Never before has mainstream gaming received such debauchery.

Atlus is a game company no stranger to controversy. 1999′s Persona 2: Innocent Sin popularized teen homosexuality in the world’s first homosexual dating sim, 2007′s Persona 3 increased teen suicide in Japan by 19%, and 2008′s Persona 4 encouraged teen promiscuity for both sexes. Twice have their products been banned by the Diet of Japan and ten times have there been fatwa’s issued against the Atlus idol, Jack Frost. But with Catherine, Atlus Persona Team has guaranteed themselves a place in the 30th circle of Hell.

STORY

Gluttony and greed, wrapped in a pornographic package.

Catherine is a videogame in which you play as Vincent Brooks, an upstanding member of society, only to be dragged into decadence by the titular harlot. What follows is a 60 hour sexual bonanza unparalleled even by the likes of Caligula. The game then ends with Vincent arrested for making obscure gestures at a passing vicar.

If that final note of divine justice was intended to absolve this game of all its sins, Atlus Persona Team has failed.

VISUALS AND AUDIO

All images authentically captured with love and care from 2-BIT! journalists and not stolen from other sites.

Completely wretched. It is a display of Japanese opulence, much like in their animes. Typical of their race, they are incapable of rendering a realistic human, resorting to “stylism”. As if that were not insulting enough, the explicit sex scenes (containing visible unprotected penetration) were so sickening, this reviewer was forced to have an erection. And the music is no exception; if anything, the subsequent unintended orgasm lay at the vile vibrations of Catherine‘s soundtrack. A sure sign of absolute evil, no doubt.

Art director Shigenori Soejima and composer Shoji Meguro deserve nothing less than a stoning.

CRITICISM

Also threesomes.

What makes Catherine especially disgusting is the fact that you’re allowed to cavort with skanks night after night with no repercussions aside from occasional pregnancies, which unlocks an abortion mini-game, the only mini-game featured. In it, you are supposed to support Catherine in her decision to have an abortion and provide emotional support; as if the silly wench had the intelligence to make such a choice. Not once do you have the option to slap her and order her to make you a sandwich.

For a game that allows 120 different sexual positions, its so-called “sexual freedom” does not allow a single deviation from the deviance displayed.

Where is the opportunity to beat Catherine to death for being the Whore of Babylon reborn? In a proper videogame, such as Grand Theft Auto, the wholesale slaughter of streetwalkers is a glorious holy mission, with cash rewards; here was a chance to use the 360 Kinect and PS3 Move wasted. In Catherine, even insulting women lowers your final score. Rather, to win the game, you must sexually please them instead of yourself; insanity! Needless to say, this reviewer could not finish this filth.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Lust, caution.

Moral poison from a pagan nation, Catherine‘s depravity was enough to entice this reviewer to unwillingly commit multiple acts of continued adultery.

FINAL RATING

SIX POINT NINE

Catherine released in North America on July 26th, 2011. A 360, PS3, and Sega Saturn game.

[N. Black is an award-winning journalist in the Internet. Is the Editor-In-Chief of 2-BIT! and founder of New Game+ Journalism. Intrudes into dreamquests every so often.]