⚠️ Reader discretion advised - Mature themes ahead

⚠️ Mild Spoilers Ahead

Introduction

The Cat Lady is one of my favourite games.

It`s a story focused Indie game, and what a story. We follow events happening on the life the protagonist Susan Ashworth (what an elegant name, don`y you agree? ). The game delves into many adult topics, and is definitely not for everyone.

I want to share my thoughts and experiences with the game here and hiow it left it's mark on me.
PS: Last time I played this game a few years ago, i may not be able to remember all the details correctly. 

A Dark beginning

This is the first of many moments on The Cat Lady where we see the experience of someone suffering from mental health issues, abd at their lowest poinf. 

The nightmare after the End

The Interactivity

The Cat Lady plays like an old school adventure game.

The gameplay  loop revolves around puzzles and dialogues that further the narrative.

You`re able to select some of the dialogue options that can take conversations on different directions. Your choices also have consequences, affecting other characters and events along the story and it`s ending.

It also has puzzles that mostly involves finding interactive parts of the enviroment, walking around different areas and  gathering/combining scattered items.

They can get really creative and sometimes requires ingenious thinking. The "downside" is that most of them have only a single solution, so the replay value is not as great if that's what's most interesting for you.

The "replay value" comes from the branching narrative paths mostly. Although personally, I think it's not the type of game to replay over and over like some other titles.

It's a more personal experience where you feel involved with the characters and events, immersing in the atmosphere. So replaying only to see what are the differences on the dialogue and ending doesn't feel as engaging to me.  

The Despicable Ones

The Parasites are the villains of the story — Other than the "old lady" from before, of course.

Susan faces them one after the other on the days after she wakes up on a hospital, Dealing with a nightmare after the other.

A deformed blood soaked nurse, an artist doctor that uses dead people on his art and other really pleasent people are some of the parasites that Susan faces during her journey. 

Dreadful, disturbing imagery and themes are not missing from this story. Not only due to the parasites but in various other aspects.

We discover some of the reason behind Susan`s suffering throughout the story, as well as for some other good people Susan meets during her journey.

A Shining Star

Susan is depressed. She struggles to feel happines.

Mitzi on the other hand, is always trying to see thing in the best way possible. They have a relly good chemistry as when they`re just hanging around and getting to know each other, we have some of the most memorable moments of the story.

We see their relationship growing as the story continues and it`s hard not to cheer for them to find happiness at the end.

The beautiful 

The Cat Lady has what i consider one of the most uniquea art styles of any game. It has really striking imagery — even rhough it is in a somewhat low resolution.

The feelings of dread, horror and sadness are really well conveyed by means of the atmosphere. Desatured colors all around, except when it makes for striking visuals (usually, but not always, on blood).

I think some of these stills speak for themselves:

The sound

The Cat Lady is scary. Sound is one of the main reasons. Sound of heavy machinery. Howling wind on a foggy day. Drops of water in the dark. The list goes on.

I`m not really into horor as I get scared easily. The noises on this one don`t disappoint on creating an envolving horror atmosphere, if that's more of your jam (no pun intended).

Alonfside those, there is a great soundtrack that trully makes you feel the anger, the pain, the melancholy and the suffering that is conveyed on the story and it`s themes.

Some of my favourite tracks includes:

Ending Remarks

The Cat Lady is one of the best examples of video games as art, with thrilling, visceral and emotional moments that puts the player on edge. It Immerses you on so many levels with it's well crafted atmosphere.

From playing piano to summon cats to telling a story about a cat widow and seeing it happening as it's being told. — The game has "cat" on it's name, of course it features cats. :p
From hanging out on the balcony from your apartment to having bleach splattered over your eyes. 

The Cat Lady is a masterpiece that's unforgettable for everyone who experiences it.