Catherine: Full Body, our review

Catherine: Full Body is a complete package perfect for both newcomers and fans of the game.

Almost nine years after the original was launched Catherine on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Atlus is back with her puzzle drama with tons of new content, but most importantly, with the debut of a seductive new character for which Vincent (the game's protagonist) should literally lose his mind, Rhine. Does all the new content make this cult classic worth replaying? The answer is yes. The new additions not only make the game more memorable, but also indulge fans and increase its longevity.

Catherine is an interesting and unconventional title. Released in 2011 it has become a real cult, with many active fans. Many, they appreciated the gameplay mechanics and the gripping and unique narrative plot which remains top notch even in Catherine: Full Body. Among the new contents, the one that piques the most attention is the addition of one competitive online mode and various matchmaking options, through which players will be able to compete.

So even when players have finished the game's story, they will be able to continue playing by experimenting with new approaches and puzzle mechanics. While the story includes a new character and a remixed option for fans of the game, many will likely dive straight into competitive matches. The Couch cooperative mode also returns with the addition of a new one private matchmaking so that together with a friend you can work and cooperate together or fight each other in Catherine: Full Body.

Vincent, my dear Vincent!

The story of Catherine: Full Body has largely remained as we remembered it. The plot follows a young man named Vincent Brooks who is rethinking marriage and his relationship with his current girlfriend Katherine. After a strange encounter with another girl (Catherine), Vincent ends up cheating on his girlfriend. All of this happens while inexplicably, many men begin to die in their sleep.

Soon, the "poor" Vincent finds himself entering the world of dreams which makes him reflect on his decisions every night. Furthermore, it takes on a strange symbolic aspect, much like a sheep. It is in this dream world where Vincent has to climb and solve various puzzles to wake up alive the next day. It won't be long before we realize that this world also has to do with recurring deaths in the real one. The interesting thing is that Vincent never realizes that he is in this dream world, so he creates two almost separate entities for the same character.

For those who prefer to opt for the more "erotic" Catherine or the Katherine that would make you feel more comfortable taking her to your parents' dinner, Atlus has included two new alternate endings for the two characters. However, all original endings are included.

And what about Rin?

Rin's inclusion in the plot happens from the very beginning through an opening cutscene. Rin's plot is far more light-hearted than both Catherine's and Katherine's stories. After Vincent meets Rin early in the game, he helps her find a job at Stray Sheep, the bar where he goes to have fun with friends. In the end he is an effective character who changes the tone of the story at specific moments, especially with some of its endings. Rin also helps Vincent in the dream world to solve some of the proposed environmental puzzles. It essentially acts as a random skill that will assist Vincent when the puzzles get harder.

A unique style

Catherine: Full Body is full of style and features some tracks that even rival the iconic Persona series music. The graphics and texture feature some intense nuances that revolve around love and the struggles that go with it. Basically, the story of Catherine: Full Body is about how we change over time with our partners and what the whole concept of settling down forever with one person means. There is no shortage of light-hearted and irreverent moments, but for the most part, the story offers some dramatic twists that will keep not only newcomers but also “historical” fans glued to the screen.

Every decision matters

The decision making process in Catherine: Full Body is quite interesting. Players will have to answer questions about love and how they feel about certain qualities of a relationship before entering each level by tackling the related puzzles. Atlus even goes so far as to show the player what others have decided to choose with a lot of percentage. These decisions will ultimately change the course of history and what happens to Vincent and his complicated relationships.

The only complaint you can make to production and decision making is that it ultimately happens outside of the story. There are a handful of times when players can text each of the girls and this will affect the in-game Karma Meter as well. However, it is never really meaningful. All of these choices essentially determine Vincent's attitude towards the drama unfolding around him and in the real world.

As mentioned above, Catherine: Full Body includes a remix mode that changes some of the block types in each mission. We opted for classic puzzles in the first playthrough, but then we tried our hand at some remixed challenges. This mode adds a little more variety as the different blocks will force players to think differently about how to continue climbing. Overall, it's a good inclusion and a great way for those who have already had the original experience to experiment with new ways to play.

Between puzzles, dialogues and beautifully animated scenes, players will spend a lot of time at the bar. Here we will be able to interact with Vincent's closest friends and with many other users who seem to have relationship problems of some kind. There is a small minigame that is quite similar to real puzzles, as well as a jukebox that contains tracks from the main game and the Persona series. Players can also choose how much and what to drink each night, which in turn affects how quickly Vincent will enter the dream world when he goes to sleep at night.

Catherine: Full Body takes approx 15/20 hours to complete. The playing time will mainly depend on the depth with which players explore some of the secondary content and the difficulty with which they decide to play. For those who simply want to enjoy the story, Catherine: Full Body includes some easy options, including the "safe" mode which eliminates obstacles in the puzzles and allows Vincent to automatically climb through the autoplay function. It is great to have these options, but to fully enjoy the experience provided by the developer, it is recommended that you play at a normal level.