We Love Katamari (PS2) Preview

[RainOfTerror]

The King of All Cosmos grew to stardom after taking all of the Prince's katamaris and replacing the stars. His fans knew no bounds and wished to see more katamaris fill the sky. The King of All Cosmos desired to appease all of their requests and recruited the Prince and his cousins to help. Now they are tasked with rolling up even more clumps, each larger and more different than the one before. WorthPlaying had a chance to briefly try a Japanese import version, here's a snip :

In each level, you’ll also have to contend with one of the Prince’s cousins, who’s got a katamari of his own and a mission much like yours. Not only do you have to accomplish your goal in each level before the timer runs out, but you have to race your cousin. If you can get big enough, fast enough, you can actually roll up your cousin; if your katamari’s bigger than his or hers when time runs out, you’ll unlock the cousin in question as another “skin” for the Prince.Check the complete We Love Katamari preview (http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=27958) over at WorthPlaying.

[netcraazzy]

The first game was a blast to play, very weird but tons of fun. I'm really looking forward to the sequel.

[Tricky Thumb]

It will be fun and all the people will rejoice for there was fun to be had.

[InstaPete]

Man, I cannot goddamned WAIT.

[FunkyPoopMonkey]

I've had about all the katamari I can take, from the first game already. It doesn't need a sequel. It wasn't as good as everyone said.

[Arphahat]

BLASPHEMER! FunkyPoopMonkey must be a witch! Burn, witch, burn!

[FunkyPoopMonkey]

BLASPHEMER! FunkyPoopMonkey must be a witch! Burn, witch, burn!
Now I can understand WHY Katamari got all the attention it did. It's an original idea; something that PS2 gets very few of. But it's a very unfinished and clumsy idea in the end. The game had very little content, one of the worst cameras in history, and got extremely repetitive and frustrating before the end. I understand that it was a "budget" game for $20, but all games drop to that price after a few months, and many of them are a much better experience.

[mister_slim]

This is a test, by the way. Those not loving katamari will be shot.

[Arphahat]

Now I can understand WHY Katamari got all the attention it did. It's an original idea; something that PS2 gets very few of. But it's a very unfinished and clumsy idea in the end. The game had very little content, one of the worst cameras in history, and got extremely repetitive and frustrating before the end. I understand that it was a "budget" game for $20, but all games drop to that price after a few months, and many of them are a much better experience.

I really liked the simplistic concept. Oddly, it is something I think I had always wanted to see in a game. And, while I can understand some of the frustration, I would jump around between the levels available when I got too frustrated with a level (like the cow level.... Had a HUGE katamari and bump into some stupid, hidden cow thing somewhere.)

Really, I just want more variety in where the levels take place and maybe a bit more realism behind where things are. I mean, it doesn't make much sense to have 30-40 "dynamometers" lying around, does it? I mean, unless maybe you are a collector... but you would think a collector would keep them in better condition. ;)

[kizke]

This is a test, by the way. Those not loving katamari will be shot.

I love Katamari. If you don't I know a nice dim alleyway where we can sort things out.

[Lon Lon Rabbit]

Really, I just want more variety in where the levels take place and maybe a bit more realism behind where things are.

....You want realism in a katamari game?

Seriously though, we played this game (number 2) almost to the end at a party the other night, and man was it fun. Even those who didn't want to play sat and watched for hours. It was hilarious fun watching the crazy cutscenes of the king of all cosmos growing up as a prince and giving them our own translations to the japanese. Don't expect too much new though, the most there is is some new items and new levels. The "race your cousin thing", I only now realise that that was in there with that article, I noticed rolling up other princes every now and then but every single time I was always plenty big enough to roll him by the time I found him, so I can't say that really adds anything. The most "new" thing there was was a few new level goals like rolling around a sumo feeding him instead of a katamari or lighting a huge torch after getting your flaming katamari big enough, making sure it doesn't extinguish on the way.
The OSTs got passed around my uni circle of friends in about 2 days after that weekend and people are constantly randomly spurting out all the glorious engrish phrases from the songs.
It's pretty much just an extension of the first game, but I really don't see how that's a bad thing.
This game is great fun and mesmerising to play when combined with the (again) awesome sound track, yes it's repetitive as hell but it takes a LONG time to get old. Now I'm just desperately hoping we hear more news about the PSP and DS versions, and that they haven't been canned.

[emperordahc]

Can't wait. :)

[Arphahat]

....You want realism in a katamari game?
<snip>


Er.. uh.. but...

Well, realism in the sense that there is a King of the Cosmos that rolls stuff into large balls... ;)

[El-Rodente]

Now I can understand WHY Katamari got all the attention it did. It's an original idea; something that PS2 gets very few of. But it's a very unfinished and clumsy idea in the end. The game had very little content, one of the worst cameras in history, and got extremely repetitive and frustrating before the end. I understand that it was a "budget" game for $20, but all games drop to that price after a few months, and many of them are a much better experience.


don't forget the music :)

DONTA WORI DO YOUR BEST!

NANANANANANANANANANANANA