Catherine: Full Body has made its way to Nintendo Switch with a number of added benefits that weren't present in the PlayStation 4 version of the game. The ability to play Catherine: Full Body on the go, coupled with the extra content that is now bundled in the game make the Switch port the definitive Catherine experience to date.
Catherine: Full Body is an improved version of a puzzle-platformer that was originally released in 2011. It stars a slacker named Vincent, who becomes the object of desire for three different women. Each night, Vincent is thrust into a deadly game in his nightmares, where he must climb a tower made from falling blocks in order to reach the exit, in order to wake up in one piece the next morning.
To scale the tower, Vincent must push and pull blocks to create a staircase, while navigating hazards along the way. Vincent's actions during the daytime will determine the course of the story, as he must choose between sticking with his girlfriend Katherine, leaving her for the alluring Catherine, or finding new love with the mysterious Qatherine. It bears mentioning that Catherine: Full Body is an M-rated title due to its adult themes, sexual content, and violent imagery. Catherine: Full Body has a twisted sense of humor and is filled with bizarre imagery, which is standard fare for an Atlus title, but the weirdness on display might be off-putting to those who aren't aware of what they are getting themselves in for beforehand.
In our original Catherine: Full Body review for PlayStation 4, we praised its stellar gameplay, intriguing story, and excellent multiplayer modes. All of that is present in the Nintendo Switch version of the game, and the jump to a less powerful system hasn't diminished its quality. The Switch version of Catherine: Full Body is just as impressive as the PlayStation 4 version of the game in terms of both graphics and load times, regardless of whether it's played in handheld mode or on a TV.
The biggest improvement that the Switch port brings to Catherine: Full Body involves the multiplayer aspect of the game. The original version of Catherine found an audience for its competitive multiplayer at gaming events, which led to those modes being vastly improved in Full Body, thanks to the inclusion of online play. The handheld nature of the Switch means that it's easier than ever to play local matches of Catherine: Full Body in a tournament setting or at a friend's house, especially as the controls for the game are simple, making them easy to perform on a single Joy-Con.
All of the DLC for Catherine: Full Body is included for free in the Switch port of the game. This includes adding different playable characters to the game, such as Joker from Persona 5. Playing as Joker in the Colosseum (which is a puzzle mode that exists outside of the main story) also includes cameos from the other Phantom Thieves from Persona 5, who will provide running commentary as he tries to complete the stage. The DLC content also includes the horn-rimmed glasses item, which allows the player to see every character in their underwear, as well as different voices for Catherine when using the Japanese language option for the voices. The only brand new content in Catherine: Full Body on Switch that isn't available in the PlayStation 4 version of the game are three new voices Japanese voices, so the game isn't worth double-dipping for if it has already been purchased on another system, except for fans of the multiplayer modes.
Catherine: Full Body features an excellent single-player campaign, even though its excessive fan service and violence might be too much for some. The Switch version of Catherine: Full Body retains all of this great content while improving upon the other modes in the game, in order to give it even longer-lasting appeal. The new content on offer in Catherine: Full Body isn't enough to warrant another purchase to those who own it on PlayStation 4, but it's a must-have title for those who haven't experienced the original version of the game. Atlus has finally been leaving its comfort zone with multi-platform releases of older titles and it's great that the Catherine: Full Body port is so well polished. The success of Persona 4 Golden on Steam will likely lead to more Atlus games being ported to modern systems, and we hope they are of the same quality as Catherine: Full Body on Switch.
Catherine: Full Body will be released for Nintendo Switch on July 7, 2020. It's also available now for PlayStation 4. A digital copy of the game was provided to Screen Rant by Sega of America for the purposes of this review.