TITLE
I Wouldn’t Have Transitioned Without Catherine
AUTHOR
Madeline Blondeau
PUBLICATION
Paste Magazine
YEAR
2023
ARTICLE TYPE
Article
FROM THE ARTICLE
Catherine attracted a fair deal of controversy when it launched, much of which had to do with the game’s overtly sexual nature. The 2011 Atlus cult classic was a game about sex for mature audiences, and 12 years ago, that was still a lot for America. Some retailers stocked alternate, less risque covers, which was easy gaming blog headline fodder. The game’s content itself garnered a fair degree of controversy, too, what with its half-naked anime girls and central theme of infidelity.But this was only the surface level discussion. As the decade wore on, Catherine found itself under fire for one particular side character: Erica Anderson. For most of the game, Erica just seems like a sweet-natured and flirtatious supporting player. She waits on the men at their favorite bar, the Stray Sheep, and acts as a moral foil to their generally boorish behavior. The central male cast—Vincent, Orlando, Johnny, and Toby—acts standoffish towards her, even though they apparently go back years.
We’re not clued into why that is until a late game reveal. After some awkward flirting that takes place during the main narrative, Erica and Toby eventually have a one night stand, after which Toby seems particularly distressed. This is still shrouded in ambiguity and vaguespeak until Toby tells Erica, “I used to know you as Eric.” It’s a moment that gives full context to the men’s discomfort with Erica, and only after that do we get Erica’s full story.
GAMES MENTIONED
Catherine
TOPICS MENTIONED
LGBTQ