What a fine night to have a curse!

An unusual game awaits anyone who is 'Catherine' a chance. Who a touch Japanese-style not cope with, tend to beat up desperately at sliding puzzles video games in his hands over his head and like to quickly run through the story, which it is likely to have a hard time here. Because the story of Vincent Brooks (who is the worst liar of all time), his ambitious girlfriend Katherine McBride (the name says it all), the seductive affair Catherine (may be puzzled about their identity long) and a series of mysterious deaths has mainly (if not exclusively!) attentive players who have an eye for detail, to deal intensively with the supporting characters and to be able to enjoy for growing up on the overwrought symbolism such as the portrayal of men as a flock of sheep and seemingly endless towers as a metaphor. In addition, the story between horror and daily takes the player with incorrect hints sometimes by the nose and aimed clearly at issues such as loyalty and responsibility at an adult audience. However, the pendulum between drought and slapstick humor comes here not too short, so that one is motivated to continue playing in the search for the cause behind all the mysterious events. The relatively short loading times are sent bridged by citations of great poets and thinkers are displayed on topics like love and marriage (until you've seen them all, some time passes).
The gameplay is divided into two sections: The majority make the Nightmare Stages from where Vincent climbs for his life, pushes and pulls, always on the way to the top while the bottom is increasingly breaking away. Here not only brains, but also the need for speed. Both the resting points between levels as well as in his local pub 'Stray Sheep' then comes the social aspect of the game to fruition. In addition to the consumption of various alcoholic beverages, which can be constantly drunk Vincent and (their formulations have an impact on whether you get a response and if so, which) the writing of text messages to girlfriend and affair is especially the dialogue with the other figures in the foreground because each person has to tell their own story. In addition, Vincent reactions in the talks affect his 'Karma Meter' and depending on how the player chooses, the history can take very different ends. Depending on how you answer people talking, you will also receive other reactions from them. If in doubt, always coaxing each well, otherwise you can hear his name perhaps the next night on the news.

Rounding out all of this by monstrous and highly symbolic boss monsters, which it is to escape and the additional mode 'Babel', where by good performances in Story Mode or four tough marathon stages can be unlocked to. Since this mode still holds an interesting twist to the story, so you should not despise him if possible. Unfortunately, the last level 'Axis Mundi' in the NA / EU version of the game has become unplayable by a glitch, but fortunately you can draw on the (also generally somewhat simpler) two-player mode to earn his spurs.
All this is backed by a sovereign soundtrack from New arrangements of classical pieces (in the Action Stages), relaxing sounds of jazz and easy listening composed (in the Stray Sheep), including some outlier songs. That much attention was paid to the music, also contributes to the intensity of the game action.

Two small criticisms are still attached.

Point 1: The Karma Meter could have been decisive. The choice between the sentiments 'chaos' and 'order' affects only partial in the cutscenes (purely decorative so) and to ultimately gained from playing. Of course, we are here not in Heavy Rain, the items are not comparable, but nevertheless, something more important for this feature I would have then but already sometimes desired.
Point 2: The Arcade Machine 'Rapunzel' (as opposed to the main story there is no speed, but pure thinking puzzles) while going by its size by almost a play within a play, but he drives over long distances the difficulty of the game outrageous in the air and ensures many frustrating moments.

In addition, the learning curve of the game is slightly disproportionate to my mind. In my first run on 'normal', it took until the end of Stage 4, until I got a feel for the block-mechanics and really knew exactly what I was doing. Wipe That may be due to my ineptitude, but in general I recommend every player to use to kick-off in the 'Stray Sheep' sections the replay function of mobile phones to collect a bit of sensitivity for the gameplay in the first two stages, otherwise the later parts of the tower on the ground with a. No objective criticism ie, only a personal note on my part. In contrast, levels that have been completed on the level of difficulty even with the optimal 'Gold Prize' evaluation, are always completely skipped what I see on the hunt for every quarter as a very fine train of developers.

The bottom line, therefore, is a very special game for which you have to bring some patience and training period, but which will not go unrewarded. Ambitious 100% -Jäger like me with the hellish Rapunzel machines, the Babel-challenges and the difficulty level 'Hard' and other features such as the collection of alcohol Trivia truly well served (this culminates in a total playing time of over 60 hours). Those who want to enjoy only the story, it plays once quickly to 'Easy' by and has its pleasure (as the game recommended). In any case, you should look at 'Catherine' always twice and listen, because each character is a mosaic piece in the history and who inattentive by the 'Golden Playhouse' (read: the story) running, which could so miss some stories of interest, for example, to discover the tragic fate of the regulars, the prophetic discussions with the two old ladies or gruesome visions on the bars toilet, there is a lot.
Nevertheless, 'Catherine' just not a game for everyone. Nevertheless, or precisely for that reason it has given me a lot of fun and tricky hours.