We Love Katamari

"Why the hell is this game so awesome? Whatever, I LOVE IT!"

Introduction: It seems to be getting harder and harder to be innovative in this generation of videogaming. Thankfully, that changes here. We Love Katamari is a sequel to Katamari Damacy, a unique and easy-to-learn game of collecting stuff. Also, if I do say so myself, this has got to be one of the most cracked out games that I have played. Though I won't stress it too much in the rest of my review, keep in mind that this game is very strange.

Gameplay (9): The gameplay is as simple as it can be. Roll around to pick up stuff, get larger, repeat. You will start off in a tutorial area to teach you the basics, and then you move to other locations.

The purpose of the game is to help your fans out. That's right, everyone is in love with rolling and they want to see what you can do. You will have a field that you can roam around on to get requests. In addition, you can also do a few other things here, such as checking to see what you have rolled up so far or changing your appearance.

Let's look at the levels. While things are quite simple to learn, that doesn't mean it's necessarily easy. Just getting as huge as possible won't always be enough. There is a different objective in each level to complete. Sometimes it will be to get as large as possible or as get a certain size as fast as possible. Other times you will have to collect certain items. There are a few other unique objectives as well, which will keep you from using a basic strategy for every level. Some levels can become quite massive and will change as you grow, so it's not exactly possible to just memorize a route. If you manage to beat it, you will get a visit from the King of All Cosmos and the person you were helping, both of which will complement you depending on how well you beat it.

Beating levels usually isn't too hard, but that's not all there is to it if you want to go for 100%. Making your fans happy is just a small thing (there are three ranks of how happy they can be towards you, though there is nothing the requires you to make them ecstatic). There are also several thousands of objects in the game to look for. Each level has a certain amount of presents and cousins that are hidden. Also, there are meteors to get, which are awarded in certain levels for achieving your goal extremely fast. Still think you've done everything? The game doesn't end when you beat it. A few more levels open up, one of which is an ultimate test of dedication.

Aside from the main game, there is a co-op mode. The goal is to collect more of a certain item than your opponent. You can still get items to increase your size, which can allow you to roll up your opponent and secure your victory. It isn't the best they could have done do to the lack of variety in levels, but it's a nice start.

Story (6): After Katamari Damacy, everyone was thrilled about the King of All Cosmos. They thought he was so cool, and wanted him to show them more of his abilities. He sends you, The Prince, to Earth again to help make his fans happy.

Though that is the premise of the plot, the ongoing story is actually about the king himself. You will see how he grew up to be what he is today, even with a demanding father and strict rules. It's kind of funny (and of course strange) what happens in the story, but it was awfully short.

Cutscenes (7): The cutscenes are…weird. As you progress through the story, you will occasionally watch a cutscene of the king's past. The cutscenes are mostly still frame with little animation. That's fine since that is the style they want to go for; plus, it helps keep the overall “bizarre” factor. Just remember that while the cutscenes are fun to watch, there aren't too many of them nor will they blow you away.

Controls (8): Your basic movement is done using a combination of the two analog sticks. You can turn at a variety of angles by how you tilt each of them. There's a dash move which can be done by alternating the analog sticks up and down really fast (in opposite directions of each other). You can do a quick 180 turn by clicking L# and R3 at the same time. You also have some camera options at you disposal in case you are having trouble. Overall, the controls are very simple and easy to get used to.

Graphics (5): The graphics aren't anything great by far. Part of the reason is because there are hundreds upon hundreds of objects on the screen, most of which stay with you for awhile after rolling them up. The other reason is because it adds the style of the game. Don't worry about the graphics; they aren't important in this game.

Difficulty (9): Very well balanced. The game isn't hard at all, and there is plenty of room for improvement as you play. The difficulty is set by you in a sense. If you want to just play through the game, then that is easy enough. But, if you want a challenge, you can always try to beat your score or look for new items. It's great for both normal gamers and perfectionist.

Music (9): Yet another aspect of the game that is surprisingly addicting. There is a full soundtrack of music that is both catchy and level-appropriate. While some songs are just melodies, most are actually songs with lyrics and everything. Moreover, you can change which song you listen to for whatever level you play.

Pros
- The “WTF!?” factor
- Addicting gameplay that can be picked up quickly.
- Excellent music that can be changed for each level.
- Plenty of stuff to do, even after beating the game.
- Unlockable soundboard and movie clips.
- Unique style unlike anything you have seen.
- There is a place at the top when talking to a person that will tell you what presents/cousins you have found, therefore eliminating some frustration when finding stuff.
- Bonuses for those that have a “Katamari Damacy” file.

Cons
- While it isn't important in a game like this, there is certainly room for improvement in the graphics aspect.
- Could use a few more levels.
- People who played the original might feel that this doesn't offer enough new material.
- Multiplayer can be expanded.

Conclusion (9): Why didn't I find out about this game sooner? This has got to be one of the most unique, yet surprisingly simple idea that has come out in the last 10 years of gaming. The style, the gameplay, the craziness…it's all there. At an already cheap price, there is no reason not to check this game out. If you weren't already insane before, you will be after playing this game.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/15/06