1:24pm - The latest title from Atlus, Catherine, sports horror driven puzzles and a relationship oriented anime story. If you haven't heard of it by now then, well, I don't know what to say to you. The plot follows Vincent as he struggles to tie the knot with his long term girlfriend even as a young temptress turns up at a bar one night to turn everything upside down. This edition is brought to you by Ethan, James, Greg and the wonderful people at the Lawrence Park Starbucks.
1:31pm - The style of the game is winning us over immediately. Anime cut scenes blend perfectly with the art style of the in-game graphics. Add to that the soul infused background jazz during story mode and the Disney inspired orchestrations for puzzle gameplay and it's an easy sell.
1:37pm - First puzzle throws you right in with little preparation. Death quickly follows when shifting a box around leads the above one to fall and squash Vincent in a bloody mess..."Love is Over."
1:42pm - Text from the GF (Katherine) babbling about how all her friends are married and asking if Vince is out with the gang. Response = "Guilty as charged."
1:44pm - And after a glance from the Stan Lee barman, Catherine waltzes in asking if she can sit down out V's table. Infidelity never looked so fine.
1:49pm - Second puzzle stage is a little more complex. Still figuring out the mechanics of navigating these magic blocks, but check points and "reverses" help make the experience more exciting then exasperating.
1:54pm - After listening to that church bell continually ring, second state is complete. Another win for love!
1:56pm - AT the top of this climb a bunch of sheep relay some helpful exposition. More or less they tell Vincent: Gotta keep climbing or you'll die, if you don't run you'll die, and the bell is some kind of church (nailed it). These sheep would not make the best confidence coaches. Music and ambiance are spot on.
1:59pm - Vince and the sheep swap block climbing techniques. First on the list is the "Pyramid." Great way to slip tutorial into the game. Optional for those who want to skip it, and plausible within the scheme of things...well about as plausible as walking sheep bumming around in a this church bell way-station. Words of wisdom from one sheep, "Everyone dies eventually, dieing sooner saves you some pain." Whoa guy, let's take it down a notch.
2:03pm - Mysterious voice asking Vince the first "morality" question of the game, "Is marriage the point at which life begins, or ends?" Going with the minority on this one apparently.
2:06pm - Moving on to the next stage, ran into some sheep friend (or more like sheep assholes). Sheep are falling left and right to their death..."I'm falllliiinnnggg." Yeah no shit sheep, I can see that.
2:08pm - So far biggest set back is the bloody camera views at point. You can use the right analog stick to look left or right but it can be a pain in the ass. Catherine does not let you mess around. Pull the wrong block and your in a tight spot, pull two and your likely utterly screwed.
2:10pm - Ethan has taken the reigns....The controls can be annoying at times, jumping around blocks it doesn't always disengage in time though Ethan did just kick a sheep to its utter demise because it wouldn't shut up.
2:20pm - We discovered the helpful "undo" button can be hit repeatedly. I cannot believe this game without that god saving button. Once again, the Japanese show us up with their game playing prowess.
2:22pm - We are burning through retries like a fat kid's Milk Duds.
2:23pm - Ah, we are not burning through retries like "a fat kid's Milk Duds." You can thank me for completing the third puzzle after diving in head first.
2:25pm - Swapping more tricks of the trade with more sheep at the summit of the next challenge. Mysterious voices, night terrors, and more personality test questions. Next up, time to see how Jim makes out on puzzle state 4. Is that a boss fight or are those demonic hands clutching a giant fork just happy to see me?
2:33pm - "This is fucking brutal..." says Jim, moments after being skewered with the nightmare fork. Not the dream daemon is yelling at him, "Take RESPONSIBILITY!" Agreed Jimbo.
2:40pm - Waking up next to Catherine and watching Vincent recollect the night before. She had me at, "You taste like smoke, but I don't mind."
2:45pm - C runs off to the dentist. Very suspicious. Meanwhile Vince get's some bro advice while grabbing lunch. Later on that evening the gang chides V for cheating as the waitress warns about all of the adulterous men who have been dieing recently. This curse wouldn't happen to involve the host of Cheaters would it?
3:03pm - Two guys at the bar are trying to sell us suits while Stan lee serves drinks. In-game mini called "Rapunzel" imitates Catherine's puzzle mechanic while Tetris theme music plays on loop.
3:08pm - Just when you thought it was safe Catherine sends an explicit text...of her lips. Re: That's it?
3:15pm - Greg's contribution to strategy, "Cheating, just keep cheating."