cat’s undies, transforming him back into a garden variety feline who can’t lift… In fact, he can’t do much at all apart from run up certain walls or sprint.
As a normal cat, players can’t attack and must evade foes while navigating treacherous levels. The only issue is some deviously placed obstacles and enemies that feel like rotten trolling from the developer. Running around as a weak cat wouldn’t be so bad if he could put his speedo back on by himself, but unfortunately players will always have to find the nearest Lemon to get them off and on.
While as Muscle Cat, the platforming isn’t always the cleanest. He controls tightly, but the hit detection isn’t always accurate when avoiding threats or traps. Other times players will be expected to make a leap of faith onto some platforms out of sight which never feels right.
Aside from some annoying design choices and minor technical flubs, Super Muscle Cat is a solid platformer that’s elevated thanks to its humor. The anime-inspired gags and memes go a long way in injecting a lot of personality. Sometimes the fun is the surprise of what may come next.
The graphics impress considering it was mostly done by one person, yet almost resembles something on par with a Shantae game. WayForward Technologies better be careful because this Muscle Cat’s developer just might eat their lunch all by himself.
All characters are big, colorful, and well-drawn. The only giveaway of the limited resources is the animation shortcuts for incidental characters. Muscle Cat himself is superbly animated and always looks hilarious with every frame. The background art is on the basic side, but still feels fitting to the retro anime style that the game is going for.
KinnikuNeko: SUPER MUSCLE CAT isn’t deep or well-designed, but its funny and easy to get into. The later levels are intensely obnoxious and many of the boss fights have moments where players will seemingly have to willfully take a hit. What this kitty has going for it is its absurd humor, visuals, variety, and element of surprise.
KinnikuNeko: SUPER MUSCLE CAT is a densely packed weeb bonanza of jokes and challenging platforming that keeps platformer fans on their toes. His form may be mostly vanity muscles, but this cat is strong where it counts.
KinnikuNeko: SUPER MUSCLE CAT was reviewed on Nintendo Switch using a code provided by Mameshiba Games. You can find additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy here. KinnikuNeko: SUPER MUSCLE CAT is now available for PC (via Steam), Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
