Catwoman (video Game)

''Catwoman'' is an action-adventure video game based on the 2004 film of the same name based on the fictional character. It features the likeness of the film's lead actress Halle Berry, while the character's voice is provided by actress Jennifer Hale. This would end up being developer Argonaut Software's final game in 19 years (not counting '' Star Fox 2'', which was completed in 1995, but wasn't released until 2017) until the company's relaunch in 2024.

Gameplay

The game is third person action platformer where the player must use the heroine's cat-like strength and agility to travel through various environments and defeat various enemies. There is also sense exploration in the game, similar to the '' Tomb Raider'' series. Catwoman can climb up walls and swing from metal poles to navigate through the environment. Catwoman must also solve puzzles at certain parts of the game to advance further. The game also features a combat system for when fighting enemies. The player is able to upgrade moves and perform simple combo strings.

Plot

The game loosely follows the story of the movie. Patience Phillips, a shy office worker in the Hedare corporate empire, accidentally discovers her employers' dark secret and is subsequently murdered. She is then revived by a supernatural Egyptian cat granting her cat-like abilities. Now reborn as "Catwoman", she then embarks on a tale of revenge against the people who nearly murdered her.

Development

UK website ''Computer and Video Games'' (CVG) first reported the potential of a tie-in game for the then-upcoming '' Catwoman'' film in June 2003, with Argonaut Games significantly investing into its pitch for the license after the cancellation of ''Malice'' and ''Orchid'' respectively by Vivendi Universal Games and Namco. CVG then reported on a rumor in January 2004 which claimed that Electronic Arts (EA) had acquired the rights from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to produce the game with Argonaut developing it, marking the first time EA collaborated with Argonaut since '' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' (2001). EA and Warner Bros. confirmed the rumor on February 12, 2004, in an official announcement proclaiming a multi-year deal between the two parties to develop games based on the ''Catwoman'' intellectual property; the game was planned for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and PC. ''Catwoman'' was showcased at E3 2004 alongside other EA titles, having been in development for eight months at that point. The game was released in North America on July 23, 2004, the same day as the film. It was released in Australia on 30 July and in Europe on 6 August.

In a 2022 interview, Argonaut founder Jez San revealed that ''Catwoman'' represented the largest effort the company ever handled due to its accelerated development time, with around 100 employees dedicated to the game; in comparison, the industry average was 30–40 during the sixth generation of video game consoles while Argonaut was accustomed to small teams of 15 or so during the fifth generation.

Reception

''Catwoman'' received negative reviews from critics due to problems including bad camera control, poor voice-work, and an over-simplistic combat system. However, the Game Boy Advance version received mixed reviews with aggregating review website Metacritic giving the version 61/100. The GameCube version ranked in at 47/100, the PC version with 46/100, the PlayStation 2 version with 46/100 and the Xbox version with 45/100.

The critical and commercial failure of the film at the box office hindered sales of the game to the detriment of Argonaut; with the company struggling from the transition between the fifth and sixth generations and facing dwindling cash reserves, it ultimately underwent liquidation only three months after the game's release.

Notes

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Catwoman (Video Game)
2004 video games
Action-adventure games
Argonaut Games games
Batman (1989 film series)
Electronic Arts games
Game Boy Advance games
Magic Pockets games
Multiplayer and single-player video games
GameCube games
PlayStation 2 games
Superheroine video games
Catwoman in other media
Video games based on DC Comics
Video games based on films
Video games based on adaptations
Video games developed in France
Video games developed in the United Kingdom
Video games scored by James Hannigan
Video games featuring female protagonists
Windows games
Xbox games
Video games set in the United States
Video games featuring black protagonists
EA Bright Light games