[Timgt5]

I recently purchased a copy of a PS2 game called Katamari Damacy. Normally as a hardcore gamer I would not bother with this kind of title but the premise was so beautifully absurd and irresistably funny, I just had to have a look.

Background: Katamari Damacy is a rather unique Japanese puzzle solver that hit the market a few years back with some suprising success. A sequel: We love Katamari appeared a year later, along with one for the PSP, and a version for Xbox 360. Another sequel is scheduled for PS3 and the Nintendo Wii.

The Premise: The character you play is a tiny alien prince, whose father the giagantic "King of the Cosmos" goes on a bit of a bender and accidentally knocks the stars out of the sky and to the Earth where they shatter and become a million different objects (Ironically there is a lot of actual truth to this) It is up to the prince to get them back up there, but how?

The prince is given something called a Katamari Ball, it resembles a "bumbleball" and has a very sticky surface, which will pick up anything in the environment smaller than itself, once objects stick to the ball, the ball expands and can gather larger and larger things. The prince must roll the ball around until it reaches a certain size. Once he makes his goal on each level, the King steps in and launches the ball into space, where it becomes a star.

Gameplay: Its relatively simple to learn, in that sort of pac-man way. You use the analog sticks to roll the ball around. sort of like driving a bull dozer. The prince can flip a 180 to the other side of the ball if he gets stuck, he can also jump for a higher view. The ball will pick up anything smaller than itself and grow each time an object is aquired. If the ball collides with something larger than itself, parts of it will fly off and it will lose mass( be careful) Each level is given a time limit to complete. If you suceed you will be praised on your efforts, if not you will be soundly lectured by the king. Some levels have a specific theme, such as picking up swans to reform the constellation Cygnus. There is also a 2 player battle mode. Overall the mechanics are very smooth and its a delight to control.

Graphics: a rather different approach here. The levels range in size starting with a bedroom, to vast landscapes outdoors. The game looks like 80's CGI, the objects are simple and blocky sort of like that old Dire Straight's video "Money for Nothing" There is a certain charm to the little game and it fits with the absurd premise. The animation is simple single object movement, the way people move arround reminds me a bit of old South Park episodes.

Sounds: The game has some simple but cool sound effects, people react to the approaching ball in various ways, animals make noise when they are rolled up( the cat's meow is hillarious) The game also throughs in old school arcade noises( pac-man like) sounds in the background mixed in with music. The music itself is a delightfully eclectric mix of techno, Jazz, Japanese hip-hop and other stuff beyond classification, all very relaxing and you catch your self humming along while you play.

Kids Corner: Definate thumbs up for the kiddies here. This is a game you will want to play together with the young ones. No violence of any consequence( what little there is is very cartoonish), no remotely sexual themes, or bad language, this game is safe for all ages.

In conclusion this game is way off the beaten path in a good way, a delightful waste of time that will find you laughing all the way. For you Wii fans out there when this thing shows up on your rig later this year, RUN to your store and get this, I cannot think of a better title more taylor made to play with the Wii controls.

[onlymedid]

OMG, there is someone else out there that even KNOWS about this game?! My BF and his son LOOOOOOVE this game. I like it too!

That is really cool. He is going to be happy to know someone else knows about it.

[Timgt5]

Its fun in that old school tetris, way, I am planning to buy the sequel. I heard about your accident, and I am glad you are ok

take care of yourself

TJ

[onlymedid]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Timgt5 said:
Its fun in that old school tetris, way, I am planning to buy the sequel. I heard about your accident, and I am glad you are ok

take care of yourself

TJ

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Yeah, it is really fun to race against time and have the ball get sooooo big. LOL

thanks, I'm gonna be just fine.

BJ

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh I love BOTH versions, 1 and 2.

[Timgt5]

me two! and we have one coming on PS3 later this year!

[lindee]

That looks like such a fun game! But my son won't let me play.

[Timgt5]

pssst, if you buy "We love Katamari," let your son know there is a 2 player cooperative game, buy the game on the condition that you get to roll the ball with him LOL