Catherine Review

[mikev7.0]

I mean I'm sorry about your hair but in your own words "This game isn't for everyone." If that's true then why did it get what I see as the equivalent of "Gold"??

Because a game doesn't have to be for everyone in order to be fantastic. Not all kinds of games are going to appeal to a wide audience, but that doesn't make them any less excellent in their own right. Child of Eden is another great example of that.

I provided ample evidence why I thought the game deserved the score it got - you brush that aside and assume I gave it a 4.5 simply because I'd gone in with a preconceived notion that it was great. And yet you apparently agree with some of my other reviews - so apparently I only put my ethics on hold for this one?

No this has nothing to do with Ethics! As I mentioned above, I don't understand what a reviewer could do that was "unethical." Seriously. I mean I know that it is all based on opinion and there is nothing unethical about having a different one than I do. There is also nothing wrong with my stating that my opinion is different from yours. I even stated that it's because of the rating system that I grew up with where the top tier was reserved for games anyone would enjoy.

Yes I have bought games based on your reviews before. Child of Eden being one of those (No Caveat Emptor in play there, whew! I think that game will eventually be one of the all time classics.) the other was 9 9 9. I think that was why I said something. It was like me looking back at the review and saying "Really?" since as I also mentioned I almost bought this game. Maybe it's that I should play more than just the demo and if I played the full game I would think it was as brilliant as you did? Maybe it's that people (okay I know she's faaaaaar from people but work with me here please.....) like Catherine just drive me nuts and I just can't abide a premise where I ditch Katherine for little miss "Can someone shoot my ears now please? Tee Hee." That animated demon spawn just instantly sets my teeth on edge.

Again, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I have to ask though: Is this the direction you want to see ATLUS go? Less Luminous Arc, Etrian Odyssey, My World My Way and Izuna the Unemployed Ninja and more stuff like this? Honestly, this is as rough as I've seen them get and it kind of freaks me out. When I pop an ATLUS game into my DS it's like arriving at Disneyland. That demo was my first introduction to what ATLUS would do with only one screen and the processing power of the 360. It was like arriving at Disneyland....just in hell....and there really is a staircase of Satan here?? Seriously, someone tell Eddie because he's going to laugh his ass off!

 

[Susan Arendt]

I mean I'm sorry about your hair but in your own words "This game isn't for everyone." If that's true then why did it get what I see as the equivalent of "Gold"??

Because a game doesn't have to be for everyone in order to be fantastic. Not all kinds of games are going to appeal to a wide audience, but that doesn't make them any less excellent in their own right. Child of Eden is another great example of that.

I provided ample evidence why I thought the game deserved the score it got - you brush that aside and assume I gave it a 4.5 simply because I'd gone in with a preconceived notion that it was great. And yet you apparently agree with some of my other reviews - so apparently I only put my ethics on hold for this one?

No this has nothing to do with Ethics! As I mentioned above, I don't understand what a reviewer could do that was "unethical." Seriously. I mean I know that it is all based on opinion and there is nothing unethical about having a different one than I do. There is also nothing wrong with my stating that my opinion is different from yours. I even stated that it's because of the rating system that I grew up with where the top tier was reserved for games anyone would enjoy.

Yes I have bought games based on your reviews before. Child of Eden being one of those (No Caveat Emptor in play there, whew! I think that game will eventually be one of the all time classics.) the other was 9 9 9. I think that was why I said something. It was like me looking back at the review and saying "Really?" since as I also mentioned I almost bought this game. Maybe it's that I should play more than just the demo and if I played the full game I would think it was as brilliant as you did? Maybe it's that people (okay I know she's faaaaaar from people but work with me here please.....) like Catherine just drive me nuts and I just can't abide a premise where I ditch Katherine for little miss "Can someone shoot my ears now please? Tee Hee." That animated demon spawn just instantly sets my teeth on edge.

Again, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I have to ask though: Is this the direction you want to see ATLUS go? Less Luminous Arc, Etrian Odyssey, My World My Way and Izuna the Unemployed Ninja and more stuff like this? Honestly, this is as rough as I've seen them get and it kind of freaks me out. When I pop an ATLUS game into my DS it's like arriving at Disneyland. That demo was my first introduction to what ATLUS would do with only one screen and the processing power of the 360. It was like arriving at Disneyland....just in hell....and there really is a staircase of Satan here?? Seriously, someone tell Eddie because he's going to laugh his ass off!

You blatantly stated that you thought my score was based not on my evaluation of the gameplay, but on bias created by preconceived notions.

That's a slur against my professional code of conduct and ethics.

I have no problem with you having a different experience of the game. I don't suggest for a moment that your opinion is invalid. It's unfortunate that you played a game and didn't enjoy it, but that happens sometimes.

As for the direction I want Atlus to go - absolutely. I want Atlus to continue creating and publishing unusual, quirky, intriguing games, whether I personally enjoy playing them or not. I don't insist that everything they do be to my personal specifications, because I think that they add great value to the industry simply by adding their own uniqueness to it.

 

[dalek sec]

Catherine Review

As difficult and fascinating as the woman in the title.

Read Full Article

I was hoping you might be able to answer a few questions I might have about the game since you reviewed it, I've looked around online and couldn't find any review or site that could answer them so I hope you could help me out here.

Just what exactly about the story that makes it sound interesting? From what you said about it in the review it's pretty much a guy cheats on his girlfriend with a random lady and starts to have nightmares and so on. I'm not trying to sound like a punk, I'm just wondering what makes it so interesting and mature as a few people here have put it.

Would I be able to understand this game a little bit more if I actually had some dating experience under my belt cause I keep getting that impression with these reviews about it.

Lastly was that monster at the end of the review really scary? Cause honestly to me, it look kind of silly.

Sorry for the questions but I've looked everywhere I could online at game review sites and couldn't get a straight answer from their reviews there, thank you in advanced!

 

[i don't know]

I shit myself every time I look at 3:19. It's even more mentally scarring than the breast/rear monster that came a while later.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Catherine Review

As difficult and fascinating as the woman in the title.

Read Full Article

I was hoping you might be able to answer a few questions I might have about the game since you reviewed it, I've looked around online and couldn't find any review or site that could answer them so I hope you could help me out here.

Just what exactly about the story that makes it sound interesting? From what you said about it in the review it's pretty much a guy cheats on his girlfriend with a random lady and starts to have nightmares and so on. I'm not trying to sound like a punk, I'm just wondering what makes it so interesting and mature as a few people here have put it.

Would I be able to understand this game a little bit more if I actually had some dating experience under my belt cause I keep getting that impression with these reviews about it.

Lastly was that monster at the end of the review really scary? Cause honestly to me, it look kind of silly.

Sorry for the questions but I've looked everywhere I could online at game review sites and couldn't get a straight answer from their reviews there, thank you in advanced!

The story is an excellent character study of a man with no ambition who is going through life without purpose. He is a lot like our generation. It is a great drama with memorable characters. Where I think it really comes into its own is when the plot takes a left turn into Crazyville towards the end. I can't go into it without spoilers, but trust me, it is awesome. The other questions I can't really answer.

 

[mikev7.0]

I mean I'm sorry about your hair but in your own words "This game isn't for everyone." If that's true then why did it get what I see as the equivalent of "Gold"??

Because a game doesn't have to be for everyone in order to be fantastic. Not all kinds of games are going to appeal to a wide audience, but that doesn't make them any less excellent in their own right. Child of Eden is another great example of that.

I provided ample evidence why I thought the game deserved the score it got - you brush that aside and assume I gave it a 4.5 simply because I'd gone in with a preconceived notion that it was great. And yet you apparently agree with some of my other reviews - so apparently I only put my ethics on hold for this one?

No this has nothing to do with Ethics! As I mentioned above, I don't understand what a reviewer could do that was "unethical." Seriously. I mean I know that it is all based on opinion and there is nothing unethical about having a different one than I do. There is also nothing wrong with my stating that my opinion is different from yours. I even stated that it's because of the rating system that I grew up with where the top tier was reserved for games anyone would enjoy.

Yes I have bought games based on your reviews before. Child of Eden being one of those (No Caveat Emptor in play there, whew! I think that game will eventually be one of the all time classics.) the other was 9 9 9. I think that was why I said something. It was like me looking back at the review and saying "Really?" since as I also mentioned I almost bought this game. Maybe it's that I should play more than just the demo and if I played the full game I would think it was as brilliant as you did? Maybe it's that people (okay I know she's faaaaaar from people but work with me here please.....) like Catherine just drive me nuts and I just can't abide a premise where I ditch Katherine for little miss "Can someone shoot my ears now please? Tee Hee." That animated demon spawn just instantly sets my teeth on edge.

Again, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I have to ask though: Is this the direction you want to see ATLUS go? Less Luminous Arc, Etrian Odyssey, My World My Way and Izuna the Unemployed Ninja and more stuff like this? Honestly, this is as rough as I've seen them get and it kind of freaks me out. When I pop an ATLUS game into my DS it's like arriving at Disneyland. That demo was my first introduction to what ATLUS would do with only one screen and the processing power of the 360. It was like arriving at Disneyland....just in hell....and there really is a staircase of Satan here?? Seriously, someone tell Eddie because he's going to laugh his ass off!

You blatantly stated that you thought my score was based not on my evaluation of the gameplay, but on bias created by preconceived notions.

That's a slur against my professional code of conduct and ethics.

I have no problem with you having a different experience of the game. I don't suggest for a moment that your opinion is invalid. It's unfortunate that you played a game and didn't enjoy it, but that happens sometimes.

As for the direction I want Atlus to go - absolutely. I want Atlus to continue creating and publishing unusual, quirky, intriguing games, whether I personally enjoy playing them or not. I don't insist that everything they do be to my personal specifications, because I think that they add great value to the industry simply by adding their own uniqueness to it.

Yep that's what I stated but I had no idea and didn't intend for it to be a slur against anything. I'm not a reviewer and furthermore have the belief that we all bring our preconcieved notions or bias to anything we talk about unless it's something that can be discussed in purely objective terms (like Mathematics or Science.) So I intended no offense. I was just saying how I honestly felt.

I don't insist that Atlus makes everything to my personal specifications either, I was just hoping that the first Atlus game for the 360 (Divinity II doesn't really count since it's just a remake) would be more along the lines of some of their other games that pretty much anyone can enjoy. So again, no offense, I just honestly disagree. It'll be interesting to see how the sales for it pan out. Particularly when compared to the thrice slammed (and then still beat on) Duke Nuke Em' Forever.

 

[Susan Arendt]

Catherine Review

As difficult and fascinating as the woman in the title.

Read Full Article

I was hoping you might be able to answer a few questions I might have about the game since you reviewed it, I've looked around online and couldn't find any review or site that could answer them so I hope you could help me out here.

Just what exactly about the story that makes it sound interesting? From what you said about it in the review it's pretty much a guy cheats on his girlfriend with a random lady and starts to have nightmares and so on. I'm not trying to sound like a punk, I'm just wondering what makes it so interesting and mature as a few people here have put it.

Would I be able to understand this game a little bit more if I actually had some dating experience under my belt cause I keep getting that impression with these reviews about it.

Lastly was that monster at the end of the review really scary? Cause honestly to me, it look kind of silly.

Sorry for the questions but I've looked everywhere I could online at game review sites and couldn't get a straight answer from their reviews there, thank you in advanced!

No problem! Second question first - the monster certainly looks silly, but when you think about what it represents (and can hear what it's saying) it gets far more unsettling. But mostly, I was going for a joke in the review.

Now, as to your first question, yes, I think you might understand what makes the story intriguing a bit better if you had some dating experience. Pretty much anyone who's ever been in a long-term relationship has had that moment of "Is this person the one, or am I just thinking that because we've been together for so long?" So the game creates all sorts of questions to ponder. There's more to it than guy cheats on girl, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't played it yet. Of course, what also makes the story so engaging is the acting. Any story, no matter how simple, can be made enthralling with the right people telling it, and the voice actors of Catherine are exceptionally good.

Hope that helps!

 

[mikev7.0]

*facedesk*

"Impugning our integrity??"

*blinks*

What are you? Freakin' C-SPAN now?? I don't come to the Escapist due to it's intregity man. I-I don't think anyone really does. We come here for entertainment, sorta'. More like info about entertainment. So I wasn't impugning something I don't care about here.

I dared disagree, that was all. I forgot that wasn't allowed and neither is pointing out that no one has a right to declare their opinion as fact.

I also implied that the Escapist was pro Catherine and that people thinking of buying this game should filter the review through that possibility. So how does that implication not hold water? Other than the obvious fact that it wasn't meant to. It was meant to imply something.

If you read my above posts you would also realize that the fact that a game that every person that I actually know who plays it loves it and has a lot of fun with it (about five gamers now) got a 2 is also confusing to me. That would be Duke Nuke Em'. Both games are at least average. One gets panned, the other lionized. I was just asking (myself mostly) why since I've played both games and would call them at least 3s.

Alright, so we're simply dumb or bad at our jobs then? Is that what you're saying? Look I'm perfectly fine with you disagreeing, and I never said that was wrong in any way. My point of contention was always your notion that because we've posted any content prior to the release that our reviews are no longer objective.

Wow listen to yourself(ves) a sec will you? If someone implies that you were already "for" or "Pro" something you reviewed, or just disagrees or may all the gods weep and they dare suggest that no one has a right to state their opinion as fact, you leap strait down their throat!

I never said anything about your being bad at your jobs or dumb. Ever. I just disagreed and took exception to anyone presenting their opinion as fact.

An' look I can't put it in any more clear terms than I already have, I leave it to people to play the demo and judge for themselves, that I can buy this game used already though for 25 bucks does say a lot about the level of buyers remorse in the market.

I'm not saying anything more about objectivity since as I said I reserve that for Math, Science, and C-SPAN. You are none of those and I can't use any form of english other than the one I know, so if you're still confused sorry but I can't help ya'.

 

[mikev7.0]

No not at all. Here let me finish what I was saying instead of just letting the thought trail off towards what I thought was the obvious. Come on people.... the Escapist (for whatever reason) is pro Catherine. It's obvious that you would like this game to succeed. Why the heck else would you be arguing with someone for just having a different opinion and pointing out that opinions do not equal facts?

Urr, not really. I don't really care if you like Catherine or not, or whether or not you buy it for that matter. What started this discussion was you implying that we were on Atlus' payroll because we gave Catherine a score you didn't agree with.

When did I imply that? All I implied was that you were pro-Catherine I never said that you were on ATLUS's payroll! Good god I hope not! I mean that has happened times before where game "journalism" has been concerned so a consumer wouldn't be completely of base to think it was possible but that's not what I implied.

Maybe y'all should look up where the word "forum" originated from, It means I have a right to have an opinon, it can be different than yours, and that's okay in fact at times it's actually educational. That's supposed to be the point.

 

[Slycne]

Wow listen to yourself(ves) a sec will you? If someone implies that you were already "for" or "Pro" something you reviewed, or just disagrees or may all the gods weep and they dare suggest that no one has a right to state their opinion as fact, you leap strait down their throat!

I never said anything about your being bad at your jobs or dumb. Ever. I just disagreed and took exception to anyone presenting their opinion as fact.

An' look I can't put it in any more clear terms than I already have, I leave it to people to play the demo and judge for themselves, that I can buy this game used already though for 25 bucks does say a lot about the level of buyers remorse in the market.

I'm not saying anything more about objectivity since as I said I reserve that for Math, Science, and C-SPAN. You are none of those and I can't use any form of english other than the one I know, so if you're still confused sorry but I can't help ya'.

But you didn't just disagree. That's the whole point. No one would have a problem if you simply said "Hey, I didn't have the same experience and didn't enjoy this game. Here's why."

Well at least the admitted bias explains how this game got such a glowing review and a great score, seriously, I appreciate that because before I read that post I was wondering if I had demoed the same game.

Then again that probably wouldn't help sell games and when a site does a special video for the unboxing of the deluxe edition? Come on people...

You're right there really are many reasons why someone might not enjoy this game. Too bad that wasn't in your professional review. "It might not be for everyone" doesn't quite cut it. Not when you give it an almost perfect score which in my mind should be logically reserved for only the best of games.

Beg pardon? I never said anything about a conspiracy. Those are your words. I meant to imply that a site that has carried as many articles and given as much press to this game as the Escapist has, is very likely to also give it a glowing review. I'm sure you can do the math as to why. I find this upsetting as Catherine is by no means one of the best games in my opinon or deserving of an almost perfect review. It's average. Then again the Escapist took another average game with disturbing imagery and destroyed it. I'm learning things work different here. Not so much conspiracy as spin. Basically to me if it quacks, has downy stuff, webbed feet, and a bill, it should not be so defensive when someone suggests that it probably recieved it's advanced education in Oregon.

Where I live fraud is an actual charge for an actual crime. I was trying to imply that no reviewer that was, in my opinion, trying to be honest and objective would give this game a nearly perfect score, and that what she says in the review itself as well as in her posts does not match the score. Take that as you will.

 

[Logan Westbrook]

Urr, not really. I don't really care if you like Catherine or not, or whether or not you buy it for that matter. What started this discussion was you implying that we were on Atlus' payroll because we gave Catherine a score you didn't agree with.

When did I imply that? All I implied was that you were pro-Catherine I never said that you were on ATLUS's payroll! Good god I hope not! I mean that has happened times before where game "journalism" has been concerned so a consumer wouldn't be completely of base to think it was possible but that's not what I implied.

Maybe y'all should look up where the word "forum" originated from, It means I have a right to have an opinon, it can be different than yours, and that's okay in fact at times it's actually educational. That's supposed to be the point.

As I mentioned before, I don't care whether you like Catherine or not. If you think it's an average game, that's absolutely fine with me. If you look back over my comments, at no point have I ever said that the problem was your opinion of the game.

The problem, is comments like this:

"Then again that probably wouldn't help sell games and when a site does a special video for the unboxing of the deluxe edition? Come on people...."

Now, perhaps that comment wasn't meant to suggest that our review, and indeed, our coverage, was the result of a payout, but I'm sure you can see how it could be misconstrued.

 

[standokan]

Ah well the silver lining here for me not buying the game is noone will look at me weird in the store.

 

[Chemical Alia]

An animu game about emotion and relationships from a dude's perspective. I don't think I could ever touch a game like that. I started watching a video about it and the art was so ugly I had to turn it off.

I'm all for exploring mature themes in games, but it would be better if I didn't have to be a weeaboo dude to derive enjoyment from them.

 

[DexterNorgam]

Great game. Gets pretty much everything right. The Reviewer is absolutely correct don't play through on easy mode the first time through, you're totally robbing yourself of the joy of victory.

 

[uberhippy]

wow, this Game looks really good, hadn't heard of it till now.
The Gameplay seems to work well with the theme of the game, as often dreams seem like solving puzzles, (in this case horrifying nightmares), thus the big giant evil boss fights sound perfect to create fear, tension, and help with the game..

I'm looking forward to getting this now..
Thanks Escapist!

 

[Adam Foremanski]

When is this game coming to the UK?

 

[Ohlookit'sMatty]

. . . Oh Gods. . . Ok I will say this about it, its different // For all of the 100's of FPS/sport/racing clones out there this is different

I like how they seen how people will playing anything as long as it involves over complex yet simple puzzles games and said, lets make a dating sim out of this

-M

 

[Inkidu]

I generally thought the game was terrible. I see that I'm in the minority so I'll keep the majority of my opinion to myself though. If I wasn't in a gaming drought right now I would hardly ever pick Cathrine up again. It's not as great as everyone says.