It’s hard to imagine a film franchise more suited to video games than TRONAnd it might finally get a new game that can do the concept justice. There has been no shortage of tie-ins over the years, with some neat entries like TRON 2.0But the modern era has not seen anything quite as impressive. Although TRON: IdentityDeveloped by Bithell Games, featuring a strong, choice-based narrative, the visual novel format doesn’t necessarily deliver what everyone would want from a TRON Experience.
Bithell Games is revisiting TRON with Disney Tron: CatalystAnd the official reveal trailer showcases some modern gameplay That could win over fans itching to return to the grid. The new isometric game is set to release in 2025 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, but it mixes fluid combat, city exploration and light cycle action.
Although it is not roguelike, Disney Tron: Catalyst Centers around a time loop concept, where failures can be paved by reset events. With this mechanic, the program protagonist Exo tries to uncover secrets and save the grid while dealing with several threats of different nature.
TRON: Catalyst aims to be the rare quality tie-in
Reasonable ambition and the right focus
A print preview for Disney Tron: Catalyst revealed some more details about the game, showcasing Exo’s unique prowess in infiltration. Although it does not have an open world or a focus on branching possibilities, the “Great levels” of the game provide an interesting, two-tone look at a metropolis in the grid.
some of TRON: Identitys visual novel DNA is hanging around in Disney Tron: CatalystWith key dialogue scenes putting character art front and center. Bithell Games is angling for the overall experience to be a meaningful one TRON Experience in a similar way to the cult classic movie tie-in The Chronicle of Riddick: Escape from Butcher BayTells new stories and gives players a sense of being in the world.
Our take: Bithell Games could make TRON: Catalyst work
The key ingredients are in place
The creative director behind Disney Tron: Catalyst is Mike Bithell, and I’ve been a fan of his work since I first played his breakout title, Thomas is aloneOver a decade ago. Bithell Games has put out a lot of strong material since then, and the indie studio’s recent turn to licensed games has provided an interesting alternative to heavy, big-budget tie-ins. While John Wick Hex struggle to win the audience, TRON: Identity Made a good impressionAnd building on that success to deliver an action game follow-up could be exciting.
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The isometric perspective may not be the most immersive possible take on the TRON universe, but games like Baldur’s Gate 3 have helped bring the style back into vogue, and the game seems to be using it to clearly demystify the way Exo can ricochet a disc off enemies in combat. If the fundamentals can develop with enough variety over the course of a full game, Disney Tron: Catalyst may prove to be a TRON Play that right brings the digital world to life.