TRON: Catalyst

I think if I was more invested in the TRON world, or had a passion for the narratives that have already been told, I would have enjoyed TRON: Catalyst much more. With the lack of drive to see this world unfurl before me, it really felt like a simple action game, moving from point-to-point, with decent combat. It’s dripping with gorgeous design, and I could walk around in the world happily, or zoom around on my bike, all day, but the isometric view does remove some immersion. There’s a spark here, and a high level of polish, but I think it just wasn't really for me in the end.

TRON: Catalyst is a visually stylish game that respects the essence of the franchise and delivers an interesting narrative, especially for fans of the TRON universe. However, the gameplay experience falls short of its potential. The combat is functional but simplistic; the glitch mechanic, despite being promising, is underutilized; exploration is shallow, with no real incentives, and the main campaign is short and lacking in challenge.

TRON: Catalyst is a safe spin-off of the iconic TRON: Legacy world - it presents big ideas but only ever dips it's toes into those waters, wrapping things up as a mostly okay game that existing fans will likely find a lot of joy in nonetheless.

TRON: Catalyst is a good example of an acceptable licensed game experience, and punches well above its weight. The sum of its parts may not win any awards for having any sort of wow factor, but Bithell Games understood the assignment and gave fans something worth playing through. It may not be the most complicated game on the planet, but it’s a good example of a solid indie game experience as well as a good licensed game in its own right. Exo’s adventure is well worth a playthrough, and fans can breathe easy knowing that this romp in the Arq Grid is an experience worthy of the TRON name. Jumping into this Grid is a perfectly acceptable entry, but you might want to go in with tempered expectations.

Tron: Catalyst successfully captures the spirit of the franchise. Its striking aesthetics and pulsing electronic score immerse you in the iconic digital world. The game’s strength lies in its commitment to storytelling, with clever narrative techniques driving the plot. While the combat is serviceable, it lacks the depth found in many of its genre peers. Still, these elements come together to deliver a narrative-driven experience that remains true to Tron’s identity, even if the gameplay doesn’t always live up to the ambition of its story.

Although Tron: Catalyst doesn't capitalise on all of the potential of its many ideas, it does still present another worthwhile experience from Bithell Games. It's a joy to engage with their interpretation of this world and the ideas it represents, even if some of the execution falls flat.

I have no really strong criticisms of Tron: Catalyst. But I also don't have any great praise to heap upon it. Nearly across the board – from combat, to music, to writing, to area design – it competently gets the job done and calls it a centicycle. It may just become the seven out of ten game I think of in the coming years when someone wants a really good example of a seven out of 10 game. And for what it's worth, that means I had a decently good time with it. In a world of bloated, hundred-plus-hour, obscenely high-budget collectathons, I think a Tron: Catalyst here and there is a nice, restrained palate cleanser. But it does leave me with the vaguely unsatisfied feeling that I wanted it to be a bit more, especially with its rewind mechanic that seemed like it could’ve been something special.

TRON: Catalyst proves that there are still plenty of stories to be told on the Grid, even if it never fully realises this potential itself. Its narrative is well-written and engaging, it faithfully captures the aesthetic of the films and has perfectly function combat and exploration, but its repetitiveness and inability to fully take advantage of the possibilities of TRON’s ‘discfu’ leaves it feeling like version 0.8 rather than 1.0 when it comes to taking advantage of the possibilities of this series.

Bithell Games, what should we do with you? What is this game? As an action game, it is not very in-depth, it is not stimulating. As a narrative, the story is appreciable but does not leave any freedom to the player. Did you look for linearity so as not to alienate those who wanted to fight? Fine, but then you should have developed that part more. And instead the final result remains in a sort of limbo, far from being an excellence in the various souls that compose it. For those who see the glass half full, it remains a well-written story in a super fascinating narrative universe.

Tron: Catalyst is an experience that starts with big ideas but stumbles in execution, delivering a modest product that's more functional than memorable. Fans of the franchise may find value in its style and atmosphere, but should temper expectations regarding the depth of its gameplay systems.

Tron: Catalyst expands the popular sci-fi universe with an exciting story. However, in many areas, the game remains nothing more than average.

I like the Tron universe. I’ve been following it since the beginning and have played quite a few games within the IP throughout the decades. Tron: Catalyst’s biggest problem is that it just doesn’t do enough to stand out in the series. The combat and look of the game are boring. The atmosphere and music are detached and out of alignment with the story. The light cycle is fun, but you’re very restrained in where you can use it. And ultimately, while the time loop makes the story and progression more interesting, that arguably worthwhile story is attached to a fairly humdrum action game wearing all of the expected components of the Tron aesthetic.

TRON: Catalyst leverages the mythos of its long-running setting for an intriguing premise, one hampered by middling combat and objectives.

Despite a solid set-up and the joys of disc-throwing and lightcycle action, Tron: Catalyst ends up being more style than substance, failing to truly build on predecessor Tron: Identity. It's fun while it lasts, and is visually gorgeous, but an overly repetitive structure drags things out with a story that ultimately falls flat.

There are small glimmers of what could one day add up to an incredible TRON game here.