As detailed below, Catherine is the first HD game from Atlus. It's being made with key members of the Persona staff. Included in the staff list are Katsura Hashino as producer and director, Shigenori Soejima as character designer, and Shouji Meguro as sound composer.
While the game's name is Catherine, the main character is actually a 32-year-old salaryman named Vincent (voiced by Koichi Yamadera). Catherine (voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro) is a stylish 22-year-old girl who apparently has the charms of a young girl.
The game begins when Vincent, a vegetarian who has no ambition in work or love (I'm not sure if he's literally a "vegetarian," or if the term "vegetarian" is some sort of metaphor for his personality) runs into the mysterious Catherine one day. At night, he has nightmares.
The nightmares serve as an action component for the game. Set in a world with an unending stairway, Vincent has to make it to the top of the stairs, or he will not be able to awaken.
Based off Game Jouhou's summary, it's a bit unclear how the game will progress. However, it does seem that even during the nightmare action parts, you'll end up working through the story and encountering events.
During a staff interview, Hashino said that as their first HD game, rather than trying out a true RPG, the team was excited about trying out something new. It looks like Catherine will be just that, as Hashino said it will be more adult oriented than past titles from the team. It's not all style, though. Hashino promised a deep play experience with plenty of gameplay for players to sink their teeth into.
Soejima said that there are some shockingly adult scenes in the game. When you play these scenes, they'll be even more stimulating, although in a difference sense.
Meguro confirmed the adult leanings of the title, saying that the keywords for the game's music are "classic," "adult oriented" and "erotic." He also promised 5.1ch sound.
The latest issue of Japanese magazine, Famitsu, has the lowdown on some new information about Atlus' upcoming PS3 and Xbox 360 title, Catherine. Created by the same team as the Persona series, Catherine has gained a lot of attention for a unique look and premise. Finally, Atlus has shared the first details about the gameplay for the title, picture emails, and some story elements.
Vincent isn't the only one suffering from these terrifying nightmares. It turns out that three of his guy friends are also having the same dreams. There is Johnny, Toby, and Orlando. All of which are friends with Vincent for many years and have a narrow-minded view on love and marriage.
As for gameplay, you have witnessed Vincent running away from monsters in an odd world during the trailers, but now you can make sense of what is going on a bit more. According to Famitsu, the action part of the game will take place in this nightmare world were Vincent has to run from mysterious creatures. You'll have to avoid monsters, obstacles, and other obstructions to get by, but if you fall off the level or get captured by the monster, it's game over. The level design looks to be a mix of 2.5D and 3D.
There will also be a phone email system in place, which was revealed in the last trailer. Emails will serve as a means to communicate with Katherine and Catherine, but Catherine is one to send "naughty" pictures to Vincent. How big of an impact this element will play remains to be known, but it could be interesting.
A new monster is also revealed. You can view it in the slideshow and as you can see, it's an odd creation. This is what will chase you in your nightmares throughout the game. The creature has muscular arms, but appears to be a female body or a joint body of a man and woman -- hard to tell.
Details are slowly being revealed on Catherine as the title creeps towards a Fall release in Japan.
Aww man, if this doesn't get a western release...
Finally, some solid details on Catherine's action component! Famitsu has a two page spread on the game this week, and the central topic is the game's action part, which is set in main character Vincent's nightmares.
As previously detailed, the Catherine experience can be largely split into three parts. There's the adventure part which is set in the Stray Sheep Bar and has Vincent drinking, speaking with his buddies, and receiving e-mails. There's the story part which tells the game's story through anime and event scenes. And there's the nightmares-based action part.
Vincent sees his action-oriented nightmares every night. During these sequences, he must flee from mysterious creatures while climbing a stage that's set up like a giant flight of stairs, with the aim of reaching the exit at the top of the stage.
The term "stairway" may make you think of the kind of stairway that you use in real life. While some screenshots have shown in-game areas that look like this, the screens in this week's Famitsu look more like a giant tower of blocks, somewhat like Jenga.
Vincent can push and pull the blocks left, right, in and out in order to form steps and stepping spaces. You die if Vincent runs out of time or falls, so creating a safe and efficient pathway appears to be one of the goals.
Some of the blocks that make up the stairway are special. Examples include "Trap Type" and "Bomb Type." Trap type blocks have spikes coming out from their top. Bomb type blocks trigger an explosion when stepped on. This explosion engulfs surrounding blocks. Famitsu doesn't mention any use for the trap type blocks, but it suggests that you may be able to consciously use the bomb type blocks to create new paths.
Three stages are shown in the magazine. They're labeled: "Stage 3: Torture Chamber," "Stage 5 Quadrangle," and "Stage 6: Clock Tower." There seems to be color and theme differences between the stages.
The magazine also shows a stage clear scene. This shows how far up the stairway you climbed, and lists a "Safety Bonus." The player in the screenshot received a "Silver Prize" trophy, which looks like a couple of cherubs standing under a bell.
Those darn sheep men have somewhat of a role in the game's dream component. By speaking to the sheep, you can gain important information which can be useful if you manage to wake up from your nightmare the following morning.
Separate from these gameplay details, Famitsu's information box for the game lists Xbox Live and PlayStation Network Compatibility. It's unclear what form this will take.
^ I see myself dying A LOT already in this game XD
and then things get Atlus
If you're hoping to get your twitching fingers on Atlus' sexy "Q*Bert with tits" horror puzzler Catherine, then prepare for some bad news. Atlus has confessed that it currently has no intention of bringing the game Westward.
Atlus' US branch was quite frank with its statement: “Catherine is a Japan-only game and there are no plans for a NA release at this time. Sorry about that!”
So that's that. Bear in mind, of course, that a lack of planning does not mean the game will never get localized. Currently, the game is doing quite well in Japan, so that's at least a sign that the property is making some cash. Whether that cash will be spent on giving Catherine to the round-eyes, who knows?
As of right now, don't hold your breath, but don't kill yourself out of depression either. I'd be surprised if this didn't make it here eventually, given Atlus' history.
QuoteIf you're hoping to get your twitching fingers on Atlus' sexy "Q*Bert with tits" horror puzzler Catherine, then prepare for some bad news. Atlus has confessed that it currently has no intention of bringing the game Westward.
Atlus' US branch was quite frank with its statement: “Catherine is a Japan-only game and there are no plans for a NA release at this time. Sorry about that!”
So that's that. Bear in mind, of course, that a lack of planning does not mean the game will never get localized. Currently, the game is doing quite well in Japan, so that's at least a sign that the property is making some cash. Whether that cash will be spent on giving Catherine to the round-eyes, who knows?
As of right now, don't hold your breath, but don't kill yourself out of depression either. I'd be surprised if this didn't make it here eventually, given Atlus' history.
http://www.destructoid.com/atlus-has-no-plans-to-release-catherine-in-north-america-194958.phtml (http://www.destructoid.com/atlus-has-no-plans-to-release-catherine-in-north-america-194958.phtml)
:( Well from what I hear, there's a lot of dialogue in that game so it may even take it's time for localisation, voice work etc. At that I'd suspect it wouldn't even be released this year if that were the case. I think it'll arrive eventually, just not soon.
.......:(
PERVERTS UNITE! I'll be playing the crap out of this sheep-loving, Japanese sexshay-time game when it hits US shores
<Persona Teams> challenged the new frontier, action-adventure game, "Catherine". Publish all of its spectacular visuals and scenarios.
"Catherine" to your heart can enjoy a number of beautiful illustrations, large size size A4. In addition to covering all dialogs, including the ending part of the drama, "where there is open th 'other visuals in the game, including the Sha-mail, and included many of the premiere content, such as the initial sketch of the development team treasured . Without doubt one of the book to be a collection of luxury.
Speaking of Persona..well, not really, but I found out my friend is interested in Catherine. Now, I think I want the game (even though the demo freaked me out)
I'm so getting this!!!
This Year’s Sexiest Game Gets One Sexy Statue (http://kotaku.com/5829017/this-years-sexiest-game-gets-one-sexy-statue/gallery/1)