Catherine Review

Completely in-spite of itself, Catherine manages to convey a strong commentary on relationships, sex, and many other adult themes most games would never even attempt to address. While Catherine has one of the worst game-play mechanics I've ever had the displeasure of having to play it still managed to engage me and question my opinions on many of its thought provoking inquisitions. Have you ever wondered "what is more important to you, to love or be loved" or how you would react if the woman/ man of your dreams entered your life while you were in a relationship with somebody else. Catherine centers itself around Vincent a sort of man-child, Vincent is content with his life the way it is but his girlfriend Katherine who comes off as condescending but well meaning wants to advance their relationship, hinting at marriage and children. One night while out drinking with his friends Vincent wakes up with another woman in his bed, sending him spiraling out of control into a sheep infested nightmare world.

Vincent and by association the player, spend the next few in-game days contemplating his every move. Do you seek out the free spirited and fun loving Catherine, or stay committed and face adulthood with Katherine. The game does a wonderful job with its story, you spend your time entirely in a bar and in Vincent's nightmares. The game is filled with beautifully animated cutscenes as well as a stunning graphical style that mirrors the art style of the anime scenes. Walking around, talking to the bar patrons and having casual conversations all the while checking your phone and interacting with Catherine and Katherine, its all incredibly immersive.

Unfortunately Catherine's biggest failure is its main gameplay mechanic, since the actual "game" part of the experience is nothing more than a block puzzler. Reminiscent of something like Q*bert, you move blocks around to climb up a tower. As you progress new blocks are introduced along with their specific obstacle, ice blocks are slippery and bomb blocks can be triggered to cause explosions changing the layout of the block tower. Put simply it's just not fun, moreover you're forced to do it constantly, and as you reach the games climax the block towers get aggressively harder and I became maddeningly frustrated. It was not an enjoyable experience and I grew to resent that part of the game and its unfortunately a rather large part of the experience.

Catherine deserves credit for at least approaching and even exploring, if a bit shallowly, adult themes that most games who consider themselves aimed at adults would never touch on. Its really unfortunate that the gameplay is so awful because everything else is so unique and inspired. Which bring me back to my opening statement; Despite itself Catherine manages to evoke real moral complications that encourage you to question your deepest most personal thoughts. If you give yourself over to it's incredibly wacky hi-jinks and Japaneses sensibilities Catherine could engage you unlike any other game out there. If you can bare through what I honestly believe to be some of the worst mandatory gameplay every conceived in a modern videogame, Catherine has a lot of meaningful things to say, and just like Vincent you just have to listen.

(4 out of 5)