Catherine is a puzzle game released in 2011 for the PS3, and published by Atlus, who is most well known for the Persona series, but even though this game isn't tied to Shin Megami Tensei at all, it's still a title worth taking the time to examine.
The premise is simple. You have a tower comprised of blocks that you can push around. Your goal is to get to the top. Now, this sounds deceptively easy and for the first few challenges, it is. The difficulty curve in Catherine is steep, but rewarding, with each victory hailed by "Handel Messiah Hallelujah" after a harrowing climb backed by signature composer Shoji Meguro's take on one of several classic songs. Each level expects the player to find new and different ways to move the blocks around to reach the next Landing, the rest area between stages.
Gameplay is solid. You control Vincent, a man cursed to climb the Tower every night in his nightmare. His move animation is hilariously awkward as he runs around in his underwear clutching his pillow for dear life, but despite his lanky frame, he's strong enough to move up to two blocks at once. There are several different types of blocks that either help or harm your ascent, from your standard big stone megalith, to crumble blocks that disappear once stepped on, to trap blocks that kill the player violently, ice and immovable, they all have their purpose in making sure Vincent never reaches the top. One of the magical properties of the blocks in the Nightmare is that they can float in the air, as long as they are in contact with another block's edge. This "edging" mechanic is where a lot of the more complicated puzzles start, but the challenge doesn't end with the defiance of physics. Enemies in the form of sheep try to knock you down so that they can reach the top. Movement is solid, and you never have to guess where Vincent will go when you press a button. Some levels do have a trial and error approach to them, but none of the levels are so difficult that they cannot be completed with a few solid tries.
I keep mentioning that Vincent's goal is to reach the top and that he is cursed to climb for eternity, but why? The story of Catherine is, at its heart, one of love. Vincent is set to marry the woman of his dreams, Katherine, a put-together, mature woman who's patience with Vincent is running thin. He also has Catherine in his life, the salacious blonde he meets at his favorite bar, The Stray Sheep, who seems far more interested in keeping things fun rather than tying herself down. Now Vincent must choose which life he wants, but first he must first break the curse of the Tower. Once every hundred years, or so, an epidemic occurs of men dying in their sleep. When Vincent first awakens in The Tower, he is told that he will meet this fate if he dies there, but should be make it to the top, he may have one wish granted.
So let's talk sound, my favorite part of any game.
Sound design is a good 10/10. The sound of blocks moving is a satisfying grate of shifting stone, and Vincent's bare feet slapping as he runs away from the horrors chasing him adds a slight bit of comedic effect to an otherwise dramatic moment. I have but one gripe, though it is minor. Every time the "edging" mechanic is engaged, there is an announcement of "EDGE!" which can become very annoying when a stage drops EVERY block onto another one's edge. The music is amazing, and Shoji's arrangement of various classical music such as Bach's Little Fugue in G Minor adds an edge to the climb that I could only describe as excellent.
Graphically the game's a tad dated these days, but it's hardly a problem, since it's easy to distinguish each block from the other kinds, and there's still no question as to what's bad and what's good. Enemy design is solid, with the lesser baddies being threatening, and boss monsters being... Well, it's better to experience those for yourself.
Overall, Catherine is a strange title, but it was well worth the $60 I spent when it came out, and I eagerly await the sequel.
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