Catherine Full Body is a revitalized version of the 2013 game Catherine. This game tells the story of a young man named Vincent and the women who make his life one worth living. Each of these women has their own dark secrets and Vincent might not realize he’s ending up with the wrong woman. Work to figure it out with him and discover the truth behind the question which Catherine is right for Vincent?
The main character Vincent has been dating Katherine for years and they are rather close. He isn’t sure if he should marry her and the forces that be, decide to push him into deciding. This is how he meets the other Catherine. Though this game also adds another girl, a third Catherine named Rin. These three Catherines will turn his world on its head for the better or worse.Katherine is the first of the girls that Vincent interacts with as stated above. She is the most sensible option based on how long they have been together. Catherine, on the other hand, is the exact opposite and far more menacing than she lets on. Using her feminine wiles she charms poor Vincent. Though it is up to the player how much her charm works. Rin is a brand new character and one that turns the game on its head. This girl seems to be far nicer than Katherine or Catherine. But she does hide quite a secret which players will uncover as they play the game. Her endings certainly do change the feel of the game, and it’s quite interesting.
Vincent hangs out at the bar The Stray Sheep and that is where all of the characters connect. It’s fun to talk to everybody and rather important too. By not talking to everyone players won’t be able to get the characters specific achievements or save their lives. Talking to everyone will assure that they live on. Players might not be able to save everyone but it’s always best to save as many people as possible. Some of the characters are helpful in the dream world and losing out on some tricks of the trade will cost the player. Some of the characters simply just have interesting storylines and it’s great to finish them.
One big part of enjoying the player’s time at the bar is drinking. While Vincent drinks he adjusts the speed of the puzzles that night. He also will learn trivia based on either Beer, Wine, Sake, or Mixed Drinks. It’s interesting learning so many alcohol facts while playing a game. I certainly found many of them to be genuinely worth knowing, plus they each garner an achievement! Players can also play a game called Rapunzel which is a 3D old-school styled version of the main block moving game. It’s great to play as it can help sharpen the player’s skills especially after clearing the game in its entirety. This game plays just like the main game but has old-school music and a whole different feel. There are even multiple endings for it!
The game is also filled with songs for the player to listen too while at the bar. These songs include hits from the Persona series and even some songs from Atlus’ in progress game Re Fantasy. It is great to mix things up and listen to songs as the player enjoys time at the bar. Vincent will get a good amount of calls and texts throughout the game. It is important to answer these with the right responses. The text messages can change the score for the ending so be sure to save before answering or risk getting a different ending. Maybe Vincent doesn’t want to answer certain characters, it’s up to the player
The game plays the same as the original game with the player going through a gauntlet of puzzles. These puzzles all revolve around pushing and pulling blocks. It can get quite troublesome dealing with the puzzles but completing them is always fantastic.The puzzles get harder as Vincent climbs the tower and more things pop in to cause trouble. The challenge just gets harder and harder the higher Vincent climbs. It’s always interesting seeing what will appear next. Sometimes the obstacles throw a wrench into things.
As Vincent climbs the tower he will arrive at small resting zones. These zones not only house the elevator to the next floor but other characters as well. These characters are important as they will often tell Vincent strategies to move the blocks efficiently. Talk to them every time to gather all sorts of tricks. On these levels players also can buy items. While it is possible to find items while playing sometimes players will need a little help. Gather coins while playing and spend them to buy some cool trinkets. Though buying them will stop the player from achieving gold rank. It just might come in handy.
This game has 13 different endings to watch and they depend on how players answer questions. There are quite a few questions so a guide might help. It is important to take stock of how these answers might sound to someone. There is a rather delightful host to guide the player who will ask the questions so it’s good to listen to his responses, maybe he will help the player see the light. The endings are broken up into a few categories depending on how they affect the hero. Each of the heroines has its own good and bad ending. There are a few endings where Vincent dies or is left alone at the end too. But the real prize is the true ending, is the player up to the challenge?
Catherine Full Body is playable online too. This mode allows players to compete for the high scores on a leaderboard. It’s definitely good to polish up one’s skills if they intend to climb the leaderboard. It’s not for the faint of heart, because the player does not only need to be fast but they also need to collect as much gold as possible! This game is also masterfully voice acted which always puts a smile on my face. I enjoy hearing the characters discuss their problems and always will. The voices for the characters fit them quite nicely and its rather nice hearing them talk, rather than having to read the whole thing. Though this game does allow for a subtitled experience as well.
This game also has DLC for the player to enjoy. In this DLC players can play as the fantastic Joker of Persona 5 fame. Joker might play just like Vincent but he also kind of looks like him. It’s great seeing one of my favorite characters of all time in another game so it’s all good with me!
Catherine Fully Body is a fantastic remake and one that just too much fun. The puzzle system does take some time to get used to but once the player understands how it works, they will do fine. Vincent needs to choose who he will spend the rest of his life with will the player be his wingman?
*Review Code given for purposes of review