CATch the Stars: Japan
- April 29, 2021
- Pinel Games
Get on Steam"CATch the Stars: Japan" is a relaxing puzzle game that takes you on a virtual tour of Japan's scenic cities, temples, and gardens. With 50 unique levels and simple mechanics, players are challenged to solve puzzles by moving stars to their correct position while enjoying a variety of dynamic backgrounds and overlooking the beautiful cherry blossom festival. The game features an original soundtrack and a stress-free environment with no score, timer, or pressure.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Beautiful graphics and relaxing music create a cozy atmosphere.
- The puzzles are enjoyable and provide a nice challenge without being overly difficult.
- The game introduces new mechanics while maintaining the charm of the original, making it a delightful sequel.
- The gameplay can feel repetitive for those familiar with the first game, lacking significant innovation.
- Some players found the puzzles to be too easy and not challenging enough.
- The music variations are limited, which can lead to it becoming repetitive over time.
- music31 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall cozy experience of the puzzle gameplay. Many players appreciate the soothing soundtracks, often likening them to calming environments, though some note that the music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of beautiful visuals and tranquil music creates a delightful ambiance, making it a great choice for relaxation.
“Very pretty and cozy puzzle game with relaxing music.”
“With its cozy lofi music and slow-paced gameplay, this is a great choice to relax in the evening while doing some light puzzles.”
“The music is calming, and the background changes are interesting to look at and observe as a whole.”
“Especially the puzzle difficulty is not hard at all once you know how the mechanism works and the way the puzzle maker makes the puzzle in a reverse way without much complexity made it a pretty linear puzzle with not many dead ends to encounter... the music variations have their limits and can become repetitive over time, the background artwork is a little too few as well... in short, this is not as good as the first game where the devs put more love into the making, this one here felt like a 'rinse and repeat' from the devs and the 'taste' drops the more they 'rinse' it... hopefully this will not become a routine practice in the coming series.”
“_music could have been better if there were more variation.”
“Small information: the soundtrack is the same as in the first Catch the Stars game, but I bought it again, just to support this team in hoping for more of these nice games in the future.”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its enjoyable and relaxing puzzle mechanics, similar to its predecessor, with the addition of a new "portal" mechanic that enhances complexity and variety. Players appreciate the easy-to-learn mechanics, beautiful visuals, and soothing soundtrack, making it a perfect choice for casual gaming. Overall, the game successfully builds on the previous installment while introducing fresh elements to keep the experience engaging.
“A lovely sequel that has the same relaxing gameplay and beautiful soundtrack as 'Catch the Stars.'”
“With its cozy lo-fi music and slow-paced gameplay, this is a great choice to relax in the evening while doing some light puzzles.”
“The studio kept up the good work with the puzzle design, pleasing art, and relaxing music, but with the addition of new mechanics and a nice Japanese theme!”
“Following up the previous game, the mechanics didn't change a lot; just some extras were added.”
“It introduces one new mechanic compared to the first game, but other than that, if you've played the first game, then you've already seen all the mechanics.”
“(Finally, these devs make lots of ostensibly cat-themed games, without them playing any relevant role in the actual puzzle mechanics. Here, except for a few static intro and outro images, you barely see a silhouette, which seems somewhat dishonest marketing.)”
- graphics13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming and minimalist art style, which complements the relaxing atmosphere created by the music. While many players appreciate the beautiful visuals and animations, some note that the background artwork is limited and that certain thematic elements feel repetitive or stereotypical. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the gameplay experience, making it enjoyable for fans of low-key visuals and simple puzzles.
“The art style and music were relaxing and made it even more atmospheric.”
“Beautiful art style and animations.”
“If you like nice and simple graphics, chilling puzzles, a wonderful piano theme, wonderful moon nights, and if you like cats, then this is the right place for you.”
“The background artwork is a little too few as well... in short, this is not as good as the 1st game where the devs put more love into the making, this one here felt like a 'rinse and repeat' from the devs and the 'taste' drops the more they 'rinse' it.”
“The constellations are a let down, though - rather than use real Japanese constellations, they use stereotypical images of Japan, like katanas, fans, geishas, and the like - some are even Chinese.”
“You like high-end graphics that bring your graphic card to the edge?”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its lovely and peaceful qualities, featuring soothing color palettes, calming animations, and fitting music that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers recommend it for its comfortable and beautiful ambiance.
“The color palettes and animations are very soothing, and the music is very fitting for the peaceful atmosphere that can be found in this game.”
“That's a beautiful game, with stunning art and a peaceful atmosphere.”
“Definitely recommend it for the comfy atmosphere.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as providing a wholesome and uplifting experience, making it an excellent choice for players seeking feel-good moments.
“This game truly captures the essence of human emotions, making every moment feel deeply personal.”
“I was moved to tears by the storyline; it resonated with my own experiences in a profound way.”
“The characters are so well-developed that I felt a genuine connection to their struggles and triumphs.”
