Catherine

It's always nice to see a game developer breaking from the mold and Catherine does that in a huge way. Unfortunately the difficulty is going to alienate a very large amount of people. Tacked on with those who were alienated already when they found out this wasn't an RPG and it's not looking good. We only hope that this game will find the crowd that enjoys both the aggravation of the challenge and the developing storyline that forms the core of Catherine. There is a hell of an experience here if you only have the patience for it.

Catherine is incredibly hard to put down, if only because of how well the story is written. You really want to see what happens to Vincent next, and with multiple endings and story paths, the game will keep you busy for multiple playthroughs.

The game makes excellent use of the mundane fare, with well-written and well-delivered dialogue that makes his suffering feel earnest.

Its mature themes, both sexual and religious, never step beyond the bounds of vulgarity and are treated respectfully and provocatively: It's actually mature. For that alone, and paving the way for a new modern hybrid of video games, Catherine should not be forgotten to the lamen silence of the lambs.

A gorgeous hybrid. It's a puzzle-solving platformer and sexually-forced anime that's been combined into a well balanced title. The game is going to please the fans as well as it will whet nosy parkers appetite for actually playing it. It shows the Japanese developers know how to appeal to European and American gamers without giving away the bizarre ideas trademark.

Catherine, above all else, is an incredibly bold game. It's the black sheep (more puns) in a flock of all too similar games out there right now. It's smart, funny, well scripted, well animated and very fun to play.

In Catherine, Atlus successfully combines a puzzle game with heavy emotions (and a large bit of surrealism). It's an important game, that might appeal to an older crowd.

Catherine is a truly unique beast. Funny, dramatic and disarmingly honest – for anyone who has ever stood as a crossroads in his life it would be a huge mistake to miss out on this one. You yearn for more clever games? Vote with your wallet.

A must-have, but not for everyone because of its strange story and puzzle gameplay. The story is only for mature audiences, and can only be understood by, and the "cube towers" are not accesible for all players. If you like the genre and the theme this is a game you will remember.

if you're a fan of the eccentricity of Japanese culture, like a mental challenge and reckon you have fingers dextrous enough to take the job on it will test your mettle and push your sanity to breaking point. It's equal parts frustration and exhilaration, completely intoxicating, almost impossible to walk away from and stays with you. If you're after something a little outside the box Catherine's the game for you.

Catherine is an awesome game, an incredible cocktail of different kind of elements. Puzzle, adventure and dating simulator, this great experience from Atlus should be owned, or tried at least, by every single player out there.

This is probably the first actual 'mature' videogame, dealing with issues such as insecurity, infidelity and marriage anxiety. Atlus manages to cleverly marry a narrative-based story with clever puzzle based platforms levels and delivers a highly enjoyable, but odd, game. Yes, the story turns weirder than a Hunter S. Thompson novel about half way through, but even that turn doesn't diminish the overall package. This is as close to a must-buy as it can get.

Catherine may not be the Persona 5 that people were hoping for, but it's a good game in its own right.

Going through the story for the first time is an intriguing affair that ultimately makes you question the type of person you truly are, maybe even more than you'd like to admit. While the difficulty might be too much for some people to handle, it's an experience that is just as rewarding as it is punishing.

Catherine is a truly rare experience that combines arcade-style gameplay with one of the most engaging, emotional narratives seen in a videogame. While Atlus has done little to reconcile the game's disparate styles of play, it doesn't damage the overall experience. While the tower climbing sequences may not be for everyone, those that enjoy a good puzzle should seriously consider picking Catherine up.

You wouldn't expect beers with friends and the moral complexity of infidelity to be suitable for an interactive medium, and you certainly wouldn't anticipate marrying those concepts to a box pushing puzzle game to materialize into anything remotely interesting. And you would have been wrong.

A fantastic experience with a simple, fun and challenging arcade game at its core. It should not be missed by anyone who wants to enjoy a story with the emotional depth to match its adult themes and with multiple endings and side stories to resolve, there's a fair bit of inducement to return for a second or third pass. The action of the tower climbing is superb.

I loved my time with Catherine. In many ways, I was completely blown-away by it. While I'm sure some gamers will be turned-off by its anime-style presentation and difficult gameplay, I implore those of you who are looking for something authentically different and outright fun to give Catherine a go.

Catherine is like nothing else but it doesn't succeed on originality alone. It features a spectacular puzzle concept, fast-paced and very rewarding gameplay, interesting characters and an effective story, and an atmosphere and style that's second-to-none.

It might be an isolated experiment, or the birth of a new niche in videogaming. Anyway, it's definitely worth trying, at list to get a glimpse of the fact that videogame don't always mean seralization and infinite repetition of the same ideas.

You can just love or hate Catherine: it divides the players between who can appreciate every detail of the game and who become immediately bored for its gameplay. Other than this the game is a little jewel in terms of plot, dialogues and puzzles.

It's definitely not for everyone, but Catherine is a unique and challenging game that will leave you impressed and wanting more, even though you will likely have experienced quite a lot of frustration by the time you reach the end credits.

The bold mix of mature themed story-adventure and motivating puzzles works surprisingly well and glues you to the pad. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary you should give Catherine a chance. Most likely you will fall in love with her.

When summarising most videogames, it's almost always important to thrust the mechanics out front as one of the primary metrics to be judged. Catherine, for the first time that I can recall in a very long while, demands to be reviewed on its narrative and thematic content. It simply cannot be ignored.

Catherine is like no other game out there. It's witty, involving and really fun to play. Despite the sometimes heavily frustrating puzzles I could not stop until the credits rolled down. If you are looking for a unique experience don't miss this great mix of rewarding arcade-puzzling and clever written adventure.

Catherine is a strange game, far away from anything else. Its engaging story and weird puzzles, along with its surreal ambiance, make it a perfect game for anyone looking for something different, but be aware of its difficulty spikes.

Catherine features a great puzzle concept, fast-paced and very rewarding gameplay. It's a different adventure that should not be missed by anyone who wants to enjoy a game with a great story.

Catherine is a healthy reminder that not every game is aspiring to be a Hollywood movie, that there are still developers out there who haven't sold out to a big-name publisher, and that video games can still offer a unique experience. Just remember to keep the difficulty down if you want to fully enjoy the characters and story.

If you want something unique, look no further than Catherine.

Catherine is a mind trip, blending the impact of real life decisions, the nightmares of finally growing up, and the fear of dying young. While the core puzzle-platforming offers nerve-wracking excitement, players are likewise gifted with an engaging, authentic story.

Catherine is involving, intense, and unlike anything you've ever played.

It's a fantastically fun, original, and challenging puzzle game. At the same time, its story explores adult themes that games typically avoid, and will have you hooked on the drama within an hour.

The nightmarish block puzzler takes bad turns in the plot towards the end, but is an enjoyable trek nonetheless. [Oct 2011]

Protagonist Vincent faces the same dilemma as loads of men around the age of 30: play it safe, marry and have kids or go down the path of adventure with a new and dangerous woman who loves to play games, both in and out of bed. [January 2012, p.70]

Make no mistake about it, Catherine is a niche title and probably won't be to everybody's taste, but it's also one of the most captivating and absorbing games we've played in quite some time.

We found Catherine to be fairly enthralling, both in the old school challenge of its block-based conundrums and the addictive downward spiral of Vincent's narrative. Likewise, the quasi-RPG sections offer just enough exploration, offer endearing characters that are beautifully animated and lead to a variety of wacky endings to replay for. [January 2012, p.74]

If you hate puzzle games,Catherine will be like a scorned lover, vying desperately for your attention with methods that don't always work. If you love puzzle games though, Catherine will be the closest you will ever get to having the perfect relationship, drawing you in with its strong and compelling storyline and deep and multi-faceted gameplay.

An adult video game that is neither exploitative nor pretentious, but instead weaves a fun yet incisive tale about all too human characters.

The block puzzles aren't always engaging, and sometimes the gameplay can prove to be a bit too difficult. But the distinctive story and top notch writing make Catherine an easy recommendation.

Catherine is a breath of fresh air, an experience that is silly, fun, and serious all at once. Whether you're looking for a one-night stand or a long-term commitment, we highly recommend giving it a shot.

Rather than being unfocused, Catherine is probably too focused, with its binary split between light adventure gameplay and challenging puzzles. But it clicks.

Catherine shines thanks to its concept, its mature take on adult and social themes, as well as its burlesque side. A lot of its charm comes from its phenomenal voice-acting, and japanese word-based puns. A frivolous story of three-way love wrapped inside a thriller plot, combined with an efficient puzzle game: without a doubt, Atlus delivers an innovative game.

Quite unlike anything else out there. It's a game that pushes back and challenges you to think on your feet. If the confounding puzzles don't hook you, the branching, variable story, and the steamy, nightmarish vibe certainly will.

An interactive story enriched with puzzle elements or an arcade/puzzle game with an exceptionally mature and expanded plot – depends on how you look at Catherine. Either way it's both frustrating and fascinating. [April 2012, p.80]

Catherine tells a lovely story about a man and his troubled life. You will never get bored with the eight different endings the game has to offer. But because of the long cutscenes, this game isn't made for everyone.

Great anime rudely interrupted by a messy game. Patience is rewarded though, just about. [March 2012, p.92]

This is definitely a title for lovers of puzzles… and more specifically, difficult puzzles!

One of the most obscure games we've ever seen. It's not a platformer and it's not an adventure game, but it combines elements of these two genres in a spectacular way. If it wasn't for the -sometimes- extreme difficulty and some poor design, Catherine would have been a must-have.

Quite the bizarre experience. [March 2012, p.96]

Catherine is a title recommended for mature players who want different experiences. It starts as a highly exciting game, but the way it is structured ends up reducing the interest as the game goes on.

This is a game that'll stick in your brain by virtue of originality alone, then, but if Catherine can't take itself seriously then why should we?

Catherine is a great narrative with a unique blend of puzzle and simulation. It's a shame that the simulation sections didn't play a larger role in the experience, as they feel like the reward for completing the repetitive and frustrating puzzle sequences that make up the bulk of gameplay.

Unusual, startlingly innovative and engaging. Its nuanced storytelling offers something few games have been able to meaningfully achieve – true conundrum, with little indication from the game telling you what you're supposed to do to be 'good'. Frustrating, beautiful and bizarre, Catherine stays with you.

Some gamers will find little appeal in its often frustrating block-sliding, while others will revel in an unusual experience that stands apart from shooters and action games. While we're not ready for a long-term relationship, we're infatuated with Catherine - she's certainly worthy of a fling. [Sept 2011, p.84]

Like a relationship that's going nowhere, Catherine has a few bright spots that will make you want to hold on, but it never quite gives back as much as you put into it. [Aug 2011, p.108]

I'd expect a little better from the Persona Team, as I absolutely love that series, but I'm a little let down by what Catherine had to offer.

An interesting story tethered to a frustrating puzzle game. [Issue#215, p.85]

After a promising opening, the game takes its narrative in a completely unnecessary direction, and it substitutes its lack of compelling content with too many out of place puzzles that are more infuriating than enjoyable. Despite giving the illusion of plot involvement, you never really feel in control of events.

The real problem is that success is actually down to luck, trial and error, and the whim of a cheating AI. [Issue#113, p.100]