Tron: Catalyst contains all the essential elements of science fiction up to this point.

      In 2023, a video game from the Tron series surprised me, and I instantly fell in love with it. Tron: Identity replaced light cycles and identity disc battles with a hard sci-fi visual novel from Bithell Games. This smaller-scale project creatively utilized Disney’s universe, focusing more on its cyber noir aspects instead of action. It matched my tastes, although it might be a harder sell for Tron fans seeking a more conventional action-adventure experience. Bithell Games is scheduled to deliver that on June 17 with Tron: Catalyst.

      Published by Big Fan, this project aims to provide some fan service for movie enthusiasts this time. Discs are thrown, and wheels spin in a game that shares the same tone as Identity but fits into a slightly larger format. Before its summer release, I experienced the first hour of Catalyst, completing two chapters. So far, it retains the writing strengths of Identity but offers more activities within the Arq Grid. While it’s uncertain if this broader scope results in a better game, all the essential components are present to create a solid Tron title with most of the necessary elements.

      A twist in the narrative

      When my demo starts, I’m immediately thrown into the Arq Grid, viewed from an isometric angle. Initially, I only know that I’m a courier named Exo tasked with delivering messages. After fulfilling that task, I’m caught in an explosion. Suddenly, I find myself trapped in a time loop that Exo can manipulate. I must use that ability to evade pursuers, uncover details about a glitch affecting the grid, and presumably find a way out.

      The time loop concept is the most distinctive aspect of Catalyst. At the start of the demo, I need to locate someone who may have useful information. To reach them, I must enter a combat arena and make my way to the stands. However, by the time I complete my fight, the person I was searching for has disappeared. I’m then directed to a secured room that I unlock with a key card, ensuring that the door remains permanently open in future loops. From there, I restart the cycle, heading directly to the door to access the stands and catch my green-haired friend before even entering the arena. I experience a similar pattern in the second chapter while attempting to break into a penthouse, using key cards to create shortcuts for my next loop.

      It’s challenging to determine just how deep this idea goes from such a brief demo. It serves as a relatively linear narrative device here since I’m guided on where to go and when to reset the cycle. There isn’t a puzzle or immersive sim element tied to it, which makes it feel like a conventional narrative flow interrupted by moments of time travel. These initial missions are meant to serve as a tutorial, so I hope that there will be greater freedom to creatively approach loops later on.

      Aside from that, Catalyst incorporates as many Tron elements as possible. Unlike Identity, combat features prominently here. I have a basic slash attack and can throw my identity disc at enemies, allowing it to bounce and hit additional foes. The combat system is fairly straightforward, including a basic slash, charged hit, parry, and dodge. Every encounter I faced followed a similar pattern of just slashing at enemies with minimal feedback. I anticipate that there's still some tuning needed in this area, but I also barely delved into my skill tree, which appears to promise more exciting combat options. I’ll eventually be able to deflect my disc back at foes and perform other tricks that should enhance long-range combat.

      The standout moment of my demo occurred when I finally accessed my light cycle. With a simple button press, I could summon the vehicle and navigate the streets of the Arq Grid. While not overly sophisticated, it functions like a car that helps me traverse compact streets. Nonetheless, it was a delightful experience to glide through the neon blue streets of Tron’s universe. I hope the final playable area is slightly larger than what I experienced to justify exploring it.

      Given how streamlined the combat and exploration are, I believe the story will be crucial in determining the success of Tron: Catalyst. I don’t have a solid grasp of it yet, but it seems to be heading in a positive direction. I sense that I’ll be deeply immersed in a sci-fi narrative where I’ll need to break into penthouses and hack into abandoned terminals to discover what digital plague is affecting the Grid. That’s exactly what made Identity so captivating, and it appears that this will carry over here. As long as the rest of the gameplay can align with that concept, it should result in another fascinating take on Tron that leverages its compact size to its benefit, similar to Bithell Games’ underrated John Wick Hex. If Catalyst can meet that same standard of quality, I’ll be pleased.

      Tron: Catalyst is set to launch on June 17 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.