Catyph: The Kunci Experiment
- May 11, 2016
- Simon Says: Play!
- 15h median play time
Get on SteamCATYPH is a First Person Adventure game (Myst-like), part of a sci-fi series named The Black Cube (ASA: A Space Adventure...). Visit Tytaah, a moon of Catyph divided into 7 regions, and try to save your home planet Terra by solving the challenging puzzles of the mysterious Germinal.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Catyph features a wide variety of challenging and complex puzzles that provide a satisfying gameplay experience, showcasing the designer's true skills.
- The game has improved navigation with full video transitions between scenes, enhancing immersion and making it easier to localize oneself in the game world.
- The storyline is rich and engaging, with a well-developed lore that is complemented by good music and sound design.
- Some puzzles are poorly clued and can be frustrating, with solutions that may not make sense even after consulting walkthroughs.
- The in-game database's text is too small and difficult to read, making it a chore to access important lore information.
- The requirement to use in-game currency for hints and to activate cubes can feel repetitive and annoying, detracting from the overall experience.
- story24 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story of Catyph is set in a richly detailed universe, primarily on the moon Tytaah, and is conveyed through logs and video transmissions, offering an intriguing backdrop for the puzzle adventure. While many players appreciate the complexity and depth of the narrative, some find it convoluted and difficult to follow, often overshadowed by the challenging puzzles. Overall, the game presents a captivating story that complements its gameplay, though it may require careful attention to fully grasp.
“Catyph is an amazing puzzle adventure with an intriguing story and tons of interesting challenges.”
“There is an incredible amount of creative detail woven into the story of the black cube universe, the adventures of Philip Forte, and the Ark.”
“The storyline is very good, with a great deal of well-conceived background, and the game's flow fits the story well.”
“The story didn't make much sense (too convoluted, too many things going on), and the characters presented were caricatures--it was hard to care about what was happening on 'Terra' and the 'bad guy' was so bad he could have been the master in a 60's episode of Doctor Who (see: mustache-twirling, maniacal laugh).”
“It's as if one game designer created a world and backstory, and then another came in afterward and just distributed puzzles through it without knowing anything else about it.”
“About the storyline, the game starts with a video that was, I have to admit, kind of confusing on the first view.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the distinct visual styles of different regions and the quality of artwork and mini-movies, while others criticize the dated, low-resolution visuals reminiscent of old-school games. Despite the shortcomings, many players find the graphics acceptable, especially for fans of the genre, though those seeking modern 3D graphics may be disappointed. Overall, the visuals are seen as competent but not groundbreaking.
“Graphics were also good; I especially liked how each main region of the game had a different feel and look.”
“The artwork is great, and there are some very lovely mini-movies, especially at the start and end of the game.”
“The graphics are correct; the foreground and helmet effects look cool.”
“The voice acting was terrible, and the graphics were very, very old-school.”
“The graphics are dated, but I could forgive that.”
“The second one requires the player to use pattern recognition from low-res graphics you can't zoom in on.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a rich variety of challenging puzzles, including pattern matching, mechanical manipulation, math, time manipulation, environmental observation, and cryptography, providing a deeply satisfying experience. While it offers a classic myst-like or rhem-like feel, the difficulty level is notably higher, and some players may find themselves needing more guidance on certain puzzles. The estimated 15 hours of gameplay may be underestimated for those tackling the challenges without assistance.
“The challenge and depth of the puzzles lead to a very exciting gameplay experience; it had been a while since I played a game that left me with this level of satisfaction.”
“There are classical pattern matching and mechanical manipulation puzzles which are the staples of this genre, but there are also math puzzles, time manipulation puzzles, environment observation puzzles, and even some cryptography puzzles.”
“As a sequel to 'Asa: A Space Adventure', it is a classic Myst-like or Rhem-like in terms of gameplay, but it is much more difficult.”
“Instead, there were times when I needed more insight into the intent or mechanics of a specific puzzle.”
“As a sequel to Asa: A Space Adventure, it is a classic Myst-like or Rhem-like in terms of gameplay, but it is much more difficult.”
“I think the developer's estimated 15 hours of gameplay is a bit short if you're going to try and crack the puzzles without help (but I may just be slower than most!).”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and frustrating, particularly in relation to the puzzles, which can detract from the overall storyline experience. The effort spent on solving these puzzles often leads to a loss of narrative engagement, making the gameplay feel more like a chore than an enjoyable challenge.
“That's the definition of a painstaking, tedious puzzle that is not fun to do.”
“In fact, I became so engrossed in trying to solve them that I completely lost track of the storyline and forgot about reading the database. After spending hours grinding my teeth on the puzzles, I realized that the storyline videos were kind of messed up since I had moved back and forth between worlds when I was stuck.”
“I love a good 90's style point-and-click, but this one was tedious.”
- music2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music and sound design in the game are highly praised for their quality, featuring a beautiful and diverse score that complements the complex story and challenging puzzles.
“The music and sound design are exceptionally well done.”
“The beautiful and diverse scenery is complemented by a pleasing musical score.”
“The complex story and very challenging puzzles are enhanced by the captivating soundtrack.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that "asa" evokes a sense of childlike wonder, while "catyph" fosters an emotional connection to scientific exploration, immersing players in a role that enhances their curiosity and engagement with the game's environment.
“In Asa, the AI made me feel like a small kid.”
“In Catyph, it made me feel like a scientist, sharing all kinds of scientific information about the environment.”
