Katamari Damacy
In a world of games with advanced inventory, tons of stats and advanced physics engines, 80+ hour adventures and photorealistic 3d graphics, one game dares to stand out with extremely simplistic ball rolling gameplay taken to heightened extremes through a humorous and
quirky story riddled with clever jokes, interesting situations, an amazing soundtrack, and a unique feel that will leaving you not just
wanting but needing more.
Katamari Damacy was released upon an unexpecting american audience in a cute little cover depicting two cows staring away from a
cityscape barely obscuring the bottom of a huge massive ball of stuff. The going price on new release made it a perfect budget
title, not shooting past a mere $30 for the title. The unusual box, and very immature and unassuming look of the game may have turned off
initial buyers, but it quickly gained a cult following that has blossomed into true fandom as the katamari fever spreads throughout the
states. Already, a Nintendo DS version and a sequel, Everyone Loves Katamari Damacy, are slated for release. So what makes
Katamari Damacy so popular, and why does a game of such downgraded interactivity and childish ethics gain such popularity in a world of
games such as Metal Gear Solid 3, Gran Turismo 4, and Silent Hill 4?
Mayhaps the gameplay at the core is the reason we love the game so. Simply put, the King of All Cosmos got a little tipsy and destroyed
all the stars in the sky. You, his dashing son, the Prince, must repair the sky. How? Well, you roll around a sticky ball called a
katamari. Anything it touches, if it is big enough, will be assimilated into it's mass. The more you roll, the bigger it gets.
Likewise, the bigger it gets, the more you can roll up. Eventually, you go from a 5cm tall midget rolling up thumb tacks and caramels to
being able to roll up cats, people, buildings, and even more! It's so simple sounding, but as you roll up the paperbacks that once blocked
your path and open up a new area, only to find the objects you were rolling under or in between now block your path, it becomes clear how
well thought out this simple idea really is. The controls are easy to learn, the feel of the game is pretty natural, and the lack of any
items, stats, or health to monitor just helps you get into the game all the more.
Now, one cannot speak of Katamari Damacy without the mention of it's soundtrack. A bizarre collection of J-Pop, J-Rap, love songs, and tunes you can't even attempt to wedge into any one genre. Great tracks like "Katamari on the Rocks", "Lonely Rolling Star," and
"Katamari of Love" will be stuck in your head for months like a curse you can't shake off. You'll find yourself whistling and humming the
main theme in public, maybe going so far as to sing the words of the only english song in the game, "Que Sera Sera." Winning a few awards
for it's soundtrack, it's easily the most memorable part of the Katamari Experience.
I can ramble on about every interesting aspect about the game, from it's unique characters, to it's fun and interesting style, as far as
it's amazing score. In the end, the only way to experience this majesty is to purchase the game and play it. Only then will you
realize what exactly this game is all about. By that time, you'll have been rolled up into the madness of Katamari Damacy and
it's following, shot up into the sky to become one of the many lonely rolling stars in a sky full of adventurous gamers who took a bet on
that strange "cow" case they saw in a corner of the PS2 section of their local EBX/Game Stop. A bet that paid off big time.
Azirphaeli the Oracle approaves with an 9/10 total score.
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