Tron: Catalyst – Dive into the Grid’s Dark Secrets!

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Tron: Catalyst aims to delve deeper into the world of the Grid and its digital beings, providing a vast, entirely novel story set within a computer. Judging from the first act alone, it seems destined to be a captivating journey for sure.

After a long hiatus, the Tron franchise is once again generating excitement in 2025. Not only will the movie “Tron: Ares” be released on October 10, marking over a decade since discussions about following up from “Legacy”, but fans can also look forward to a fresh video game.

At Bithell Games, Tron: Catalyst has been under development since their visual novel-style puzzle game, Tron: Identity, was released in 2023. Now, two years later, they’re preparing for a much more complex venture, incorporating combat with the Identity Disc and numerous Light Cycles. This move represents a significant leap forward, and although we’ve only experienced the initial stages, it seems to be shaping up quite well in various aspects.

As someone who’s been a dedicated Tron fan for life, it seems like an obvious choice to explore and expand the world using our preferred medium. Although there are certain game design decisions that I’m not entirely fond of, Catalyst undeniably lives up to expectations with its immersive storyline brimming with captivating lore that enriches the universe. Players should be eagerly anticipating this release.

What is Tron: Catalyst?

Slated for launch on June 17, 2025, Tron: Catalyst offers a completely unique gaming journey within this IP. Previously, we’ve witnessed Light Cycle racing battles and the Tron: Evolution movie tie-in, but Catalyst introduces something fresh and separate from all its predecessors.

Looking down on the action, you guide Exo – an innovative character with a built-in glitch in her programming. Exo’s special ‘glitch’ allows her to rewind time within a loop, giving her the ability to alter reality for her benefit or be influenced by various factions vying for control in the city of Vertical Slice.

In this game, conversation dominates much of your playtime as you interact with various characters and sometimes decide what to say to them, but the focus on combat remains significant too. You frequently engage in battles against enemy programs using your Identity Disc. This allows you to throw it for ranged attacks or get up close for a variety of melee strikes.

As you progress, you’ll encounter numerous enhancements, and let’s not forget the essence of a Tron game – the Light Cycle! In a flash, we were speeding through the Grid’s vibrant neon-lit avenues.

Expanding the Program

Without a doubt, Catalyst stands out primarily due to its compelling narrative. The metropolis of Vertical Slice offers a vast landscape filled with fresh personalities for interaction. Some characters are simply trying to make ends meet, while others flaunt their individuality at every opportunity, displaying flashy attire and sneering at those considered less fortunate – does this setting sound familiar?

From a broader perspective, various groups with distinct objectives are all present. It seems like your allegiance as a character, Exo, can be swayed to some extent. The sneak peek gave an impression that you’re given dialogue options that make Exo seem disinclined towards initiating a revolution.

Absolutely, it’s not all about the main narrative where I, as Exo, grapple with my Glitch and others trying to exploit my power. The world is so richly layered, offering glimpses into life on a Grid that some think was left behind by its creator, Flynn. Along the journey, characters share unique perspectives about life in this supposedly abandoned digital realm.

Immersing myself in this compelling story, I’m deeply curious to uncover more details by following Exo’s main narrative, yet also craving to seize fleeting chances for intriguing chats with non-player characters that may vanish without a trace.

In every encounter, the writing shines, just as we’ve grown accustomed to with Bithell Games’ work. Moreover, the voice acting is exceptionally impressive in this instance too.

Room to upgrade

The combat aspect of Catalyst didn’t quite meet my expectations. Initially, the strategies you can employ are similar to those found in numerous games from the past, keeping the gameplay relatively predictable.

In this game, you have a melee attack, a dodge button, an opportunity to counter with a parry when timed correctly, and the ability to toss your Identity Disc for some mid-to-long range damage. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that as I delve deeper into the game over time, more exciting features will be unveiled, but at this stage in the opening chapter, it all seems a bit routine to me.

In the majority of battle situations, repeatedly pressing the attack key tends to suffice because opponents blindly move towards your attacks and can be defeated with just a handful of strikes.

You usually don’t need much strategy in battles since enemies often walk right into your attacks and fall quickly after only a few hits.

As a gamer, I’m eagerly anticipating the growth of Exo’s powers, promising a more immersive combat experience down the line. The sneak peek showed some fresh enemy types, so here’s hoping for even more exciting encounters when Tron: Catalyst is fully unleashed on June 17th.

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2025-04-24 17:18