I only discovered The Cat Lady got released half a year ago today (guess when I finished it as well 
)! I was watching it on the harvestergames website until the domain expired? So I thought maybe the game wasn't being produced after all, only to my surprise while watching random horror let's plays, I see one for The Cat Lady.. at first I was just going to watch the LP and be happy with it but I soon decided that would be impossible. 
I played Downfall back in 2009 and I remember I e-mailed Grim asking for a walkthrough (at the time there weren't any) and he said his next game wouldn't have the free used sound effects like Downfall.. but that's not quite true! 
Anyway, enough of that. Spoilers for the whole game in the hidden post:
I also found the controls a bit of a hassle at times, usually bouncing in and out of the items menu and even the save/load screen. However, I didn't pay much heed to it, likely because of the fantasic story this game has. Downfall for all its macabre and grisly atmosphere made an impression on me, but I honestly didn't expect The Cat Lady to be this good (I can't imagine a third game being able to top this). A huge part of it is Susan. I can't think of the last time (or any time) a woman in her 40's was used as a protagonist and portrayed so well. That's not to say the other characters aren't either, but there is so much life breathed into the main character and supporting cast, particularly Mitzi, that it's impossible not to be taken in. The issues of depression made it all the more real. Basically, the writing is beyond brilliant.
I've also played Resonance the day before, and I enjoyed The Cat Lady far more, (of course, it lacks the ability to appeal to a more general audience) though these types of stories are more my cup of tea. The Cat Lady also had far easier puzzles though, and these days I don't particularly like puzzles in games that are too complex.
In the end, the game was worth more than what I spent on it, and I'm glad I didn't decide to just watch an LP and have the atmosphere and immersion ruined. Big props to Harvester Games, and if there's a third game coming, I hope I don't miss out on it for this long again!
)! I was watching it on the harvestergames website until the domain expired? So I thought maybe the game wasn't being produced after all, only to my surprise while watching random horror let's plays, I see one for The Cat Lady.. at first I was just going to watch the LP and be happy with it but I soon decided that would be impossible. I played Downfall back in 2009 and I remember I e-mailed Grim asking for a walkthrough (at the time there weren't any) and he said his next game wouldn't have the free used sound effects like Downfall.. but that's not quite true! Anyway, enough of that. Spoilers for the whole game in the hidden post:
Spoiler
I thought Warmer - Inside was a perfect kickoff to start the game for when Susan has her arm chopped off. And WOW, Doctor X's 'gallery'? That was some seriously sick stuff, his portryal as a completely psychotic serial killer was stomach turning for sure, I wish I had more satisfaction killing him (I liked that you got two choices of weapons to kill him though, I tried both and found the spear more satisfying.
I did find the final confrontation a bit underwhelming but expected, if that makes sense. It seems to be a formula for captivating mysteries broken up into chapters to start with something very grisly and then change into something more 'intellectual'. I did manage to get the best secret ending on the first go, but I agreed to do what the Queen of Maggots wanted Susan to do (everything else I seemed to have fulfilled as forum posters mentioned).
I didn't even figure out that the neighbors 'J and I' were the Joe and Ivy from Downfall! Not until I got into the dream sequence and heard about her being in the room a week... boy talk about SLOW. It has been a while since I played Downfall though, so I guess I wasn't expecting them to make an appearance again (along with door 666 - FINALLY I got to see what's inside!
the image of the woman by the toilet was right creepy!) I really did appreciate his cameo appearance though. Seeing two very messed up worlds collide like that was interesting.
Also, the Queen of Maggots isn't the same entity as the one from Downfall? I thought they were this whole time! I'd have to play again to see.
I did find the final confrontation a bit underwhelming but expected, if that makes sense. It seems to be a formula for captivating mysteries broken up into chapters to start with something very grisly and then change into something more 'intellectual'. I did manage to get the best secret ending on the first go, but I agreed to do what the Queen of Maggots wanted Susan to do (everything else I seemed to have fulfilled as forum posters mentioned).
I didn't even figure out that the neighbors 'J and I' were the Joe and Ivy from Downfall! Not until I got into the dream sequence and heard about her being in the room a week... boy talk about SLOW. It has been a while since I played Downfall though, so I guess I wasn't expecting them to make an appearance again (along with door 666 - FINALLY I got to see what's inside!
the image of the woman by the toilet was right creepy!) I really did appreciate his cameo appearance though. Seeing two very messed up worlds collide like that was interesting.Also, the Queen of Maggots isn't the same entity as the one from Downfall? I thought they were this whole time! I'd have to play again to see.
[close]
I also found the controls a bit of a hassle at times, usually bouncing in and out of the items menu and even the save/load screen. However, I didn't pay much heed to it, likely because of the fantasic story this game has. Downfall for all its macabre and grisly atmosphere made an impression on me, but I honestly didn't expect The Cat Lady to be this good (I can't imagine a third game being able to top this). A huge part of it is Susan. I can't think of the last time (or any time) a woman in her 40's was used as a protagonist and portrayed so well. That's not to say the other characters aren't either, but there is so much life breathed into the main character and supporting cast, particularly Mitzi, that it's impossible not to be taken in. The issues of depression made it all the more real. Basically, the writing is beyond brilliant.
I've also played Resonance the day before, and I enjoyed The Cat Lady far more, (of course, it lacks the ability to appeal to a more general audience
) though these types of stories are more my cup of tea. The Cat Lady also had far easier puzzles though, and these days I don't particularly like puzzles in games that are too complex.In the end, the game was worth more than what I spent on it, and I'm glad I didn't decide to just watch an LP and have the atmosphere and immersion ruined. Big props to Harvester Games, and if there's a third game coming, I hope I don't miss out on it for this long again!