A modern classic with risqué themes is now available on Steam. If you enjoy puzzles, sex, and an adult story, you should play Catherine.
The “old” readers might remember my column from 2015, where I raved about a very special game for the PS3. Now, four years later, “Catherine” has made its way to PC, allowing even more players to experience one of the “best games of all time”.
What is Catherine about? In Catherine, you take on the role of Vincent Brooks. He leads a simple but reasonably content life in his small bachelor pad. His work is going well, his relationship with his girlfriend Katherine is good, and in the evenings he hangs out with friends at the pub. However, when Katherine hints that Vincent should finally marry her and start a family, self-doubt creeps in.
He drinks “a bit too much” and before he knows it, he’s talking to a young, attractive blonde who perfectly matches his desires. The two wake up together in Vincent’s bed the next morning after apparently having had a very interesting night.
Difficult questions form the center of the story: How should Vincent deal with the affair? Should he confess it to Katherine directly? Does he let the affair continue secretly? Or does he leave his long-term girlfriend for this “blonde adventure”?
It is up to the players to explore this – and make the corresponding decisions.
Gameplay reminiscent of puzzle games: But the adult story is only half the game. The other half consists of Vincent’s nightmares, and here skill is required. Each night, Vincent must climb a seemingly endless wall of blocks. To progress, he must move the blocks and create new paths.
In doing so, he must avoid deadly traps and always has time against him – because slowly but surely, the wall crumbles down. And just when you think you’ve finally made it, a rather nasty boss level appears that redefines the climbing rules.
Catherine – A game of a different kind
Anyone thinking that Catherine is a “typical Japanese dating game” is greatly mistaken. Even though the atmosphere of the game is quite relaxed at the beginning, the story quickly takes on dark and serious tones.
Social norms are questioned, fears are explored, and the question is repeatedly raised: What do you actually want to achieve in your life? Is it worth conforming to norms or is it okay to deviate if it makes you happier?
In Catherine, you not only learn the story of Vincent, Catherine, and Katherine, but also a lot about yourself on the side. If you want to embark on a somewhat crazy self-discovery journey for a few hours, you should jump in – plus, the game has many different endings, which makes the replay value high.
Catherine is a classic: Catherine originally released in 2011 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The anime look of the game is timeless, and the graphics are fitting for what the game wants to tell.
How much does Catherine cost? The PC port of Catherine costs around €20 on Steam. For this title with a timeless theme, it’s a reasonable price. If you’re skeptical, you should just wait for the next Steam sale; the price will surely drop again.
So if you’re still struggling with the intention to try something new in the “new year 2019”, maybe you should risk an affair – at least in the game world of Catherine.
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