"Catherine" video game makes cheating on your girlfriend fun
(CBS) - Developer Atlus, best known for their "Persona" series, is at it again with an original title that uses social-simulation as a method of engrossing the player in its story and reinforcing the heavy stakes at hand during its less conventional gameplay.
Originally released in Japan this February, "Catherine" is a block puzzle game wrapped in the skin of a dating simulation. Certainly not for the "Call of Duty" crowd, Atlus has delivered a game that is irreverently fresh in an industry full of reboots, sequels, and licensed franchises.
The story sees a young man named Vincent having some commitment issues with his long-time girlfriend, Katherine - a strong, career oriented woman. These issues, and Vincent's inability to confront them, lead him to a night of infidelity with a young vivacious and free-spirited woman he meets at the bar named Catherine, with a "C."
Adding to Vincent's stress are ongoing news reports of young men dying of mysterious causes - men who have apparently all been disloyal to their romantic partners. Most importantly, Vincent has also been suffering from night terrors in which he must push, pull and climb blocks as he makes his way to the top of a series of epic towers as a timer causes blocks to fall away beneath his feet. Weird.
While at a glance this story may not seem the kind of material that makes for a fun video game, it's the great care taken with the development of Vincent's character and his growing psychological angst that will keep players invested in his successful negotiation of complex social situations.
The gameplay is split between the real world and the dream world. Vincent's waking hours are spent at the local bar where he can discuss matters with his friends and other patrons. These segments take a new approach to the RPG-style system of conversation. Most dialogue is game controlled - the player simply chooses whether or not to initiate the conversations. Interactive conversations take the form of text messages and emails that they player can respond to on Vincent's phone. These segments of the game are generally slow, with much of the important and pulse-pounding story development reserved for the well crafted anime cut-scenes.
Vincent's nightmares are where the most interesting gameplay lies. The block puzzle games start off simple, but even on easy they quickly advance both in difficulty and complexity. Most puzzles are impossible to solve on the first try and require patience and determination. Most of these puzzles will have you wringing your hands and throwing your controller, but ultimately joining Vincent as he gleefully celebrates his success.
What's great about these dreams are the visual representations of Vincent's real world dilemmas. Despite the game's unorthodox schism of gameplay and story, the gravity of Vincent's romantic exploits are clearly woven into his dream world.
"Catherine" is anything except what players have come to expect from video games. It's clever, challenging and unique. While it won't appeal to many gamers, it will undoubtedly become a quick cult favorite among fans.
"Catherine" is available July 26, 2011 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It is rated M for Mature by the ESRB.