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. desoul
    Dec 8, 2015
    9
    the media focuses on "adult themes", ignore the media
    while it may contain some scenes where one character is not dressed as much, no nudity is shown. GTA has much more adult elements than this game, the game doesnt even have a sex scene. The witcher has much much much more "adult themes" than this game.
    the good: very funny yet creepy/cool demon world great music amazing artwork    the media focuses on "adult themes", ignore the media
    while it may contain some scenes where one character is not dressed as much, no nudity is shown. GTA has much more adult elements than this game, the game doesnt even have a sex scene. The witcher has much much much more "adult themes" than this game.

    the good:
    very funny yet creepy/cool demon world
    great music
    amazing artwork
    characters are really fun to interact with
    the puzzle system is simple yet expansive. (epic gameplay)
    multiple endings/scenarios

    the bad:
    the media focusing on boobs >_< and selling this game as a dating sim; the game does have some elements of a dating simulator, but it is no where near that genre in terms of gameplay. its basically simple choices you have to take
    some endings are really bad

    -----------
    the best thing about this game, is the gameplay. the gameplay is very unique, challenging, and extremely addicting. the story being really good is an added bonus    … Expand
  2. TheAdjuster
    Jan 5, 2016
    10
    This is the most unique, daring game I've played in the last 5 years--and the most satisfying. The story is amazing and more than makes up for any shortcomings in the puzzle aspect of the game. I would love to see more games like this from Atlus, dealing with adult themes.

    This is probably a Western bias, but I much prefer plots dealing with college life or beyond instead of the usual    This is the most unique, daring game I've played in the last 5 years--and the most satisfying. The story is amazing and more than makes up for any shortcomings in the puzzle aspect of the game. I would love to see more games like this from Atlus, dealing with adult themes.

    This is probably a Western bias, but I much prefer plots dealing with college life or beyond instead of the usual high school setting.

    Please please please port this to the PS Vita!!!!!

    And please give us a sequel!!    … Expand
  3. AmiiSkyKaos
    Sep 3, 2015
    10
    This game gave me nightmares, had me on the edge of my seat and easily my 2nd favorite game of all time! An amazing and freaky story that keeps you playing and wanting to know what happens next, the gameplay itself is simple yet brilliant and stressful but never impossible if you put your mind to it, you move blocks and climb, face enemy sheep and climb, get chased by a mad gf or fetus orThis game gave me nightmares, had me on the edge of my seat and easily my 2nd favorite game of all time! An amazing and freaky story that keeps you playing and wanting to know what happens next, the gameplay itself is simple yet brilliant and stressful but never impossible if you put your mind to it, you move blocks and climb, face enemy sheep and climb, get chased by a mad gf or fetus or worse and climb ... JUST DON'T FALL! nothing I say can do this game justice… Expand
  4. mtg837
    Oct 28, 2015
    10
    I wanted to go back and write a review on one of my favorite PS3 games -- Catherine. This is a true puzzle game, one that relies on your ability to think both critically, and (as the game progresses) more and more quickly.
    The plot is fresh and well developed. You are a young programmer on the cusp of taking the "next step" with longtime girlfriend Katherine. All of a sudden, though,    I wanted to go back and write a review on one of my favorite PS3 games -- Catherine. This is a true puzzle game, one that relies on your ability to think both critically, and (as the game progresses) more and more quickly.
    The plot is fresh and well developed. You are a young programmer on the cusp of taking the "next step" with longtime girlfriend Katherine. All of a sudden, though, a young beauty interrupts your stable life. Her name? Catherine. The resulting conundrum forces the protagonist into a kind of metaphorical dream-scape, in which he must make his way to the tippy top of a series of towers, all by using blocks that he can push, turn and cilmb. As he makes his way through this trippy reality, filled with monstrous re-imaginings of life's key decisions (one boss is a gigantic, hideous baby,) he's forced to make decisions that will ultimately decide the outcome of his life. The game asks the player a series of questions, and by the game's end, you may end up with Katherine, Catherine, or, perhaps, you'll be doomed to live in this dream world forever...
    As far as game-play goes, Ezra Pound (who famously said to writers "make it new,") would be proud. Lots of games come out well polished with fun gameplay, but ninety nine percent of them feel like some kind of iteration of a different game. (Madden 2016 feels like 2015, MGSV feels like MGS1V, and every FPS ever feels like Unreal Tournament.) Catherine is a completely new experience, yet somehow also feels very polished, as if it's the third or fourth sequel in a series. Giant block puzzles need to be climbed quickly, because as you ascend you'll notice the ground beneath you begins to fall into blackness. If you don't want to fall with them, you'll need to think on your feet. As you progress the blocks fall faster, the puzzles get more complicated, and "trick" blocks will make things even harder (some blocks are covered in ice which you will slide right over, others have spikes that shoot out and kill you. Some explode.) These trick blocks need to be both avoided and used to your advantage, and the game does a fantastic job of providing puzzles which test the limits of your critical thinking and your imagination. Bosses are a blast as well. They're both visually interesting and more challenging, as they will sometimes hurl things at you to knock you off the climb.
    Overall this game merges a frame narrative RPG with a true puzzle experience. For smart gamers, this one should be on your shelf. .    … Expand
  5. Reed618
    Mar 23, 2017
    8
    Just beat the game and to be honest I have mixed feelings about it. The art style and storytelling is great. it really pulled in from the start. The gameplay is very addictive too but that can be a bad thing. I got so angry towards the end but couldn't stop playing. I haven't been so annoyed by a game in a long time. Around the 6th stage the difficulty really shot up. If you love puzzleJust beat the game and to be honest I have mixed feelings about it. The art style and storytelling is great. it really pulled in from the start. The gameplay is very addictive too but that can be a bad thing. I got so angry towards the end but couldn't stop playing. I haven't been so annoyed by a game in a long time. Around the 6th stage the difficulty really shot up. If you love puzzle games or just feel like trying something different then this is definitely worth checking out. Hopefully you're more patient than I am though.. I swore so much during the final level... All in all it's a good game though.… Expand
  6. 40days
    Jan 29, 2017
    1
    One of the worst games I've had the displeasure of playing. I really kick myself that I had to see it to the end instead of dropping it halfway, because I dreaded every second of puzzle gameplay. Insane difficulty spikes (it's hard even on easy if you're not a die-hard fan of puzzles - they even added a patch to add "very easy" difficulty later on), a lot of unexplained game mechanicsOne of the worst games I've had the displeasure of playing. I really kick myself that I had to see it to the end instead of dropping it halfway, because I dreaded every second of puzzle gameplay. Insane difficulty spikes (it's hard even on easy if you're not a die-hard fan of puzzles - they even added a patch to add "very easy" difficulty later on), a lot of unexplained game mechanics (trap blocks), "techniques" that describe what I did half the game before, severe punishments based on randomness (for example, you climb the tower, the game adds more blocks to indicate that you're going in the right direction - and then at one point it stops adding blocks and shows you that you've been climbing the wrong tower all along, wasting all your time and effort - too bad, restart! should've chosen the one on the right/left instead. It even has checkpoints at those dead-end towers where you reach the top and there's no more blocks to further taunt you), absolutely dull and uninspiring story - they want to tell me the guy's acting like a baby at 32 (!) and can't talk properly without stuttering or take responsibility for anything he does.

    Give me back my time, Atlus.    … Expand
  7. radovasq
    Jan 14, 2017
    9
    [Review in SPANISH... Sorry guys, but there are tons of those in english :p]

    Lo compré hace un tiempo, y qué dicha de habérmelo topado pues puedo decir que el juego es único en su especie. Noten eso sí que hay más de 30 notas negativas acá en metacritic. No es por las puras el fenómeno, pues el juego no está hecho para todo el mundo. Y no lo digo por su contenido que raya en lo sexual,    [Review in SPANISH... Sorry guys, but there are tons of those in english :p]

    Lo compré hace un tiempo, y qué dicha de habérmelo topado pues puedo decir que el juego es único en su especie. Noten eso sí que hay más de 30 notas negativas acá en metacritic. No es por las puras el fenómeno, pues el juego no está hecho para todo el mundo. Y no lo digo por su contenido que raya en lo sexual, sino por su dificultad. ¡¡¡ EL JUEGO ES DIFÍCIL !!!

    Pero dejando eso de lado, es un agrado encontrar una historia hecha para gente grande, y que además te da una libertad de lo suficientemente ancha como para que la historia del protagonista cuente con un final acorde a lo que uno piense. La historia trata temas que tocan a muchas relaciones de pareja, y que pueden llevar a que uno de los dos miembros cometa una infidelidad. El mundo del juego cuenta con "algo de magia", así que depende de tí que eso se pueda arreglar o no... Si es que quieres arreglarlo, claro está.

    Quizás el gran pero para muchos son lus puzzles, los cuales uno debe pasar para avanzar en la historia. Yo lo terminé en nivel medio, y sufrí mucho para poder progresar. A lo mejor es conveniente empezar en nivel fácil para poder disfrutar mejor de la historia, y de paso adaptarse al juego. Aún así, si eres de ellos que disfrutó de juegos como Portal, esto debiese incentivarte a jugar Catherine más que asustarte.

    De ahí que le pongo 9/10. Tampoco es un juego que redefina el planeta videojuego como lo sí lo hicieron Final Fantasy VII o Zelda Ocarina of Time, pero es un juego sólido y por el que vale la pena gastar minutos de nuestro tiempo en él.    … Expand
  8. marcelus
    Mar 17, 2017
    10
    One of the best PS3 games on my library. I own all kind of merchandise from Catherine. Lovely world, excellent waifu. Good drinks and the puzzles damn! Play it on Very Hard and you'll dream about cubes and classical music. I don't know if the games has any problem so far. I think is a classic I replayed at least one or two times a year since 2011.
  9. epicboyblue
    Jan 18, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I couldn't find any flaws with this game. It is really fun. The title screen alone is mystical! It's a Golden Show is one of the best tracks for a title screen. It is beautiful. So is the the goddess who introduces us to the game Catherine from the Golden Playhouse. I would go through the hell that is the Babel levels to get her ending. She is beautiful. The mechanics are really fun. The climbing aspect and the narrative flow together incredibly well. There isn't a time where I felt the game was cheating me. Maybe with some of the boss fights, but it still had solid mechanics. The fun of not using the items the game offered was really fun and added an extra layer of challenge. They were helpful, but lowered my rank if I used them. i got Katherine ending, this is much easier in writing, and I was happy with it. I started doing the Catherine playthrough and I didn't feel like the game was having narrative errors with motivations or character progression. it felt coherent and emotional whichever path I went down. The music can't be understated because the player will hear it at all times due to the heavy cinematic scenes or the long gameplay sections. It was truly like climbing out of hell. This game does a better job of illustrating mental health than Celeste. it is such an oddity, but Atlus does good work. I am excited for the Full Body remaster/remake. It is worth every second of your time, and subsequent playthroughs keep you coming back for more and new narrative.… Expand
  10. tsdenizen
    Nov 2, 2017
    9
    Few games can claim to be as dedicated to an artistic vision as Catherine. An anime-influenced hardcore horror-puzzle-platformer about a 32-year-old man running away from nightmare-induced manifestations of adult responsibility is a bizarre concept. But it works so, so well. The gameplay is tight, frantic, clever, and absolutely ass-kicking (in that it'll kick your ass), the narrative isFew games can claim to be as dedicated to an artistic vision as Catherine. An anime-influenced hardcore horror-puzzle-platformer about a 32-year-old man running away from nightmare-induced manifestations of adult responsibility is a bizarre concept. But it works so, so well. The gameplay is tight, frantic, clever, and absolutely ass-kicking (in that it'll kick your ass), the narrative is wrought with symbolism and themes grounded firmly in reality sure to be relatable to the target demographic, the cut-scenes are stellar, there are multiple endings to inspire replays of the campaign (not to mention the top score trophies you'll want to acquire), and the extra brutal Babel for the truly masochistic, tons of Rapunzel arcade levels, and couch co-op where sabotage is the name of the game. Catherine may not be for everyone, but it was never meant to be, and for those it was made for, it's nearly flawless.… Expand
  11. Griffin44
    Dec 23, 2017
    10
    I must admit, this si my favorite game of all time. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would love a puzzle game so much. From the music, to the story, the gameplay, everything about this game is perfection. I honestly got emotional near the end, and it truly had me on the edge of my seat the whole game. I know that is such a cliche, but it's totally true in this beautifulI must admit, this si my favorite game of all time. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would love a puzzle game so much. From the music, to the story, the gameplay, everything about this game is perfection. I honestly got emotional near the end, and it truly had me on the edge of my seat the whole game. I know that is such a cliche, but it's totally true in this beautiful romance thriller. I never see this game on top 10 lists or anything, truly the most underrated game of all time and honestly the only game I can give an honest 10/10. Go and get this game today!… Expand
  12. matunderGOD
    Sep 15, 2018
    9
    GAME: Catherine

    SCORE: 9/10 In short, Catherine is a cult classic of video games. It was destined to fly under the radar and be loved by a nitch crowd. It is not a game for everyone, but for what it is, the quality shines through. RATING SCALE : PG-13 Catherine features intimate moments in the game, but they are tame at a James Bond level. The game features drugs, alcohol,    GAME: Catherine

    SCORE: 9/10
    In short, Catherine is a cult classic of video games. It was destined to fly under the radar and be loved by a nitch crowd. It is not a game for everyone, but for what it is, the quality shines through.

    RATING SCALE : PG-13
    Catherine features intimate moments in the game, but they are tame at a James Bond level. The game features drugs, alcohol, profanity, and violence, but none to an overly graphic level.

    REVIEW
    Story:
    Catherine is a thriller mystery story that discusses the issues of relationships and commitment. You play as Vincent, a man thrown into a scenario between his long relationship with his girlfriend, Katherine, and the woman of his dreams that he is cheating with, Catherine. Along with this, Vincent as well as other cheaters are having nightmares that would kill them if they die in the dream. The game totes multiple endings depending on how you profile Vincent's personality. You do not make any real decisions in the game, but you influence Vincents moral and emotional state to an extent. Vincent, the (K)Catherines, and the rest of the side characters are well voiced and the writing does engage you into the characters, their situations, and the overall philosophies of the game. It can be silly at times, but that is part of the story's charm.

    Gameplay:
    There are two elements of gameplay in Catherine, tower climbing and communication zones.

    The tower climbing is the center of the gameplay. This all takes place in the dream sequences of the game. The objective is to move blocks and create paths to the top of the tower. The rules vary based on the different blocks, items, and enemies you encounter. While there are a few times that the controles feel sensitive at times, Vincents movement in the game are sharp and rarely does the game feel unfair. There are s plenty of opportunities and enemy tales to help you reach the goal. This is by no means an easy game, there is plenty of challenge and you will likely die quite a few times before you catch on the logic of a specific tower. These sequences can also feature unique and fun bosses that challenge and pursue you as you attempt to escape. Overall, the gameplay for the tower climbing is an arcade game in all the right ways.

    The other gameplay element took place in the communication zones. These zones was more permit you to interact with the story characters and make choices that will define Vincents personality, the people around him, and the final moments of the game. They are in essence as a hub (similar to your time on the Normandy is Mass Effect) to interact with NPCs. It's basic, but it serves well in building the story.

    Visuals and Sound:
    While the animation sequences look great, the 3D models are more basic, but it does not take away from the atmosphere. The visuals, blended with fantastic music, makes the game stand out.

    Lack of a Bridge:

    The games story and arcade gameplay makes Catherine a fun and thoughtful ride. However, the dream being the bridge between the story and gameplay is a stretch. Given the games deep story, the arcade gameplay of climbing a tower to reach a goal is a bit simplistic. Atlus could have added different puzzle and environmental elements to really emphasize the psychological thrill of the story.

    Conclusion:
    Even though Catherine did not fully succeed in bridging the contrast between the story and gameplay, the game shows high quality in both of those elements. If you love puzzles and arcade style games, this cult classic is a game worth playing.    … Expand
  13. fabiola1
    Jun 13, 2021
    9
    otro juego que acabo de adquirir y pasar este 2021, sin duda lo recomiendo mucho. el protagonista me recuerda mucho a un exnovio que tuve, lo que me parecio aun mas divertido jaja.
  14. 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.
  15. Otelo
    Aug 10, 2019
    10
    Um baita jogo com uma gameplay diferenciada. Quem dera se mais produtoras tentassem fazer algo diferente como a Atlus fez com Catherine
  16. Ambimunch
    Jun 20, 2020
    10
    I am writing this review after Catherine received a PS4 port. The original game is superior in my opinion. It was revolutionary for its time in terms of blending mature storytelling with unconventional puzzle gameplay. The other aspect the game excelled at was its characters and artstyle, all of which have been masterfully crafted to fit in place to deliver a very unique gameplay and storyI am writing this review after Catherine received a PS4 port. The original game is superior in my opinion. It was revolutionary for its time in terms of blending mature storytelling with unconventional puzzle gameplay. The other aspect the game excelled at was its characters and artstyle, all of which have been masterfully crafted to fit in place to deliver a very unique gameplay and story experience. I suggest to anyone trying out Catherine for the first time to go with the original PS3 version of the game.… Expand
  17. PlayerAmz
    Mar 17, 2020
    8
    puzzles don't change so when u learn one way to up, it's done, there's no fun and challenge anymore. and the day part was so limit and people leave fast u can't talk to all of them or interact with them.
  18. 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.
  19. BambiRue
    Apr 20, 2020
    10
    This is one of my favorite Atlus games, hands down. The plot is mature and not in a gory/sexy way, but as a story about being an adult and genuinely adult problems such as marriage and commitment. In a world where any anime-looking game is almost always about some teens saving the world or highschool life, this story is fresh and I wish the persona series made by the same company wouldThis is one of my favorite Atlus games, hands down. The plot is mature and not in a gory/sexy way, but as a story about being an adult and genuinely adult problems such as marriage and commitment. In a world where any anime-looking game is almost always about some teens saving the world or highschool life, this story is fresh and I wish the persona series made by the same company would take notes.

    The gameplay is also great. It is a straightforward puzzle about climbing a blocktower by moving blocks to make a path to the top, like a reverse 3D tetris in a 3D. I'm glad they didn't opt for something more done like another bejeweled clone or some generic platformer. I laugh at all the bad scores from people who are only giving it a bad score because it was hard. It is hard, but it is an M rated game with adult themes, this isn't meant to be an easy little kid game!

    The music is also stellar with both original tracks and remixes of classical music from artists like Beethoven and Chopin.

    This is also a game where ever single choice you make feels like it really matters. Every one. I am sick to death of games giving the players dialog choice but they don't actually do anything.

    Even if you find the block puzzles aren't your thing, you must admit it is a unique game that has real effort put into it.    … Expand
  20. 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.
  21. Jvera
    Aug 3, 2020
    10
    God damn, what a wonderful game. I really like it. Definitely this game is one of my favorite games ever.
  22. KidAziel
    Jul 3, 2020
    9
    Fun, interesting, and amazing replay value. If you can’t stomach hard puzzles leave now, but otherwise this is totally worth it.
  23. cheburagen
    Jul 13, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. История его и ее, что пора взрослеть и брать на себя ответственность. Но городская легенда которая может разрушить все врывается в итак сложную ситуацию. Выбор между одной и второй встает на первый план. И всем понятно что будет если выбрать нету сторону.
    Кубы кубы и еще раз кубы.    … Expand
  24. Agt_Killionaire
    Oct 7, 2022
    10
    I had a blast with this game. I did not expect the game to be what it is. I thought going into it based on the cover it was going to be a bit indecent but the story is deeper than that.
  25. sisiv
    Feb 11, 2023
    0
    A lot of spitting on symbols that are holy for Christians - with a parody of Christ on the cross included.
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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

All reviews »
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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