Let's Catch (stylized asLet's CATCH)^[1] is a video game developed byPrope and published bySega. The game was produced byYuji Naka, co-creator of Sonic the Hedgehog.^[2] It released in 2008 in Japan and 2009 in North America and Europe forWiiWare.Let's Catch is a sequel toLet's Tap, which allows players to unlock additional content inLet's Catch if they own both games. TheMiis appear as playable characters alongside original NPC characters that also serve as playable characters, partners, and opponents.

Gameplay

Let's Catch is a virtual catch game that simplifies the process of throwing and catching a ball. Players hold the Wii Remote to the side facing the screen. In this position, they can press the and buttons to prepare to throw the ball, swinging the Wii Remote to throw it. Power of the throw is determined by how fast the Wii Remote moves forwards. To catch the ball, the player's glove will move automatically, and the and buttons are pressed simultaneously to catch it. Most game modes inLet's Catch are focused on obtaining a high-score by catching and throwing to a partner. Timing the catch rewards the player with more points, either scoring a "bad", "normal", "good", or "perfect" catch. If the player misses a catch, their Mii will run towards where the ball dropped, pick it up, and return to the game. If enough catches are missed, the game will end, but landing a perfect catch will add one ball back to the total that can be missed. In contrast, throwing the ball for more points requires the player to throw the ball at the correct speed to reach their partner. The game is primarily set in a first-person perspective, and players can choose whether to use the Wii Remote in their right or left hand.

Game modes

In the Story Mode, the player builds friendship with a partner while they play catch together, with the partner talking about current or past dramatic events in their life. The player's Mii has a certain score to reach with a set amount of throws, and the game ends when either five catches are missed or they exceed the number of throws allowed. A new partner is unlocked after building 3★ of friendship with the current partner. In Free Play Mode, the player is able to freely throw and catch the ball with no penalties. High Score mode is similar to Story Mode, but the player can only miss three catches instead of five, and does not contain any dialogue. Speed Catch Mode increases the speed of the ball after each throw, and a new partner is used every two throws. Once the player throws the ball to the alien on the moon, the game will no longer switch partners and only ends once the player misses the ball three times. In Nine Trial Mode, the player throw balls and twist the Wii Remote left and right to aim at nine square tiles on a board. The ball is returned for the player to catch and the game ends once all nine tiles are cleared by a player or computer player. In Bomb Catch Mode, the player throws a bomb to their catch partner similar to the rules ofhot potato. The timer starts at ten; Bad catches reduce the timer by three, normal catches reduce it by two, good catches reduce it by one, and perfect catches do not reduce the bomb timer. The game ends once a player has all three hearts eliminated.

Mii usage

Miis are used as playable characters inLet's Catch. They appear with white shoes, white detached gloves, and a small stub for their neck. In Story Mode, Free Play Mode, and High Score Mode, while they are set in a first-person perspective, the player's Mii will occasionally be shown if they perform a perfect catch or perfect combo. Nine Trial Mode is the only game mode not set in a first-person perspective, so the player's Mii is always on screen unless it runs offscreen after missing a catch. In Bomb Catch Mode, the player's Mii will appear if they are exploded by the bomb.

Gallery

• 
  The title screen forLet's Catch.
• 
  The "How to Play" tutorial for the Story Mode.
• 
  The player's Mii executing a perfect combo in the Story Mode.
• 
  A UFO appearing above Yuto in the Story Mode.
• 
  Results and scores for the Story Mode.
• 
  A Mii chasing a missed ball in Nine Trial Mode.
• 
  After a Mii explodes in Bomb Catch Mode.
• 
  Multiplayer featuring two Miis in Bomb Catch Mode.

Trivia

• The design of theUFOs in this game were later referenced inWii Play: Motion, where they have a very similar appearance. One of the games the UFOs appear in,Trigger Twist, was also developed by Prope.

References