Catherine (Xbox 360) Review

                                                                                          

Catherine is one of those games that you don't really hear a whole lot about. And I'm not really too sure why. While the game may not be for everyone, I still strongly urge you to give this game a try.  Now lets get into the game a little bit here. 

You are Vincent. A 32 yr old guy who enjoys spending his time at the Stray Sheep. He's been in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend Katherine, who's an up-tight business women. Everything seems to be going well for Vincent till the nightmares start. That is where the puzzle aspect of this game starts. The nightmares consist of multi-level platforms of block that you need to climb in order to stay alive. The stage crumbles below you as soon as you start your ascent. I've never been a who fan of puzzle games, but there's something about these puzzles that is extremely addicting. They start out fairly easy, but the farther you get, the harder they become, and I mean HARD. I spent a few hours on just one puzzle until I gave up and watched a YouTube video on it. But don't let that deter you from playing this game. There are about 3 levels to each stage. 8 stages in total. After each stage you return back to Vincent's life. This is where the mix of drawn anime style and cgi come together. And they blend perfectly. You'll go through the cut scenes where you get to see all the troubles that Vincent goes through. I won't say too much on this part of game because I believe you have to experience it for yourself. During this time you end up at the Stray Sheep every night. Here is where I absolutely love the game. The Stray Sheep really gives off a great ambiance  You can drink, check your phone, change the background music, play an arcade called Rapunzel (block climbing game), and talk to other patrons. You learn a lot from the other people at the bar, so be sure to talk to them frequently. 

At the end of every night you go back to your apartment where the nightmares start again. You go through the game pretty much just like this. But every time you answer the questions in the nightmare, your outcome at the end changes. This part of the game, if played honestly, can teach you a lot about yourself. There are a total of 8 endings, 4 with Kathrine, and 4 with Catherine.

Catherine was an absolute joy to play, and I really got into the story. Its quirky, sad, and exciting all in one. I found myself wanting to get through the puzzles quickly so I could see what happens next to Vincent. I highly recommend buying this game and giving it a chance. I'd love to see more games like these come out, and supporting them is the best way for that to happen.

I'm giving Catherine a 9/10!