Now we all know, with the exception of a few, comic book games are generally bad. This also holds true for video games based off films, they turn out equally as dreadful. So why would a prestigous company, such as EA take on a project based on a substandard film staring a mediocre comic character, played by an overrated actress? Ponder on that one while I go through this review. While this game did get a D+ for an overall score there is something I must note. If there had been more time put into the game, especially in the testing stages for camera and controls, this may have turned out to be a solid game. As is though, the game, while better than its film, is still lacking in many areas and I could only recommend for those who find something in this character that they like.

Visually, Catwoman is actually pretty striking... and no, I am not talking just about Halle Berry's costume. The game has a unique visual flare that looks mostly borrowed from the "007: Everything or Nothing" title brought out a few months ago. The character design is flawlessly rendered here, complete with leather dominatrix outfit. Catwoman moves fluidly with many frames of animation that make for some superb character visuals. She can punch, has many kick combinations, uses her whip for attacking and clinging to objects, and she will scale and repel walls with relative ease. The backdrops are various, rarely repetitive, and are very pleasing to the eye. Sure, some of the building textures are a bit lacking, but effects like reflective puddles, real-time lighting, and particle damage on walls and backgrounds show that some love and care actually went into this title. The game's presentation is made up of storytelling cut scenes that are CG rendered. When acquiring a new ability, the designers try to accommodate the comic idea by showing you how to perform moves in a comic panel slideshow. Where Catwoman fails to land on all fours in the graphics department is the camera itself. Unfortunately, the camera angles can be very bothersome, as we once again witness the poorly designed action camera that cannot be adjusted. Let me tell you folks, there is nothing more frustrating that climbing a wall, attempting to reach a certain point, when the camera decides to take its focus off of you and onto the wall, thus making it impossible to see your on screen character. It all makes you wonder if there is a joker in the video games development system that gets his jollies off finding the worst camera angles possible for game play. Otherwise, the graphics are actually very nice and will fool onlookers into thinking this game is better than it really is.

Audio is fair and provides typical background fodder for a movie licensed game. You have the main actress of the film providing the voice acting. Having the actual talent can really help sell the game. Fans of Halle Berry may end up picking this one up solely for her likeness and provided voice talent. The game's score is orchestrated quite well, and gives the game its proper mood swings throughout the course of the adventure. Audio is presented in Pro Logic II, allowing for all the crashes, punches, gunshots, and other ambient sounds to fully immerse you in the experience. Just be for warned that this game has a ton of one-liners that make Arnold seem like an amateur.

Catwoman designers must have been on Catnip when designing the game's most glaring issue... the controls. Taking a page from Blade II and Rise to Honor, Catwoman strikes, kicks, and uses her whip by flicking the right analog stick. Let me tell you folks, it did not work for those games, and it does not work here either. What fails this control scheme so badly is that the game requires precise areas for you to either hit your enemies to or try to repel, and using the analog stick to perform such tasks can lead to some very frustrating moments indeed. The game also has a slight hesitation to its response to the button commands, which throws off any continual momentum when fighting or climbing. On the plus side, there is a nice variety of moves and combinations you can achieve. Catwoman can strike, disarm, evade, flip, taunt, climb walls and poles, use cat sense, and much more, which actually keeps the game from becoming tiresome.

Catwoman is a short action title that is extremely linear in design. You are forced to do what the game is meant to do without any freedom to look about at your own will. The entire adventure can be completed in a rental's period at most, and even with the unlockables, there really isn't much to come back for once you've completed the game once.

Overall, the score is justified based on the fact that beyond the 2 Catwoman fans out there, I can't suggest this game beyond that group of gamers. The game, while pretty to the eye, is flawed in execution in most every way, shape, and form. The story is bland, the game is short, the controls are iffy, and the camera is laughably bad. This all falls in the hands of the designers who tried to get this game out by the films arrival to cash in on the success, or lack thereof, of it. If more time and effort went into tweaking these issues, Catwoman may have been a decent game I could recommend to action fans. However, it will, like the film, be forgotten and not seen by most.