Tron: Catalyst is an intriguing isometric action-adventure game that throws you into the iconic Grid in an all-new way. The unique mechanics and satisfying combat make up for the occasional slow section, while the tight runtime keeps the somewhat repetitive nature from ever becoming an issue. If you love Tron, this is a great way to spend some hours.
Tron: Catalyst
Developer: Bithell Games
Price: $25
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PS5 (reviewed), Nintendo Switch, and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review.
I love Tron and have since I was a kid. Something about sentient programs that live with and battle against one another in the digital realm just strikes me as a cool concept, so I’m down to try any video game that plays with the idea. Tron: Catalyst is the latest to do so, and I had quite a pleasant Light Cycle ride through the Grid with this one.
A lot of Tron: Catalyst’s time is spent controlling the program Exo in hand-to-hand combat, which is quite a lot of fun. You can do standard melee attacks and dodges, but what you’re really here for is disc-throwing. I’m happy to report that whipping your identity disc at foes feels as cool and badass as it looks in the movies. Seeing enemies get derezzed as your disc bounces around feels like a moment straight from the films, which is as big of a compliment as I can give.
You also get to occasionally helm a Light Cycle, which feels similarly pleasant. Some sections have you just driving around a city from objective to objective, while the more exciting moments have you leaving a light trail to obliterate foes. You don’t do it too much, so driving around never really gets old, but it’s included just enough to be a blast for its entire inclusion.
“Each upgrade feels worth getting and has a noticeable impact on your combat, and there are just enough of them to last you the length of the game.“
There’s a small upgrade tree that you can use throughout the game to power Exo up, giving you neat skills like the ability to kick your identity disc after it comes back to you or to deal massive damage with parries. Each upgrade feels worth getting and has a noticeable impact on your combat, and there are just enough of them to last you the length of the game.
A core aspect of Tron: Catalyst is the ability to “loop” through story events as a result of being affected by a “glitch.” This allows you to find shortcuts or storylines in one loop that you can then go back in time to utilize in new ways. It’s mostly a narrative device, but it’s used in some pretty unique ways that make the story and gameplay stand out.
I will say that Tron: Catalyst’s pacing is a bit wonky, especially towards the end of the game. The looping mechanic is certainly neat, but it means you get a lot of dialogue more than once, even with some twists. Plus, the final section of the game features a lot of going back and forth between familiar locations and characters, which drags a tad. Most of the story feels fine and is genuinely interesting as a fan of the Tron universe, but the end portion goes just a bit too long.
Tron: Catalyst looks as cool as the movies.
The neon colors and smooth cartoony art style of Tron: Catalyst are brilliant, bringing to mind the depressingly short-lived television series Tron: Uprising. It feels perfectly in line with the Tron universe while also featuring its own stylish edge, especially with the character portraits. The voice acting is also well-done, feeling appropriately intense given what’s going on in the story.
The Final Word
Tron: Catalyst is a solid action-adventure game that Tron fans will definitely appreciate. The pacing can be a bit jittery, especially towards the end, but the exciting combat and intriguing story make this a worthwhile trip to the Grid ahead of Tron: Ares later this year.
MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
