Catherine

 PlayStation 3
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 520 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 408 out of 520
  2. Mixed: 69 out of 520
  3. Negative: 43 out of 520
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  1. BubblegumImp
    Jul 27, 2011
    7
    A breath of fresh air in a gaming landscape cluttered with military shooters. Catherine is a unique and engrossing experience which features some of the highest production values I've seen in years. If you don't have any strong distaste for anime, play it now.
  2. raihidara
    Aug 16, 2011
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm so disappointed in this game. What started out as a great, unique game is completely ruined in the end. If you're looking for a good story, you need to look somewhere else. It's great all the way until the very end, where it goes into the usual anime melodrama and absurdity and ruins EVERYTHING that came before it. Instead of being a simple, mature story with a little touch of the supernatural, it goes way overboard and loses any sense of tone that came before it. I almost feel like the writers were scared to keep this story grounded in reality. But if you are playing Catherine for the gameplay, it's fairly decent, just a little bit on the hard side. I'm talking harder than most Contra games. I'm pretending the ending didn't happen, it's the only reason I rated this in the positive category.… Expand
  3. BambiZombie
    Sep 7, 2011
    5
    This is a case of two completely unrelated games duct taped together. Yeah, the puzzles are supposed to be a metaphor for the main character's issues but it's like solving battles in Puzzle Quest but with a seemingly mature and serious storyline. Both parts are okay but they just don't fit together in my opinion.
  4. Wendigo2064
    Jan 28, 2012
    6
    You'll be challenged - Not by the puzzles, which are a chore, but by the story itself. Since Finding out it had a moral choice system that typically results in one of two relationships, I decided to go for capital "C" catherine, the bad one, the "evil" option. Part of this decision was an attempt to undermine the game's attitude towards monogamy, since the "evil" option at least hints atYou'll be challenged - Not by the puzzles, which are a chore, but by the story itself. Since Finding out it had a moral choice system that typically results in one of two relationships, I decided to go for capital "C" catherine, the bad one, the "evil" option. Part of this decision was an attempt to undermine the game's attitude towards monogamy, since the "evil" option at least hints at multiple partners (Though Catherine does threaten to kill you if you cheat on her). I mean, the whole plot revolves around a character cheating and refusing - REFUSING, despite all options given to the player, to tell his current committed partner that he got drunk and cheated on her. It's not much of a choice system when the most obvious choice is one that is not there. Nonetheless, the dual-morality system is a bit more nuanced than, say, "Infamous," where the evil option means decapitating children and the good option means martyring yourself for a bus full of nuns - in other words, no real grey area. "Catherine's" morality challenged me, though not how I thought it would. I honestly couldn't tell at many points what the "right" decision was. Maybe this is because of my 5-year committed polyamorous relationship, making the code of monogamy baffling to me. Despite actively trying to be with "Catherine, Vincent was swinging back to Katherine, the "good" option. My answers confused the game. I believed in multiple partners (BAD!), but believed strongly in honesty for all involved (GOOD!). Now I could keep ranting about how out of touch this system is with queer identity, but I won't. I didn't expect much from a morality system anyway. What's interesting is how the game "Translated" my beliefs into the pathetic cheating monogamist I was supposed to be. It felt like real roleplay, as opposed to the kind of roleplay where I can kill everyone in a town one second and save the world the next. This alone made Catherine interesting. Oh yeah, the game - it's a dating sim with block pushing puzzles. The puzzles try to represent inner challenges Vincent faces based on his daily moral conundrum. It's neat, but difficult and is completely unrelated to the development of your character. You probably won't play the game for the puzzle system, You'll play it for the story. And the story is weird, but surprisingly challenging. For people like me, anyway.… Expand
  5. curzon_dax
    Feb 24, 2020
    7
    Good game but with some serious flaws. The main one is that it's extremely repetitive since while the puzzle game is interesting it does have its limits and it reaches a point that it becomes mostly the same without much room to grow other than doing speed runs which isn't the cup of team of most people. The other flaw is that while that story isn't horrible it does get quite silly andGood game but with some serious flaws. The main one is that it's extremely repetitive since while the puzzle game is interesting it does have its limits and it reaches a point that it becomes mostly the same without much room to grow other than doing speed runs which isn't the cup of team of most people. The other flaw is that while that story isn't horrible it does get quite silly and simplistic and similarly to the puzzle game it does get quite repetitive especially for the largest part of the first part of the game.… Expand
  6. poker909
    Aug 29, 2011
    7
    Great game, awful story. I was excited to see Atlus make a game where the characters are adults hanging out at the bar having affairs as opposed to the high school themed Persona characters they usually feature. In the Persona series, you have to make real relationships with other people to level up traits that benefit your dungeon battles. In Catherine you hang out with people in oneGreat game, awful story. I was excited to see Atlus make a game where the characters are adults hanging out at the bar having affairs as opposed to the high school themed Persona characters they usually feature. In the Persona series, you have to make real relationships with other people to level up traits that benefit your dungeon battles. In Catherine you hang out with people in one location, but your interaction does not impact the game in any significant way. I didn't feel like I had any control over the protagonist's decisions, and disliked the linear fashion the narrative was presented. Also, one key spoiler is fairly obvious at the beginning to many players, making the rest of the story hard to suffer through. The block climbing gameplay is where this game stands out, and is the reason this game is good. There is no way to describe how compelling it is to get to the top of the block wall without playing it yourself, and it makes all other games where you have to manipulate blocks seem elementary. The puzzles are a perfect blend of thought and action, and I'm keeping this game in my collection based on that alone.… Expand
  7. thewan
    Sep 10, 2011
    6
    Catherine is a game that everyone should at least play, but to buy this game may be a step too far. The method used to tell this gameâ
  8. diehard-gamer
    May 12, 2013
    6
    A good puzzle game with an unusual story (for a game) wrapped around it.

    Overall I liked it (I was alternating playing Catherine and Dark Arisen) and Catherine took me about 24 hours playing time to complete spread over about 4 weeks. I liked the puzzle game element, pushing blocks and climbing towers of blocks. The difficulty is not so hard as to be frustrating, the variety of    A good puzzle game with an unusual story (for a game) wrapped around it.

    Overall I liked it (I was alternating playing Catherine and Dark Arisen) and Catherine took me about 24 hours playing time to complete spread over about 4 weeks.

    I liked the puzzle game element, pushing blocks and climbing towers of blocks. The difficulty is not so hard as to be frustrating, the variety of tower layouts is good and the graphics/adio are also good. The controls are fiddly though and many times I found myself pushing a block I wanted to climb or not being able to exit a trap block fast enough. Its annoying when the controls 'reverse' if you pause movement when traversing the reverse of a puzzle.

    If you like puzzle games, you'll probably like it.

    The story is novel (for video games) and well presented. BUT if you're used to modern rpg style adventures where you can go and do pretty much what you want, be aware this is an old school tyle adventure with very limited interaction options and choices and a railroaded location sequence. Still, it is what it is and is a good example of the style.

    The only bit that annoyed me was the game reporting back other players answers to the end of level questions. Why? I playing a game so my answers are 'the game characters' and not mine presumably so are all the other players. It feels like a compulsory personality test with random answers being compared to everyone elses random answers. Annoyingly pointless. The Walking Dead game did the same. In Catherine, the repeat questions are randomised, so its not even as if you can go back and change your answer to match the majority.

    Overall, I liked it, but I won't be playing it again anytime soon.    … Expand
  9. vixvicco
    Jun 5, 2013
    6
    I normally hate puzzle plate formers. So its strange to find I enjoy this. I owe it to the story that is quite engaging. It is very adult in it's storyline-themes like marriage and kids- so its not for everyone, but everything put together made it fun or engrossing.
  10. timmytime
    Jan 17, 2014
    7
    Fun, although not as insightful as it thinks it is, and not all players will appreciate the very frustrating and difficult puzzle game at its core. Play on easy mode...
  11. McFungus
    Nov 11, 2012
    7
    This is probably as faithful an adaptation of Lolita a game is going to get without being refused classification.
    Sure box. That girl MAY have a body of an older teen, but her dress sense, and the fact the protagonist is constantly drunk, leads me to believe it's all a hair away from some Trainspotting style clubbing incident.
    Bonus points for not throwing any tentacles in the game    This is probably as faithful an adaptation of Lolita a game is going to get without being refused classification.
    Sure box. That girl MAY have a body of an older teen, but her dress sense, and the fact the protagonist is constantly drunk, leads me to believe it's all a hair away from some Trainspotting style clubbing incident.
    Bonus points for not throwing any tentacles in the game Atlus! See, just like the book. No tentacles.    … Expand
  12. Rox22
    Dec 16, 2014
    7
    I give this game credit for being somewhat different and attempting a creative approach. The game as a whole feels like and Atlus game.

    Visually the game is stunning, with some clearly anime inspired animations that fit the narrative perfectly. Sound is spot on and the music set a great atmosphere. Very unique story arc tackling a the topic of infidelity in a very clever and    I give this game credit for being somewhat different and attempting a creative approach. The game as a whole feels like and Atlus game.

    Visually the game is stunning, with some clearly anime inspired animations that fit the narrative perfectly.

    Sound is spot on and the music set a great atmosphere.

    Very unique story arc tackling a the topic of infidelity in a very clever and unique way, not to mention it is covering an array of of very mature themes and topics, which is really rare to see in these types of games.

    So what's my problem with this? The game on the whole is essentially 2 games stapled together. The anime driver story part and the puzzle platformer part. While each is fantastic and well executed on their own, together it just doesn't feel quite right. The fast paced platforming sections are hampered by long story sections, and/or the story section are continually interrupted by what is essentially an overblown mini-game. Either perspective fits depending on which aspect you enjoyed more.

    Overall:
    Catherine is a great game with a great premise behind it, BUT, it just doesn't feel right most of the time. It needs to decide if it wants to be a game or an anime, because as is, it doesn't work as well as it wants to. There is clear room for improvement and perhaps a bit more variation and a more seamless transition from gameplay styles is required.

    Still, I liked it, but it could have been better.    … Expand
  13. Deepercritic
    May 29, 2013
    6
    This is probably my hardest review so far, because my personal taste my interfere in my judgement, anyway, I'm going to try my best.
    The first problem I see witht the gaem is that is like playing two different games at the same time, just when you are enjoying the history you have to enter the nightmare which makes it somewhat tedious and makes the history feels slow at some point, and    This is probably my hardest review so far, because my personal taste my interfere in my judgement, anyway, I'm going to try my best.
    The first problem I see witht the gaem is that is like playing two different games at the same time, just when you are enjoying the history you have to enter the nightmare which makes it somewhat tedious and makes the history feels slow at some point, and regarding the history I have a couple of issues with it, the first is that the side histories of the people aren't very interesting and in any point of the game you feel that you really want to know more about them, also the time you spend on the bar which is supposedly designed to be relaxing and reflexive doesn't feel that way at all, when you are there you have the constant feeling that you must move and do things instead of talking to people, and this also contribute to not getting interested on the side histories, the main history of the game could be more developed, it gets very interesting at first but then it starts to get wors and you feel that somethings could have been better. The atmosphere in this game isn't good either, it feels very inmature for what should be, the character in the nightmares look like Arthur from Ghost 'n' Goblins adn certain expressions and dialogues aren't appropiate for what the history should transmit.
    The gameplay is very fun though, very addictive and relatively complex, probably it could have been a bit more dinamic, but is ok, my only issue with it is that stops the main history a lot.
    I give it a 6 because of the gameplay, the history possibilities and for being original, I wouldn't recommend purchase it for full price, but if you see it cheap or you you can rent it go ahead.    … Expand
  14. Underpants158
    Jun 3, 2016
    7
    [Written under the assumption you already know about the game and what it is]

    I knew the story was unique so I was expecting to like it at the very least just for that reason but I ended up really getting into the story. After a night of puzzles I looked forward watching the cutscenes and hanging around the bar getting drunk with friends. The puzzles are actually quite difficult. I    [Written under the assumption you already know about the game and what it is]

    I knew the story was unique so I was expecting to like it at the very least just for that reason but I ended up really getting into the story. After a night of puzzles I looked forward watching the cutscenes and hanging around the bar getting drunk with friends. The puzzles are actually quite difficult. I ended up playing on easy most the way through and easy still gives you a challenge. The only real gripe I have is moral choices during conversations making no sense. I don't know if there is problems with the translation but I'd respond with a "oh that" or something and it'd be recognized as a "evil" choice. Ultimately it didn't affect anything just annoyed me.    … Expand
  15. oyb
    Jan 28, 2013
    5
    The game itself would have been a lot better if the "game" part was actually fun and polished. Terrible controls and bad camera angle combined with stress and high difficulty makes you wan't to chuck your controller into the TV and leave. Would be better as an interactive movie.
  16. Yukari
    May 3, 2013
    7
    Catherine is a amazing puzzle game, but it's not a game for everyone. If you are not a puzzle person, then don't even play this game because beside the amazing story and art design, the game play is almost just puzzles, there isn't more to it. The voice acting is good and the the difficulty of the puzzle are quite good even in easy, it may be a little hard for those who aren't used toCatherine is a amazing puzzle game, but it's not a game for everyone. If you are not a puzzle person, then don't even play this game because beside the amazing story and art design, the game play is almost just puzzles, there isn't more to it. The voice acting is good and the the difficulty of the puzzle are quite good even in easy, it may be a little hard for those who aren't used to these types of games.… Expand
  17. Slsr
    Jul 29, 2013
    7
    Even if it is fairly unique game, like many games it repeats itself, and not like those puzzles are for everyone either, not really fan of puzzle games myself but luckily I found them pretty cool at start. Also even in easy it gives many run for their money, lol. But then again if puzzles were easy would there be much idea for this game? puzzles are like 50% of game at least anyway. I'dEven if it is fairly unique game, like many games it repeats itself, and not like those puzzles are for everyone either, not really fan of puzzle games myself but luckily I found them pretty cool at start. Also even in easy it gives many run for their money, lol. But then again if puzzles were easy would there be much idea for this game? puzzles are like 50% of game at least anyway. I'd hope some more variety to puzzles though, as climbing gets tiring eventually. Other part of game, kinda living life of Vincent is rather interesting, I hope they continue developing such games as in more advanced version it could be total killer, it's good now already tho.… Expand
  18. BaronMonaco
    Sep 13, 2016
    7
    Catherine is definitely a one of kind game, but originality does not always mean quality, let's see how did this one goes.

    Technically the game is okay there's no bug and the anime like graphics are well done but the artistic direction is minimalist and I would have preferred more detailed environments.There's also a lot of beautiful cinematics (that really looks like an anime) which is    Catherine is definitely a one of kind game, but originality does not always mean quality, let's see how did this one goes.

    Technically the game is okay there's no bug and the anime like graphics are well done but the artistic direction is minimalist and I would have preferred more detailed environments.There's also a lot of beautiful cinematics (that really looks like an anime) which is always nice, even if secondary.

    Concerning the gameplay it's based on two pillars. The first (mostly in the real world) is the interaction with other characters, engaging dialogues, texting, or drinking, all that will determine your karma and affect the story, I personally love multiple ending stories, but I wished we had even more options in a game like that, because I really felt like my character was f*cking it up and I would have like the possibility to take more meaningful decisions that just the way of telling things to be perfect it could have also offer more mini games to do in the real world (like doing your job, playing pool or whatever). The second pillar is puzzles (during your nightmares) those are pretty difficult and challenging, even more if you want the gold prizes, their all work on the same mechanic : moving blocs to climb to the top of the structure; it's repetitive on the end and I would have like to encounter other kind of puzzles and not just some new kind of blocks, because at one point you'll realize that with two or three techniques you can beat almost all the game.

    The story is really good, it treats themes link with romance but in a really mature way that may make you think about how you deal with relationships yourself. The game should last around 12 hours (with at least a third being cinematics) it's not long but it feels complete and you don't need more block moving to have a good time.

    In conclusion Catherine offer a really interesting story but its gameplay although based on nice ideas is not deep or diversified enough to make this game a true gem, I would still advice it for anyone looking for a good story and that doesn't mind a repetitive gameplay.    … Expand
  19. d00m
    Dec 12, 2020
    7
    The game is indeed unique and original, however, there's a big problem with the gameplay. You will either love it or hate it, but either way, it's just not rewarding enough and gets repetitive very soon. It's a 70/30 combination of Puzzle/Dating sim. However, they have really gone overboard with the difficulty of the puzzles, and the story is in the end not compelling enough. In someThe game is indeed unique and original, however, there's a big problem with the gameplay. You will either love it or hate it, but either way, it's just not rewarding enough and gets repetitive very soon. It's a 70/30 combination of Puzzle/Dating sim. However, they have really gone overboard with the difficulty of the puzzles, and the story is in the end not compelling enough. In some extent, it seems cheap actually.
    Also, the theme of the game is very sexual, but there isn't even a frame of nudity in the game so the whole thing seems missed and silly.
    I especially disliked the sounds/music while playing puzzles, it can be really obnoxious and there are no Sound options to turn it off so I had to often mute my TV. I've spent many hours on this game and Platinumed it, but in the end I think it's just too limited in its gameplay to deserve a higher score.    … Expand
  20. Wweald
    Aug 3, 2020
    6
    Good game brought down by some annoying **** The audio for a lot of the game is just obnoxious, the constant bells, and the screeching bosses that chase you. The controls are also annoying at times. The RNG blocks in the later half of the game are annoying as well. The characters are mediocre, the gameplay is ok. The story and concept are the best things about this game.
  21. DarkFireUmad
    Jun 30, 2020
    7
    Vincent es gilipollas, es cierto que si no lo fuese no habría historia, pero se tiene que comentar. Me gusta bastante lo de tener que borrar mensajes de texto para poner una respuesta más acorde. Los puzles están interesantes sobre todo porque te meten prisa.
  22. Alan_Ocean
    Apr 16, 2020
    7
    I am sure that many weebs picked this up, expecting to get some lewd imagery to save as screenshots, but ended up getting a horror story about the moral issues with that same behavior.

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Best PS3 Game of 2011
24
#24 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2011
6
#6 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 61 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 61
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 61
  3. Negative: 1 out of 61
  1. Games.cz
    Oct 17, 2012
    90
    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.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Mar 13, 2012
    75
    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]
  3. GameOver.gr
    Mar 5, 2012
    70
    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.
    Read full review
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