Katamari
Damacy
Review By: Eric Mortensen
Katamari
Damacy
Review By: Eric Mortensen
System: Playstaion 2
Genre: Other
Developer: Namco
Publisher: Namco
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Release Date: 9/21/04
Difficulty: Easy-Medium
Learning Curve: 5 minutes.
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| Very, very innovative; great gameplay; great soundtrack | Length, camera issues, multiplayer mode is not that special |
Rating:
Fun: 20 out of 20
I never thought the concept of rolling a ball around would ever be fun. I definently was mistaken. With good controls and addictive gameplay this game is hard to put down. The concept is simple and you can get the handle of it very quickly. You start by picking up pins and other small objects. Then you move unto larger objects like small animals. Eventually you can pick up people, cars and even houses. After you pick all that up you can demolish whole cities and even pick up mountains. In each mission your object is to make your katamari a certain size in a limited amount of time. Every mission is engaging and you will most likely want to play most of them several times. This game would be fun to people that don't even play video games. It is so engaging it can make people who don't like video games, like video games.
Innovation: 10 out of 10
This is one of the most innovative games I have ever played. The gameplay style has never been done before. With so many games that try nothing new coming out lately, it is refreshing to see a game with so much innovation. This game is so innovative that there are really no games that you can compare it to. This game creates a new genre of games that we have never seen. I thank the creators of Katamari Damacy for creating such an innovative game. I hope more games come out that are as innovative as this one is.
Control: 9 out of 10
Controlling a katamari is as simple as pie. You use both anolog sticks to move your katamari around on your quest to pick junk up. Besides being able to control the camera that is about all the buttons you use. The only problem with the control is the camera. The camera doesn't always do the best job. At points use will lose yourself because of the camera. The camera can also cause you to get stuck. You can usually get the camera back into focus quickly though. Sometimes it costs you some precious time though. The controls are simple and work very well.
Graphics: 9 out of 10
Katamari has the weirdest style I have ever seen in the game. Even though the game does not push the PS2 graphically it has a great style the makes you care less that it is not visually spectacular. Everything in the game has a lego feel to it and that creates a fun enviroment. The best part is the sense of scale the game presents. You start small and as your katamari gets bigger the camera moves back and you see more of the world. Eventually you will tower over the skyscrappers. Even though they are simplistic the graphics present a charming lego style.
Sound: 10 out of 10
Weird import music. Check. Addictive and catchy music. Check. Katamari Damacy has some of the weirdest music I have ever heard in my life. Even though it is weird it is very catchy. You might just start singing to some of them as well. The music in Katamari Damacy is some of the best I have ever heard in a video game. If there was a Katamari Damacy soundtrack I would buy it. I dare anyone to not like Katamari's music after they have heard it.
Replay value: 7 out of 10
Katamari Damacy is a very addictive game but it ends far too quickly. The normal game lasts less than 10 hours. There is a multiplayer mode included but it is not that special. It is ok but will only keep you occupied for an hour or two. The good thing about Katamari though is that you would like to play most of the missions over again. As soon as I finished the game I wanted to start it all over again. There are also a lot of missions where you will want to try to improve your score. One mission that comes to mind is the last mission. It is by far the best and has the most replay value. Even though the first time might not last that long you will want to play Katamari Damacy over and over again.
Challenge: 9 out of 10
Katamari overall does a good job in giving you a challenge. For most of the missions it is down to the wire to see if you will finish in time. The game is challenging enough to make the ending close but you will probably only fail once or twice in the entire game. The only reason it loses points in challenge is that one or two of the missions are really simple and you will definently complete them in time. Katamari is not a difficult game but it takes most of the missions down to the wire.
Multiplayer: No multiplayer available
Story: 7 out of 10
Katamari's story is new but not the best I have ever seen. The Prince's father, the King of the Cosmos, one night goes a little too crazy and destroys all the stars in the sky. Your job as his son is to rebuild all the stars and release them into the sky. What I want to know is why the King of the Cosmos can't do it. He wrecked them in the first place. Instead he makes his son do it. Lazy King. The story progresses through some of the weirdest cutscenes involving a mom, brother, and sister. These are a sight to behold. They are wacky and involve some of the weirdest dialogue ever. Your father also talks to you after every mission and he obviously doesn't know the english language that well. This creates some of the funniest lines I have ever heard in a video game. The games story is charming but it could have been improved by developing the story more.
Tilt: 10 out of 10
What else can I possibly say. The game is addictive. It has great controls. There are impressive visuals and music. The game is one of the wackiest and most innovative games I have ever played. I really commend the developers for not doing the norm. They tried something new and different then anything that has ever been tried. They chose to be strange and that is what gives this game so much charm. I hope the sequel, We Love Katamari, retains the originality and the weirdness of the original.
Overall: 91 out of 100 91%
Katamari Damacy is a Japaneese import game that everyone should try. Your job is to remake all the stars your father destroyed. Katamari Damacy has some of the most addictive gameplay of any game I have ever played. It has simple controls that take just 5 minutes to get used to. Everyone should enjoy this game including the hardcore gamers to people who have never played a video game before. You might have a little trouble finding this game though. There were not that many copies released. You should be able to find a copy though at a store that specializes in video games. The best thing about Katamari Damacy is the price. You should be able to find the game for $20. So there is no reason not to buy this game. The only excuse is that you don't have a Playstation 2. In that case I am sorry you cannot play this great game. If you own a Playstation 2 buy this game. If you don't you will miss out one one of the most addictive games to come out in years. Katamari Damacy is a video game gem that everyone should enjoy.
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