Catechesis: Everything We Know

Catechesis is the nuanced definition of delayed but not defeated. Developer Baroque Decay Games is finally stitching the last thread on the game they announced ten years ago. While it's not uncanny for games to meet their death before their birth, we’ve got to give it to Baroque Decay Games for seeing through what they started. Plus, judging from the sneak peeks, it will be one for the books. 

The first trailer worked up gamers' appetites, especially since it debuted during a period when indie titles were new. Now, ten years later, the game sticks to its roots, but with promising upgrades. Care to know more? Stick with us as we unpack Catechesis– Everything We Know.

What is Catechesis: Everything We Know?

Catechesis is an upcoming horror RPG by Baroque Decay Games that builds on the foundation of demon possession to drive its narrative. Simply put, it's about a boy devoted to the ways of fringe religion who ends up drawn to the dark side after a demon possession. 

Frankly, the devil has been quite the inspiration for various works, from cinematic pictures to video games. Catechesis is certainly not reinventing the wheel here, but as a retro-pixelated art game that features Resident Evil mechanics, it defines its own path with anime-style cinematics. Furthermore, the choice of pixelated art adds to the game’s eerie atmosphere, which almost always leaves players guessing. It borrows a chapter from iconic games such as Deadly Premonition, Persona, and Silent Hill.

Plus, while remaining true to its retro art, the game draws inspiration from recent pixelated games such as Faith and Omori.

Story

The narrative centers on Daniel, an altar boy who must defeat the dark forces that inhabit and torment his inner self. Daniel is a sweet young boy who wants nothing else but to see his grandfather cured. He realizes that acts of kindness improve his papaw’s health, but deep in the infernal abyss, evil is waiting to be unleashed. The story is the game’s strength, blending humor and horror, just like the studio’s previous game, Yuppie Psycho. 

Here’s a detailed description of the game from its Steam page:

Daniel, an altar boy from a fringe religion, becomes possessed by a demon. Now, every good deed he does opens a gateway to hell. He must be virtuous during the day and battle demons at night. Trying to save his grandpa's life without dooming the world to eternal hellfire

Gameplay

It's not an easy feat to take down the shadow spawns of hell. Daniel definitely has his hands full, but the game's combat system gives you a fluid playstyle. Baroque Decay describes it as “slow-paced battles with primary ranged and secondary melee weapons.” Combat will also feature twin-stick aiming and roll evasion. Plus, you'll earn points fighting demons that level up your character, granting you access to vital power-ups for your quest. Moreover, you'll be solving riddles and puzzles to unlock the mystery of the tabalistic religion.

The game will also feature a day and night system where you vanquish demonic creatures in the night and perform acts of service during the day. This may include going to church, hospital visits, or grinding hours away at your supermarket job. 

Furthermore, the game features stealth elements that will use sound and light detection, but it's unclear how they fit with the gameplay. Players will also engage in exploration, where you'll “illuminate every corner with a flashlight or candles to uncover valuable resources, hidden paths, and ancient religious lore.”

Development 

Baroque Decay Games, the mastermind behind The Count Lucanor and Yuppie Psycho, is seeing through the development of this upcoming title. The Spain and France-based indie developer started the Catechesis journey a decade ago. The teaser trailer surpassed expectations for a game that was set to raise the bar for indie titles. Aside from pulling impressive views from gamers, the game was featured on well-known gaming sites such as Kotaku and Polygon.

However, due to the vast nature of the ambitious project, the devs had to drop its development, citing that” it became an impossible undertaking.” But without an undeterred heart, the studio set out to develop two games on a smaller scale. “We decided to repurpose the already functional basic mechanics to create something smaller…… Both games were successful, and we learned a great deal from producing them.” With this much-needed experience, the studio is set to resurrect Catechesis.

Trailer

If you're craving a glimpse of what's to come, Baroque Decay has been generous enough to give fans a sneak peek at the upcoming title. The 1-minute 22-second trailer gives hints of its gameplay and showcases the beautiful retro-pixel art style. 

It starkly compares to the teaser trailer the devs debuted eight years ago. You can see for yourself above. It's worth noting that initially, the game was dubbed Catequesis. 

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Catechesis release details are still in the wind. The devs are yet to give a price date for its launch, but we know it'll be heading to PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch platforms. But players can wishlist the game on Steam.

It's unclear whether the game will come packed with special editions. However, given that the devs’ previous project, Yuppie Psycho, released an Executive Edition, the game might include one at a later date. Don't take my word for it, though. It's pure speculation.

Are you interested in staying up to date with Catechesis? If so, then be sure to check in with the devs over on their official social handle here. If anything, even the slightest bit newsworthy, pops up ahead of its release, we’ll be sure to fill you in on all the essential details right here on gaming.net.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Catechesis when it arrives on PC, Switch, Xbox, and Playstation?  Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.