Although an older title, “Katamari Damacy” for the Playstation 2 is one of these gems of a game that you will keep playing for years, even after you’ve completed it. Frankly, it is one of the games you will gladly pass along to your own children when you dig out the Playstation 2 while your kid sits at his Playstation 7 killing criminals in a virtual reality helmet.
Katamari was a low-flying title that I happened to catch in an edition of EGM magazine. The article wasn’t even a complete review, but more an honorable mention sidebar. Nonetheless it caught my attention and sounded like the type of game I have been longing for since I have seemingly passed my prime of getting jollies from shooting monsters with my shotgun. The game ended up on my Christmas list and Santa happily obliged.
Why is this game so fab, you ask? The game play has to be the most innovative I’ve seen on the Playstation in a way that doesn’t require you purchase extras to play (like a dance pad, or guitar). Katamari uses both analog control sticks for almost the entire game. The occasion button for menu options and saving comes up, but otherwise you joysticks get a very hard workout. You control your ball with standard “tank controls” where one stick up and one stick down turn you one way, and both sticks up make you go forward, etc. Familiar to any gamer, but also easy for lesser gamers to grab onto and go.
The goal of Katamari is to make the biggest ball of junk possible. You, as a wee little green guy, push this ball (the katamari) around the “world” and pick up objects. At first you can only pickup small objects, like a thumbtack or paperclip, but as your ball grows in size you can pick up bigger things. You work you way up to pencils?then a stapler?then a soda can?then a rat?then a cat?then a small child?then a car?then an entire town. It gets crazy real fast, but fun for the entire time.
The goals per level are usually size objectives like your ball must be “this” big within the allotted time or you don’t pass. You have the occasion irregular quest where you have to pick up only certain things or have to make your ball only a certain size, but all challenge while keeping your very entertained.
The graphics aren’t ultra superior, frankly they’re very kiddy – think Nintendo – but it is quite refreshing to see and works wonderfully within the game. The story is simple but charming. You are the prince of a king which has accidentally removed all the stars (including the moon) from the sky. Your job is to build your katamari balls which the king then turns back into stars. The mid-scenes between levels are also very funny and cleverly written, so when you first play don’t just fly by them like you normally would.
The most joy comes from the single-player mode of play, which is also refreshing in a market of massive on-line only games. There is a 2-player mode where you compete in splitscreen to get the biggest katamari ball within 3-minutes. This is great fun but the levels you play are very bland and no where near the fun of the single-player levels, but all the same it’s a blast.
Katamari Damacy already has a sequel title, “We love katamari“, of which I will certainly get at some point, but right now I’m still playing this one with great joy. I keep playing because it’s fun to move around, fun to watch, and while the goals are easy to reach, they keep you coming back to try and beat your previous score – something many new games fail to deliver.
If you’re tired of the shooters, tired of the massive RPGs, and tired of the Grand Theft killings, then Katamari is one you need to add to your collection as soon as possible. Best thing is it’s in the $20 bin at almost any retailer. Shop on-line and get it for less. It costs more to go to a movie, so why go out? Roll that katamari!!