Game Review: Katamari Damacy/We Love Katamari

A couple of years ago I was fortunate enough to find a used copy of "Katamari Damacy". This was remarkable because it's nearly impossible to find one of those in a physical store. People just don't part with their Katamari games when they're done with them. They play them over and over again.

I figured it would be a good game to play with Yummy. It's a simple game with broad appeal. But my copy was damaged. After playing the first level on a friend's system in KC she was hooked. So I bought a PS3 that was compatible with PS2 games primarily so we could play that one game.

We started a few weeks ago and tore through it. Then, on the way to work one morning, I realized what the appeal of the game is. Sure, as Yummy likes to say, "I like it when they scream". But I think the overriding appeal is that it's Pac-Man. Let me explain.

A Katamari is a ball with lumps on it. Things stick to this ball. You are a tiny son of the King of the Universe (and major jackass, too). You push the Katamari around on Earth. Things stick to the Katamari making it bigger and bigger. You start just a couple of centimeters tall and can only pick up paper clips and gum drops. As the Katamari grows it can pick up larger and larger objects. Soon you're collecting mice, cats, slow moving birds, people, cars, houses, giant squids, islands, clouds, planes, etc. etc.

Pac-Man is a yellow ball with a mouth. You drive it around and collect dots. Instead of avoiding larger animals and objects too big to pick up you avoid ghosts. The basic game play is the same only one has better graphics.

Yummy got me "We Love Katamari" for my birthday. I'd been looking for it in stores for quite some time. But, like the original, people don't like to sell their copies. She had to find a copy online. It's much like the original version. The story for the original is that your jackass father took a joyride and knocked all the stars from the sky. Your job was to roll up material to make new stars. In "We Love Katamari" you have fans that played the first game. They keep sucking up to the King and making requests. The King, in turn, makes you roll Katamaris for the fans. Instead of simply rolling around homes, cities, and archipelagos you also have underwater levels, flaming Katamaris, firefly Katamaris, and other new environments.

Anyway, I recommend any of the Katamari games to anyone of any age or gender.