Words cannot express how much I want Catherine right now. Famitsu, the world's most prematurely-scanned game rag, has splattered a saucy new trailer and a sack full of screens onto the internet, and I'll be damned if this game doesn't look pretty f*cking awesome.
Developed by the team behind Persona 3 and 4 and Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, the new action-adventure title skews - as promised - towards the adult range of the spectrum, oozing style, sexiness, Japanese rap, and...walking lambs that wear ties. It might not be work-safe, though, so buffer with caution. Suffice it to say that it goes far beyond suggestive pizza-eating.
In the space of a single night Atlus has managed to erect this game all the way to the top of my most-wanted list. Is it on yours yet?
Check below for some more details teased out of of the Famitsu preview.
As mentioned last night, the game stars Vincent, a 32-year-old bachelor who's become something of a "herbivore man" (a Japanese slang term for men who've given up on finding love), at least until he meets the 22-year-old Catherine, who's described as having a "charming face" and "well-rounded proportions".
Soon after, Vincent starts having nightmares, wherein he, stripped down to his boxers and somehow equipped with ram's horns, must climb an endless staircase to wake up, lest he end up slaughtered, like the other "lambs", who happen to be talking sheep that walk on two legs (and occasionally wear neckties).
As might be expected, there are some ties between the dream world (where the in-game action should happen) and the real world, as a news broadcast in the trailer reports a young man's dying in his sleep, and rumors that if one falls while experiencing a certain nightmare, one dies in real life.
Overall Famitsu's coverage was a bit light on information about Catherine's actual mechanics, but had some intriguing quotes from the staffers working on the game:
Director/Producer Katsura Hashino said that he and the team "wanted to try something different" for their first HD outing, before going with a "mainline" RPG, and that the results they got were "quite interesting". They're aiming to provide a deep experience with lots of play for gamers to get into, while feeling new and interesting.
Character Designer/Art Director Shigenori Soejima said that Catherine provided the opportunity for the team to try things they wouldn't otherwise dare, as well as enabling them to do things that are definitely more adult-oriented, with more "daring and audacious" visuals as well as some "shocking" scenes.
Composer/Sound Director Shouji Meguro, aside from providing helpful keywords for the game's music ("classic", "adult", and "erotic"), noted that when he answered questions with "I'm working on a game that's not an RPG", he was referring to Catherine. He joked that perhaps once this project was done, he'd be able to respond with "I'm working on a game that's an RPG".
Catherine's 2D animated scenes will be produced by Studio 4°C (Transformers Animated, Tekkon Kinkreet, Thundercats 2011). Vincent's Japanese voice will be provided by Koichi Yamada (Cowboy Bebop's Spike), and Catherine will be voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro (Durarara!!'s Celty and Bakemonogatari's Kanbaru).
The game is about 80% complete, and is scheduled for a "Winter 2010" release on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The official site should open up on August 23, and more information might come out as the Tokyo Game Show rolls around.
Until then..well, I guess I'm stuck with a case of game-preview blueballs.
Contest:
4:40 PM on 08.19.2010
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Jesus heavens to betsy, how I do ever want this game so very very much.
Man, I am excite! I just can't imagine Catherine being a bad game. I can also identify with Vincent, as a self proclaimed "Herbivore Man", who just met someone out of the blue that could change everything :)
@Batthink - Actually, so far it appears that it isn't an SMT game, but rather a brand new IP developed by the team who worked on a number of SMT games. The fact that it is a new IP actually makes me a little more excited. I love SMT, but it's so rare for Atlus to release new IP's that I'm far more curious at what this will turn out to be.
You don't just make a guy that looks like Spike and has Spike's Japanese voice actor and NOT call Steve Blum.
Also in the second pic there’s a Teddie doll in the top right corner, I love me some shout outs.
Haruki Murakami references for every Catherine news post until this game gets translated. End of.
@Handy
I thought that was beary cool[/i]! I'm beary glad you noticed that because I was to bearsy getting hyped to notice. Really I'm so excited I can bearly control myself!
Again.
@Cla - Those graphics are likely probably pretty time consuming and costly as well. I wouldn't be surprised if the anime cut-scenes were actually simpler to use.
With sheep.
Holy shit, you mean I'm not the only one who's read his work? You sir, have good taste in modern Japanese literature.
Like I said on Japanator, shame this means P5 is being put on hold, but this game looks so stylish and unique that I really hope it turns out to be amazing.
Oh, and calling dibs on he was never that handsome, he was always a weird skeleton dude like in the news report, and Catherine is some kind of macabro demon going into perverted minds and sucking the life outta them.
I'll be keeping a close eye on it.
That said, the game looks incredibly interesting and I can't wait to play it.
Oh and very excited. Interesting character designs and story direction that feels like a breath of fresh air. now just a little more information on gameplay and I'm a happy man.