Six long years have passed since I was first introduced to Catherine. At the time, I had recently transferred colleges and was luckily assigned a gaming roommate. About halfway through the year, I noticed an Xbox 360 and a game sitting in my roommate’s drawer portraying a seductive blonde woman. When I asked him what the game was, he proclaimed that it was his favorite Xbox 360 title. Startled by his proclamation, I asked him why Catherine was his favorite title. Rather than giving me the basic plot of the game, he summarized Catherine as” the tale of a man who must decide between his long term relationship or a new passion that has recently ignited.” Intrigued by his description, I asked if I could play and see why he loved it so much. Now six years later, the world of Catherine is still fascinating but better than ever thanks to Catherine: Full Body.
Catherine: Full Body is a “Full Bodied” remastering of the 2011 award-winning game Catherine. The remastered version features updated gameplay, enhanced visuals, modernized multiplayer, and new music; these are just a few elements that have been updated for the modern release. The game’s core component still remains the same. Our protagonist, Vincent, must make a choice, to remain faithful or start a new romantic endeavor? Catherine: Full Body throws out Catherine‘s love triangle and turns it into a Love Square. Without giving any spoilers, we can say that Vincent is in for a wild ride.
Gameplay
Catherine: Full Body is a game that focuses around two key elements, how Vincent responds to other characters and puzzle-solving. Depending on the player’s choices throughout the game, a variety of outcomes can occur. Full Body introduces a variety of new gameplay mechanics and player choice becomes a key feature. Players who are focused solely on Vincent’s tale can choose Safety Mode which grants the player the ability to skip any puzzle they desire and enjoy the story. This feature makes Catherine: Full Body a narrative experience rather than a suspenseful puzzler. The game contains over 500 puzzles, which is double its predecessor. For players seeking a challenge, Remix Mode has also been added. Remix Mode forces the player to think outside of the box due to linked blocks; this feature makes the game increasingly more difficult.
Catherine: Full Body brings back key elements that fans of the original loved. While the player is free from Vincent’s Nightmares, they can explore the Stray Sheep (a bar) and interact with their fellow patrons. Depending on the player’s interactions with fellow sheep in the nightmare realm will determine which patrons will be available to talk throughout the story. For those who feel like they have not climbed enough, the Rapunzel arcade game has returned to satisfy all of Vincent’s climbing desires.
Catherine Full Body features over ten possible endings thanks to the addition of Rin. In addition to new cutscenes, Rin plays an important role in Vincent’s Survival.
Online Gameplay
In addition to new gameplay elements, new multiplayer features have been updated. Players have the ability to choose between Babel, Colosseum, and the Online Arena. In Babel, climbers are tasked with clearing different challenges either as a team or solo. If working as a team does not sound up to par, players can battle one another either locally or online. In Colosseum, players put their climbing skills to the test through various puzzle stages. In Online Arena, the player has the ability to either compete against their peers or work cooperatively in a co-op experience. Having the ability to play with friends online adds a new layer to Catherine: Full Body.
Gameplay Conclusion
Overall, the gameplay of Catherine: Full Body is rather straightforward, climbing the tower in order to survive, seeing where other players have died along the way. By interacting with fellow climbers, the player can benefit by learning additional climbing methods. Upon reaching the tower’s landing, the player has the option to interact with fellow climbers or skip to the confessional; it was refreshing that the confessional questions could change and were not always the same. The core gameplay elements are rather simple, however, the player’s choices greatly impact the game’s final outcome.
Controls
Catherine: Full Body‘s controls are also simplistic. Typically, the player only has to use four buttons. On the standard PlayStation 4 controller, the X button is used to drag blocks or choose dialog options. The square button allows players to use an item that they have either previously picked up or purchased or to drink while at the Stray Sheep. Triangle grants the players access to Vincent’s phone. The circle button either ends dialogue or causes Vincent to leave his seat. Finally, players can choose between using the direction keys or the left analog stick to move. Players can adjust Vincent’s view using the right analog stick. Overall
Catherine: Full Body‘s controls are easy to master and allow the player to focus on the game rather than the controls. If the player gets stuck, they can also undo a select amount of moves or start from a checkpoint.
Graphics
The overall graphics of Catherine: Full Body revitalizes an aged game. With graphics similar to Persona 5, the player can witness the true horror of Vincent’s nightmares. The updated visuals help to submerge the player, rather than detract from the experience. The detail from each of Vincent’s deaths seems semi-realistic based off of blood splatter. New cutscenes have been added to the game that create an enriched backstory for Vincent while some of the more notable Catherine scenes have been brought up to par. The game’s visual variety helps to keep the player’s eyes fresh rather than strained by constant color. Some key easter eggs can be seen throughout the game including a Sailor Moon reference and at least one Persona 5 reference.
Music and Sound
The game’s soundtrack is rather memorable due to an expanded library. Rin’s piano playing can be soothing and help to relieve stress while trying to solve more complicated puzzles. While at the Stray Sheep, the player has the opportunity to control the Jukebox. As the player progresses through the story, new songs unlock including original Catherine tracks, new Full Body tracks, popular Persona songs, and songs from Project Re Fantasy. One downside to the Jukebox is that it will repeat the same selected song. For 8-bit music lovers, the Rapunzel minigame is a throwback to the ’80s with its 8-bit graphics and soundtrack. Finally, Catherine: Full Body‘s voice acting is spectacular. From what I can tell, it appears that the original cast has returned to reprise their roles. The voice actors’ performances enrich the experience thanks to the emotion and effort they put in.
Replay Value
Last, but certainly not least, is the game’s replay value. Catherine: Full Body offers players a multitude of endings. As we previously stated, Catherine: Full Body offers more alternate endings than the original Catherine. Depending on the player’s decisions, the player can choose who they want to romance between Rin, Catherine, and Katherine. The player can also choose to seek freedom, leaving all three women in his rear view mirror. Depending on how the player interacts with fellow climbers can determine who survives the nightmares.
Finally, Remix Mode allows players to challenge themselves by changing up the climbing equation and block’s size and shape can determine how Vincent will climb. Remix Mode is not for the faint of heart; it’s a worth challenge for returning masters.
Overall Conclusion
Catherine: Full Body reminds me of everything I loved about Catherine while providing a new and enhanced experience. If you are a fan of strong narratives and puzzle games, Catherine: Full Body is a great addition to the collection. The new features, updated graphics, modern multiplayer, and expanded soundtrack differentiates it from the original Catherine, while providing players with the things they loved from the original game. The addition of eight Persona 5 characters makes multiplayer even more interesting. Players can also purchase the expansion Catherine: Full Body ‘Heart’s Desire’ Premium Edition to unlock Persona 5 characters.
Let us know what you think of the game when it comes out and what ending you got on your first playthrough.
Catherine: Full Body ‘Heart’s Desire’ Premium Edition costs $79.99 and contains:
- Sheep Plush: Be a part of the herd with a fluffy Sheep Plush, complete with Vincent’s pink polka dot boxers! (Approximately 5″ in length)
- Soundtrack CD: The perfect pairing for a full-bodied bottle of wine – this CD contains a compilation of musical tracks from Catherine: Full Body.
- Hardcover Art Book: Lead Designer Shigenori Soejima’s tantalizing illustrations fill this gorgeous hardcover art book.
- Metal Case: Protect your deepest, darkest secrets in this metal game case featuring Rin, Catherine, and Katherine.