Catherine: a badly needed dose of originality, or a failed gem waiting to happen?

[SimuLord]

Just out of curiosity, but is this a paint-by-numbers JRPG or is it more like the Japanese answer to Heavy Rain?

More like the second. Adventure game with horror elements.

Eugh. I'll pass.

 

[DarkBlaze6]

I actually look forward to it's release, just to see what it's actually like.

 

[cj_iwakura]

This game appears to be exploring different grounds in story arc and character development. However I am worried it may play more like an interactive movie than an actual game if your main control of the character is only in their dreams.

This is what I was thinking of when I saw that trailer. The concept's a cool one, but I think the focus will be skewed more towards a movie rather than as an interactive medium.

You're fairly right. According to Katsura Hashino(the director, also did Persona 4), the daytime sequences will be like a Phoenix Wright-esque graphic adventure. Dialogues.

The nightmares will be like a traditional adventure game.

Multiple endings, too.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEQ4SXNWTbA&feature=watch_response

One more trailer. That one focuses on Katherine.

 

[Judgement101]

I would play it if it was made by Atlus, oh right, the discussion. I think it will strike a popular note in Japan.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Actually, it's generating hype on both sides of the pond. The director said he was surprised how many foreign comments he saw in response to the trailers.

Hopefully it does well when it gets localized.

 

[qazmatoz]

Actually, it's generating hype on both sides of the pond. The director said he was surprised how many foreign comments he saw in response to the trailers.

Hopefully it does well when it gets localized.

I'm guessing even a 100,000 units sold in NA would be optimistic, sadly.

 

[PureIrony]

In other words, a Japanese game that either won't be released outside of Japan, or will receive crap sales everywhere, but Japan.

Sounds like it would at least be a good step forward in the "artsy game" demographic.

 

[oranger]

No, the OP is right: just because a character is biologically an "adult", does not mean that said character is also mentally an adult, and thus a -real- adult (by that I mean someone who can think rationally and make rational decisions).
Many characters are at best children inside, despite their size.

 

[Tanis]

For me the game looks good, thus far.

Has that Baroque meets Digital Devil Saga meets *random action game here* feel to it.

 

[superbatranger]

I still do not understand this game. At all.

 

[Wolfram23]

I still do not understand this game. At all.

Me neither...

I've seen a couple of the trailers. It looks odd for sure. I don't really have interest in it other than how crazy it seems, so I doubt I'll ever play it but at least when it comes out I'll check out some videos of it or something. Hopefully with subtitles lol.

 

[Halo Fanboy]

This isn't a game so far. It's just a bunch of cutscenes.

Also the whole young PC isn't as common as you think.

Marcus Fenix is older than 30. Chris and Jill are also older than 30 now. Snake is 40+, Master Chief is 50+. All very popular games.

 

[Deleted]

Atlus' first next-gen game is exploring what's pretty much unknown territory in the gaming industry.

The life of a 30-something year old character.

For the unfamiliar...

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 salaryman who has no ambition in work or love runs into the mysterious Catherine one day. Ever since meeting her, he has unending nightmares about falling to his death.

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.

Making matters worse is the fact that his long-term girlfriend, Katherine(with a K) has just informed Vincent of her pregnancy. And if she finds out about Catherine, sparks are bound to fly...

Trailer here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZfTlqB-xyc



So is the spark of life the game industry needs, or a direction no one cares about?

Does the industry thrive on teenage, androgynous, whiny protagonists(and worse, lolis), or could it use more actual adults?

I resent that comment saying lolis are worse than whiny protagonists.

This game looks like "Lonely Man's Wishes: The Game!" But I'm still looking forward to try it out.

 

[Asuka Soryu]

Why do you assume the "game industry" is filled with teenage, androgynous, whiny etc. characters? Sounds like an anime thing to me more than a game thing.

That's a stereotype.

There's plenty of animes that have non-androgynous males.

Great Teacher Onizuka
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball Z
One Piece
Bleach
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Trigun
BoBoBoBoBoBoBo
Soul Eater
and others

 

[Brickcups]

It's from Atlus. It will probably fail hard in NA, but it'll be a gem with quite a following. SMT: Nocturne was awesome but never took off (much like the rest of the mega-tens). It's sad, but i'm sure this game will follow in their footsteps.

Also, it'll be nice to play a... jrpg (really wish there was some actual gameplay footage)? where you don't play as some kid destined to save the universe after a long day at school.