The Cat Lady
- December 4, 2013
- Harvester Games
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"The Cat Lady" is a dark, psychological horror adventure game. Players control Susan, a woman who has decided to take her own life, but finds herself intervened by strange events and a group of beings known as "The Parasites." As she delves deeper into their world, she must confront her own inner demons and make difficult choices that will have lasting consequences. The game features point-and-click gameplay, puzzle-solving, and a gripping narrative about mental health, trauma, and redemption.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game offers a deeply engaging and emotional story that resonates with players, particularly those who have experienced depression.
- The unique art style and haunting soundtrack create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The character development, especially of Susan and Mitzi, is well-crafted, making players care about their journey and struggles.
- The game can be slow-paced with long dialogue sequences that may frustrate some players.
- Technical issues such as crashes when alt-tabbing and a lack of autosave can disrupt the gameplay experience.
- Some voice acting quality is inconsistent, with certain characters sounding poorly recorded, which can detract from immersion.
- story1,938 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "The Cat Lady" is a deeply engaging and dark narrative that explores themes of depression, suicide, and redemption through the journey of its protagonist, Susan Ashworth. Players are drawn into a surreal world filled with grotesque imagery and complex characters, where choices impact the unfolding of a poignant tale that balances horror with emotional depth. While the game features a minimalist art style and straightforward gameplay, its rich storytelling and atmospheric elements create a memorable experience that resonates long after completion.
“The unique presentation of the story allows you to think about the choices you have made and the personal interpretation of situations and actions.”
“This game is a beautiful story about mental health, revenge, abuse, and redemption.”
“The story is immersive and addicting.”
“The story is just a schizo fever dream; it just doesn't make much sense even in its mystical occult setting.”
“The story felt very inconsistent, and I finished the game overall feeling very confused.”
“The story is almost non-existent and isn't engaging at all.”
- graphics717 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of "The Cat Lady" are characterized by a unique, gritty art style that effectively enhances the game's dark atmosphere and themes of mental illness. While some players find the visuals crude or off-putting, many appreciate how the simplistic and sometimes unsettling graphics contribute to the overall emotional impact of the story. Overall, the art direction is seen as a vital element that complements the narrative, despite its low-budget appearance and occasional technical issues.
“The gritty art style with limited color creates the ideal atmosphere; the story is riveting and powerful, the music fits perfectly, and the overall artistic design is masterful.”
“The cat lady has the most unique art style of any game I've played; the ashy color palette and forlorn visuals complement the story well.”
“The graphics are simple but enough for this type of game and also quite unique, making it an interesting visual experience.”
“The graphics are very simple, which really reflects the atmosphere.”
“The graphics often suck. Not because of art style, but because of inconsistency in quality and resolution.”
“The graphics are a mess of pictures and some MS Paint pixel art; there's a lot of time this art makes me feel dark, dirty, uncomfortable.”
- music557 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the emotional depth and atmosphere of the narrative. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as beautifully crafted, haunting, and perfectly fitting for the game's themes of loss and despair. Many players express a desire to purchase the soundtrack separately, indicating its lasting impact and memorability.
“The music reflects the atmosphere and emotions of both our character and us as players.”
“The soundtrack is outstanding for a game of this type and the story is just great.”
“The music works in perfect harmony with the narrative, seamlessly enhancing the emotional resonance of every scene.”
“The glitches in the game with the music were a no for me; you cannot adjust the volume in-game, and there are no settings to adjust the graphics, music, or dialogue.”
“The music feels out of place in the montages; rock just does not meld with macabre horror.”
“The music is a genuine insult to how much sound and music can leave a lasting impact on a game's atmosphere and engagement.”
- atmosphere361 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "The Cat Lady" is consistently described as dark, oppressive, and deeply immersive, effectively conveying themes of depression and horror without relying on jump scares. Players appreciate the unique art style, haunting soundtrack, and strong narrative that together create a compelling and unsettling experience. The game's ability to evoke strong emotional responses through its atmosphere is frequently highlighted, making it a standout title for fans of psychological horror.
“The game creates a compelling atmosphere with its mix of real-life photos, hand-drawn images, accent colors, and lighting.”
“The atmosphere, the music, the graphics, everything is perfect.”
“The atmosphere is very gloomy and quite morbid.”
“The game's unique, gritty art style adds to the unsettling atmosphere, making every moment feel like a step into the unknown.”
“The atmosphere is surreal, Susan is profound in her abundant normalcy for a video game character, and the music is perfect.”
- gameplay338 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game is primarily a point-and-click adventure with simple mechanics, focusing heavily on narrative and character development rather than complex interactions. While some players appreciate the engaging story and unique art style, many criticize the gameplay for being clunky, minimal, and at times frustrating, with a significant amount of dialogue and cutscenes overshadowing the actual gameplay elements. Overall, it appeals to those who prioritize story over gameplay mechanics, but may disappoint players seeking a more action-oriented experience.
“The gameplay is simple yet effective, with a focus on exploration and puzzle-solving.”
“The gameplay consists of making choices in conversations and how to approach things, but somehow the story manages to draw you in and keeps you going.”
“Amazing story, amazing gameplay, amazing atmosphere, this game surprisingly kept me in front of the screen for hours.... very recommended.”
“The gameplay is the weakest part of the game for me - it's split between walking around collecting items, puzzles, and dialogue.”
“The gameplay is a mess and offers nothing to the overall experience, but the story takes the forefront and manages to hold everything together.”
“The gameplay is very crude and feels like a free flash game rather than something you pay money for.”
- emotional222 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "The Cat Lady" is profoundly impactful, resonating deeply with players who connect with its themes of depression, trauma, and the human experience. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, often leading to tears, as it explores complex emotional landscapes through relatable characters and a haunting narrative. The combination of a compelling story, evocative music, and well-crafted dialogue creates an emotional rollercoaster that leaves a lasting impression on players, making it a must-play for those seeking a deeply moving gaming experience.
“This game made me feel things I didn't want to feel, but in the best way possible. It really hit me deep in some stuff I didn't know was there, so to the dev, thank you.”
“The story of Susan Ashworth is one that is both deeply disturbing and emotionally resonant, and the way it tackles themes of depression and loneliness is both powerful and nuanced.”
“The emotional power is incredible, the dialogue is witty, and it tackles modern societal issues and stigmas with taste, depth, and humor.”
- humor69 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a blend of dark, sarcastic, and sometimes absurd elements, effectively juxtaposed with its heavy themes of depression and loss. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and relatable characters, which provide moments of levity amidst the emotional depth, making the experience both captivating and entertaining. Overall, the humor is well-placed and enhances the narrative, appealing particularly to those with a taste for the macabre.
“The story is brilliant, dark but with subtle humor, and it felt so real and relatable.”
“The emotional power is incredible, the dialogue is witty, and it tackles modern societal issues and stigmas with taste, depth, and humor.”
“There are even some quite funny as well as interesting touches of humor that will make you at least smile sometimes.”
- replayability39 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game features a notable level of replayability primarily due to its multiple endings and branching choices, which encourage players to explore different paths and outcomes. While some players find the replay value high, especially for those who enjoy uncovering all achievements, others note that the heavy subject matter may limit their desire to replay it frequently. Overall, the combination of engaging storytelling and varied decision-making contributes to a solid replay experience for many players.
“It also has multiple endings, which gives it a lot of replay value.”
“You do get replayability in the different endings too, so that's a bonus!”
“It features several branching paths and endings, so the replay value is high.”
“Not the most replayable game due to the subject matter being pretty heavy and at times hitting close to home, but I'm glad I gave this another go and look forward to doing it again in a couple of years.”
“Replay value - obviously none since it's a pure story-driven psychological horror game and once you've beaten the game there's no point to play it again, unless it's for the achievements which is what I did to 100% it.”
“Multiple endings give it some replay value, but many people probably won't want to do so again.”
- optimization31 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing consistent stuttering and performance issues, particularly during scripted scenes, while others report smooth gameplay without significant problems. Many users attribute the performance hiccups to potential compatibility issues with their systems or the game's engine, suggesting that it may not be well-optimized overall. Despite these concerns, some players found the experience enjoyable, indicating that while optimization could be improved, it does not entirely detract from the game's charm and storytelling.
“Plays well and runs smoothly.”
“I've played through thrice so far and encountered no issues with performance.”
“Runs without performance issues on SteamOS/Linux.”
“Except for the performance, I'm not sure if it was my computer or if the settings could have been tweaked, but the game stuttered consistently throughout scripted scenes as if it was horribly optimized.”
“However, I had many issues with this game's performance; it crashed suddenly because of direct3dsurface or 'not data found' problems, all linked to the AGS engine.”
“Characters pause, the game freezes for a few seconds, the characters are very slow to respond to cues, and various other performance-related issues caused small but irritating stoppages in my gaming experience.”
- character development31 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional impact, with players noting that it brings the characters to life and fosters a strong connection to their journeys. The protagonist, Susan, undergoes significant growth throughout the narrative, and the game's exploration of themes like depression adds layers to the character arcs. While some characters may feel less developed, the overall consensus is that the character development is a standout feature, enhancing the game's storytelling and player engagement.
“The character development is exceptional, breathing life into the cast and making each interaction feel personal and impactful.”
“I loved the storyline and character development, even if it's a game. I think it's important that people know more about this mental condition (depression) so we can all be more empathetic and understanding towards anyone suffering from this illness. Congratulations to the developers of this great work!”
“The character development is amazing, and you really start to appreciate all that the developers put in.”
“Character development is stereotypical and the narrative is contorted, at times, just to keep the story going in a particular direction.”
“Anyone that's watched horror movies or played any number of video games won't find the 'life after death' tropes interesting or new, and the dialogue and character development sounds like it was written by someone with the emotional depth of a high schooler.”
“I genuinely believe that this game could have been so much better if it were about 6 hours longer, giving more time for character development and for each chapter to include more actual gameplay.”
- stability24 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of glitches, crashes, and unresponsive controls that significantly detract from the overall experience. While some players found moments of enjoyment amidst the technical issues, many expressed frustration over the frequent bugs and lack of adjustable settings, leading to a general recommendation against the game due to its instability. Overall, the game is seen as a promising narrative experience hindered by its rough technical execution.
“I don't recommend the game because of all the glitches and crashes.”
“The game should also be less buggy so it's more of a complete game rather than some beta version that crashes often.”
“To top it all off, controls are horrible and clunky, the whole game is unresponsive and unstable, the settings don't seem to do anything and if you try to put it on fullscreen, it just freezes on startup.”
- grinding17 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious, with players noting long dialogue pauses and animations that slow down progress. While some found ways to skip or speed through these sections, many felt that the slow pacing and repetitive elements detracted from the overall experience, making it feel like a chore at times. Despite these frustrations, some players appreciated the game's unique narrative and mechanics, suggesting that the grinding contributes to the overall atmosphere.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“I only finished the game because I started it, but wow, what a tedious job it was.”
“With narration coming to the foreground, the game shifts from a pleasurable experience to a very tedious one filled with boring conversations for any audience member who's spent more than a few seconds thinking about life, whatsoever.”
