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fragmer's Katamari Damacy (PS2)
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| [January 31, 2007 01:04:42 PM]
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I wanted to add a note on the level design in Katamari Damacy. The levels are cleverly layed out; small and easy-to-pick-up items are usually scattered near the starting spot. Levels are split into distinct areas, and player has to roll up a big enough clump to be able to go over the obstacles that block entrance to a next area. Although going forward to the next area is usually a good strategy, here are many larger items available to pick up in earlier layers if the player decides to revisit the place. This adds to the non-linearity to the game, making the rolling of each katamari a unique experience. Makes the game more re-playable, to a certain extent.
I tried the multiplayer also. Two players compete (in split-screen, on the same arena) to make a larger katamari then the other player. If one player gets a sufficiently larger clump then the other, it is even possible to roll up the opponent into your own katamari. You can really annoy someone by rolling him/her up many times in a row. :)
The controls in the game pretty intuitive (only the two analogue sticks are used), and easy to learn. The challenge of the game comes from the strategy of navigating the levels, not the controls. Choosing the right path through the level is key to getting high scores. My largest katamari was 900 meters (0.6 miles) in diameter, and included quite a few little islands!
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| [January 30, 2007 11:43:38 PM]
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Katamari is certainly unlike any other game I've played. Extraordinarily stylish, and fun to play too. The basic gameplay is very simple: you roll around a clump ("katamari"), which picks up various objects and grows. From ants to cars to small islands, it is possible to pick up anything and everything with an appropriately sized katamari.
The single-player campaign is a series of challenges, which include variations on the basic gameplay: looking for (or avoiding) certain objects, making a large enough katamari within a time limit, rolling it to a certain size, etc.
This primitive gameplay is oddly engaging. I've played Katamari Damacy for hours, until my thumbs begin to hurt, and I'm not tired of the game at all.
One of the things that really make the game fun is the soundtrack. It's very diverse, featuring styles like J-pop, Modern Classical, Future Jazz, Experimental, Trance, Techno, and what not. I liked the music so much that I went on eBay and got the soundtrack on CD the very next day; listening to it right now.
Another great aspect of the game is its art. Every single object, character, scene, even the loading screens, have a unique look. The game makes great use of low-poly models, incorporating the blocky feel into the style of the game. It's hard to describe; it's just well done. There are a lot of funny, random design decisions that would pass as an Easter egg in any "normal" game.
I love this game!
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fragmer's Katamari Damacy (PS2)
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Current Status: Playing
GameLog started on: Saturday 20 January, 2007
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