Saturday, September 10, 2011

Catherine Review

Catherine is unlike any other game out there. Simply put, this game is a player choice driven adventure game that offers a very different setting and premise unlike any other game out there. Catherine took me by surprise, and has won my heart over as one of the sleeper hits of this year. If you're one that thinks video games just aren't original, creative, or capable of telling a very engrossing and thought provoking narrative, Catherine may change that. 


Just play it cool



The Immoral Beast

Catherine puts gamers in the role of Vincent, a wishy washy indecisive man, who can't decide where he wants to go within his life with his lover Katherine. Katherine, who is Vincent's long time girlfriend, is getting impatient with our fickle minded protagonist's decision to marry her, and Vincent, who is happy with the way things currently are, doesn't want to lose Katherine. One night at the bar, Vincent gets drunk, has a weird nightmare, and the next morning wakes up next to a blonde bombshell named "Catherine." (That's right, Catherine with a "C.") 

Catherine, the game, is not meant for kids

Catherine, the game, puts players in the role of a character that many may not find likeable right away. After all, would you like to be a cheater on your lover and continue the affair, or would you try and stop the affair and save your current relationship? Catherine is always about choice, and the decisions you make in the game will affect the outcome of the game's ending. Catherine can be more described like an "choose-your-own-adventure" book. The choice in the game are not going to "save-the-world." There is no heroic destiny to follow, princess to save (unless you're playing the Rapunzel mini-game), or even vast locations to explore. In fact, there's only three places in the entire game you see; the bar, where you interact with your friends and visitors, Vincent's bedroom, and the nightmare scenes. 


Push, Pull, and Climb


The nightmare scenes, make up about 70% of the game. There is a "game" aspect to this game, other than just talking to people, answering text messages (or not replying to them even), and having a few drinks at the bar. The nightmare scenes have you climbing up a walls of blocks, where you can push, pull, and climb these nearly never ending towers, in order to survive. You're probably wondering, why you have to "survive" a dream, right? Well, it turns out that there's a mysteriously large amount of deaths that have been occurring recently, and they say the people who've died in these dreams have been cheating men, and that they died in their sleep. 

Pushing, pulling, and climbing to avoid death is what you'll do in Catherine


The puzzle part of the game may feel overwhelming at first, but overtime you'll learn that there's some depth to this game than just sliding and pushing block puzzles. It's not uncommon that you will probably die in this game, a lot. As you climb and progress through the game, there will be more block types that will help or impede your progress. Spike trap blocks will make mince meat out of Vincent if he steps on them, weak blocks will crumble away under his feet, and spring blocks will jump you up to new heights is used properly. The game certainly involves one to think quick on their feet and think ahead, but after conquering these towering behemoths, I felt a great sense of accomplishment and joy from rising to the challenge. 


Choose Wisely

The game relies on players making choices, that will in turn affect the game's character, Vincent, into who he wants to be with. There's also important decisions to make that involve the other people you interact with at the bar, and how their tales will unfold. Catherine may not be a game for everyone to experience though, because it's a very "adult" kind of game that revolves around moral choices and decision making most other games stray away from. Catherine isn't afraid to put that "M" rating to good use, and I don't mean that it relies on gratuitous violence or sexing up everything.

Did I mention this game isn't for kids?
Catherine puts players in a real world setting situation, where affairs, love, relationships, personal conflict, and all the "problems" with the characters are very real. This is the charm of the game, and what kept me wanting to push through to the end. There are 8 different endings to Catherine, and these endings are reflected based on who you interact or don't interact with, how you decide to live your life, and the choices you make leading up until the end of the game.

Love is Over

To say anymore about Catherine would be to spoil the game, because it's so heavily story based, that I can't get into too much detail without ruining the experience. Catherine is a game that players will enjoy, if you want something that will completely have you guessing, contemplating your decisions, and seeing the outcome of your choices unfold. It's a game about moral choices, themed heavily with religious influences, and personal dilemmas that people can relate too. The subject matter of the game may not be for everyone, and it surely isn't a game meant for kids to play either. This is an adult game, that takes gamers for a ride on a different experience unlike any other.

What will you choose? Love or Lust?
While the game is about 10-15 hours on your first playthrough, there are multiple endings to unlock that will give you some replay value, a two player co-op mode, and separate climbing puzzles for players to enjoy after the game has ended. Still, this game may not be worth the price of admission for all buyers, but I would still say that this is an experience players looking for something refreshing, bold, and different to check out.

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