Catherine (video game)

Lore & Background

Catherine was developed by the same studio behind the Persona series, including producer and director Katsura Hashino, character designer Shigenori Soejima, and music composer Shoji Meguro. The English localization was handled by Atlus USA. Full Body was developed by Studio Zero, a then-newly formed division within Atlus led by Hashino, which expanded the original by adding a new love interest named Rin, short for Qatherine. The game's story is presented as a story within a story on Golden Playhouse, a television program described as 'like a Saturday morning theatre, with a bit of a Twilight Zone vibe.' The setting is the American space colony of Neo-Brooklyn, as revealed in Full Body.

Reader's Guide

Catherine received generally positive reception, with critics praising its mature subject matter and gameplay, though some criticism was directed towards its difficulty. In response, Atlus released a patch with an 'Easy' mode. The game was nominated for several awards and exceeded Atlus' sales expectations, having sold over one million copies worldwide by 2017. The gameplay is divided into daytime social simulation at the Stray Sheep bar and nightmare stages where Vincent climbs towers made of blocks that collapse beneath him. Players can earn pillows to retry levels, purchase drinks that aid or hinder movement, and play a minigame called 'Rapunzel.' Full Body added a new 'Safety' difficulty that removes threats and time limits, a new character Rin who can halt the tower's collapse, and new online multiplayer modes. The game's multiple endings depend on choices made during the narrative.

Did You Know?

• The game's English voice cast includes Troy Baker as Vincent and Laura Bailey as Catherine.
• Full Body's new character Rin is revealed to be an otokonoko boy and part of a species of angel-like aliens.

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