Last year one of the most unique
games that I have played in a long time hit the American shores. Anyone who
played this game almost instantly fell in love with its unique and quirky
gameplay. The game I am referring to, of course, is Katamari Damacy. Since this
game was such a big hit, it was only a matter of time before Namco created a
sequel. Now that it is finally here, how does this gameplay stack up? Read on to
find out more.
The story for We Love Katamari is
just as wacky as the entire game itself. Since the first game, the people of the
world have become unhealthily obsessed with the King of All Cosmos and his
Katamari. The people are eager to see new and bigger Katamaris, so they give the
King many flattering comments in the hope of seeing more Katamaris. The King
loves all of the new attention that he is receiving, so he grants their requests
and sends the Prince to make them.
What I really liked about this game
is the new changes to the mission structure. Instead of always rolling up a
Katamari to a certain point now you will have more “themed” stages to do certain
things. One mission involved rolling up as many flowers on the level within a
certain time period, or seeing how fast you can clean a room for this woman’s
son. One of the most hilarious missions was the Sumo wrestler mission. Your goal
for that mission is to roll up as much for him as possible before he takes on
his next opponent. I didn’t think that the game could get any more insane then
the first one until I saw this mission. The developers really let their
imaginations fly when they created this sequel and it is the players who truly
benefit from this.
One of the more interesting
additions to the game comes after you complete a mission. When you finish a
mission and the King is tallying up how big your Katamari is, it will tell you
how big it is compared to something in the real world. For instance in one level
it will tell you that your Katamari is as big as 48 wrenches or something in a
similar fashion. If you fail in your mission the King has bestowed upon himself
the power of laser eyes and he will start to shoot you with them. It is simply
wacky things that this that really make this game fun to play.
Just like last year the graphics are
really bright and cheery in nature. The graphics are very simplistic and blocky
in nature, but it fits perfectly with the rest of the game. The animation for
this game is spot on, just like last year. Rolling the ball feels so real,
especially when you have oddly shaped objects stuck to it, how the ball reacts
accordingly to them. I still get a huge smile on my face as I am rolling up
gigantic items in this ball and seeing the tiny Prince roll it around.
The sound effects for We Love
Katamari are nothing short of hilarious, just like last year. Every time you
roll up something living, such as a human, it will start complaining or laughing
in delight. If you roll over a dog, cat, duck, or any other animal it will also
make the appropriate sounds. The music in this game is just as catchy as in the
last game. The developers couldn’t have found better music if they tired, as it
fits the entire mood of the game – silly and fun. The music is always upbeat and
will keep you going along to try to create a bigger and better Katamari while
you have a goofy smile upon your face.
Just like last year, We Love
Katamari features a decent multiplayer mode. All the versus mode really is
comprised of is trying to get the biggest Katamari, as well as trying to get a
special item before your competitor does. The only problem with this versus mode
is the severe lack of variety. This year a co-op mode was included, each stage
that is available in single player can be played with a friend. The way this is
accomplished is that both of you control one analog stick on each controller.
You and your friend must communicate in order to get the missions done. While it
will test your patience in the beginning, after a while you will get the hang of
it and it turns out to be pretty fun.
We Love Katamari is rated E for
Everyone and will take up 88KB on your memory card.
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Gameplay: 9.2
We Love Katamari, like its predecessor, is a
blast to play. The reason for this is it is so simple in premise yet it is so
addicting. You will tell yourself that you will only play one level and the next
thing you know you have played through three. The controller will not want to
leave your hands because this game is so much fun to play.
Graphics: 8.5
The graphics are pretty much the same as last year’s version, which is
not a bad thing. The graphics are pretty basic but colorful. The character
modeling for this game fits perfectly with its zany plot, and it is that point
that will keep players coming back for more.
Sound: 9.0
The music selection and sound effects for We Love Katamari are
outrageous and insane, but you will love every minute of it. The music really
complements the gameplay everywhere, no matter what level you are on.
Difficulty: Easy
This game is not too hard, but it will provide you with some nice
challenges, such as trying to not bump into anything, and where to find more
stuff to roll into your Katamari .
Concept: 8.5
Last year I gave this section a 9.8, because I have never seen anything
like this game before. Even though this game is still really awesome, the new
additions to this sequel are not as groundbreaking as last year.
Multiplayer: 8.2
The multiplayer mode for this game is pretty good. You can go
against a friend to see who can create the biggest Katamari , which is basically
the same as last year’s version. The new co-op mode is nice but it is not as
fleshed out as it could have been.
Overall: 8.6
We Love Katamari is a blast to play. If you played the original game,
then I am sure that you have already purchased this game, but if you haven’t you
should not pass this game up if you see it in the store. Its unique and highly
addictive gameplay will entertain you for hours. Check out this game as soon as
you can because you will not regret it.
