cat notebook
- February 1, 2019
- naircat
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Cat Notebook" is a walking simulator that offers a unique and challenging experience, drawing comparisons to Dark Souls and Yume-nikki. As a cat, you'll explore a notebook filled with distinct illustrations and songs, delving into a labyrinth of audiovisual elements. With over 40 hours of gameplay, this game is not for the faint of heart, challenging players with its exasperating difficulty and limited features. Please note that enjoyment may only be found while in a delirious state, according to the game's description.
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Reviews
- The art is unique, captivating, and beautifully crafted, showcasing a variety of cat-themed illustrations.
- The music complements the visuals well, offering a range of styles that enhance the overall experience.
- The game is a creative and surreal experience that allows for deep introspection and exploration of its abstract world.
- The character moves at an excruciatingly slow pace, making navigation tedious and frustrating.
- There is a lack of guidance or menus, leaving players confused about how to interact with the game.
- The absence of a save function forces players to replay the entire experience each time they open the game.
- music29 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in "Cat Notebook" is generally well-received, featuring a diverse range that complements the unique and captivating artwork, with styles varying from upbeat and jazzy to ambient and abstract. While some users note that the looping nature of the tracks can be repetitive, many appreciate the thoughtful composition and the overall auditory experience, likening it more to a music album than a traditional game. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the visual journey, making it a worthwhile accompaniment for fans of the art and music alike.
“The art is stellar, unique, and captivating; the music ranges from upbeat and jazzy to ominous and nebulous, befitting the otherworldly cats that litter each and every screen.”
“Beautiful soundtrack overlaid on beautiful drawings.”
“The music is incredible too, taking the short, repeating style of Yume Nikki and polishing it to create a totally unique auditory experience.”
“This isn't really a game, it's just a bunch of drawings and chill music in the background.”
“Cat notebook is more like a music album than a game, but even then it's not a very convenient music album.”
“Until a soundtrack is made available, I wouldn't say it's worth the money.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The graphics are described as captivating and abstract, creating a warped sense of reality that enhances the overall experience. Users appreciate the thoughtful artwork and aesthetic, which encourages exploration and anticipation as they discover new pieces and accompanying music. Overall, the visuals are seen as a significant highlight, elevating the game to more of an artistic experience than traditional gameplay.
“Other than that, I really like the aesthetic and the good sense of exploration as the slow walking speed brings anticipation for what art you're going to see next after the current one you're on.”
“I still very much enjoy the visuals, and occasionally some pages really blow me away with their music.”
“Its warped sense of reality, perspective, and abstract visuals just captivates me to the point that despite its controls and speed, I was determined to keep playing.”
“It is more of an experience and an artwork than a game.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay aspect of the game is largely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with many users describing it as a walking simulator with little to no interactive elements. While some appreciate the art and atmosphere, the overall experience is marred by limited features and a lack of engaging gameplay mechanics.
“• 40+ hours of gameplay”
“Technically, there's an infinite amount of gameplay, as the game has no ending that I can discern.”
“If you defined the end of gameplay as having seen all the pictures, though, then that'd be 40 hours of slowly walking with an average of 24 minutes and 45 seconds per image.”
“Walking simulator, no gameplay; the author is honest about it, vanish from Steam.”
“A lovely little game, though as others have said, there's not much gameplay to it.”
“Tl;dr—great art, marred by bad-to-broken gameplay.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the need to backtrack through frustrating maze-like environments after reaching dead ends.
“And still, dead ends mean you have to tediously slog back through several dreadful screen mazes.”
“The grinding feels endless, making progress feel more like a chore than an achievement.”
“I spent hours repeating the same tasks, and it quickly became monotonous and frustrating.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and depth, appealing to players who appreciate nuanced and subtle comedic elements.
“This game is hilarious! It takes a special kind of brain to appreciate the finer nuances and subtleties of the humor.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews suggest that the game's story is engaging and authentic, with players emphasizing its genuine and compelling narrative.
