We ♥ Katamari

[jewpinthethird]

For the past two days, We Love Katamari has been the main consumer of my time. Whether or not you like this sequel entirely depends on whether or not you like the first game.

Gameplay: Pretty much the same as the Katamari Damacy. Roll up stuff, make you Katamari bigger.

We Love Katamari picks up where Katamari Damacy left off. Basically, the story goes, Katamari Damacy became so popular they had to make a sequel for the fans of the first game. You have to keep rolling up stuff to keep the fans happy. What you roll up depends on what the fan requests. The requests range from the average make the biggest katamari in a certain amount of time, to rolling around a child who then eats everything in sight in order to compete in a sumo wrestling tournment.

There are also many more levels you get to roll around it. In the previous game you basically were restricted to the House, the City, the World, in We Love Katamari you have a lot more to choose from, including a school, a fantasyland that consists only of flowers and fairies, the sky (rolling up rain clouds), a campsite, a zoo, a candyland, and the usually house, city, and world. Though the world level has had a major improvement, such as the inclusion of different climates and landmarks (so far I've seen the Eifel Tower, Big Ben, Stonehenge, the Pryamids, Mt Fuji, Mt. Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, the Great Wall of China and more that I can't remember right now). So far, the biggest Katamari I have rolled up is around 900 meters (that's about 100 meters bigger than the biggest katamari I rolled up in the first) and there seems to be no end in sight to how big your katamari can get. There are bigger and bigger things that still seem impossible to get.

Not to mention the improved two-player system. Though I haven't had a chance to try it out, apparently now you can either work together with another person (each person acting as one hand; right and left) or you can compete in the world (not just a blow of stuff anymore).

Music: All new songs, just as grand a soundtrack as Katamari Damacy. Plus, now you have the option of choosing what song you want to listen to while you are rolling up.

Graphics: Though they have improved, graphics arent an important part in the game.

What I don't love about We Love Katamari: The is no more star-gazing mode, one of my favorite parts from the first game. But there is a reason for this. You are no longer making stars, you make planets. So instead you now get to fly around the solar system to view all the planets you made. You can also upload your save data from the previous game so you can view all your stars and the moon. Even though I really like flying around the cosmos, it doesnt have the same feel as standing on earth gazing at your collection.

You also don't have your own little planet anymore. You have a secret meadow. This is where everything in the game is. Where you take requests, where you save, change various options, etc. Again, it just doesnt have the same feel as the first game.

What I do love about We Love Katamari: Everything else. It far surpasses the first game in terms of there is just more to do. I had the first game beat within a couple of days. I've been playing We Love Katamari and I still dont see an end in sight.

Is it worth the 30 dollars (yes, a ten dollar increase, shock and awe)? Definently. Worth every penny. Certaintly not a game to miss.

[suicidalmuskrat]

I think this is ****. Yes, the s-word. I've played both games. Katamari Damacy was awesome because it was new, and orginal. I <3 Katamaris sucks ass because all it does is take one of the great indie games and try to globalize it to retards. "Hey, I heard the theme to KD was so cool...look, the one for IHK was just like it. Plus, the Co-Op mode SUCKS....bad...It's just dumb. All they did was alter physics in certain levels, add a few different 'mini games', and give you more **** to do. Yeah, if you're pathetically obsessed to KD then you'll like it. If you have any sort of mind, or at least have a game critic somewhere inside you, you have no choice but to hate this. It's everything that's wrong with the game industry. Find one thing that works, get a buzz, copy incessantly....repeat. **** THAT. **** YOU KATAMRI. I just hate it. And it tears me up to say it. The first was probably my favorite game of the year. Not because of what it was, but because of what it stood for....I can't wait for the revolution...I would probably play nothing new...ever....again....

Is it worth 30 dollars? If you've played the first KD, then NO...stand strong...don't give into this ****....if you haven't played the first, then buy either. It doesn't really matter.

[ckj846]

Although I havn't played the second Katamari, I did thouroughly enjoy the first one. Is this one worth the invesment or will it get old really fast like the first one did?

[Benny1]

Great so basically, they added more features, and KATAMARI ON THE ROCKS DOKAKA, and you say that makes it worse?

So if they made this game play through in a few minutes, it wouldbe that much better? And had terrible songs that aren't near as awesome as the originals? So you would've liked it better if still, all you did was roll up stuff?

You have no idea of what a good game is, unless your idea of a good game is stargazing and running around your own planet, and only having three levels to do anything.

[mead1]

I think Muskrat's gone off the deep-end. I thoroughly enjoyed the first game, and my only problem was that it was over too quickly. I may pick this up, assuming I can drag myself away from IIDX long enough to play it.

[Omeganitros]

Dude...Muskrat......Woah....

[jewpinthethird]

I <3 Katamaris sucks ass because all it does is take one of the great indie games and try to globalize it to retards.

Oh man, I forgot that being mainstream automatically makes things suck ass. It's a shame too...because the first game was so indie. Yeah, I'm not totally ignoring the fact that Katamari Damacy was created by Namco.

All they did was alter physics in certain levels, add a few different 'mini games', and give you more (#$% to do.

Yeah, what genius decided to make a sequel that is similar to its predecessor. Sequels should be completely different games. You know what was another sh*tty sequel? Ms. Pac-man. That game was absolute sh*t. All Namco did was improve on it's previous design, kind of like what they did with We Love Katamari. What lazy sons of bitches. Nobody wants a sequel that improves upon it's predecessor.

Yeah, if you're pathetically obsessed to KD then you'll like it.

That totally describs me. I didnt eat for 4 months because all I did was play Katamari Damacy. I also stopped going outside altogether so now my skin is translucent.

If you have any sort of mind, or at least have a game critic somewhere inside you, you have no choice but to hate this. It's everything that's wrong with the game industry. Find one thing that works, get a buzz, copy incessantly....repeat.

Yeah! F*ck the man! F*ck having fun for the sake of not trying to seem mainstream! F*ck the game industry for creating sequels because fans asked them too! F*ck the fans! They aren't OG! I'm so OG! Nobody understands how OG I am.

Seriously suicidalmuskrat, you sound like one of those kids who loves a certain band, and then the band becomes famous, so you start to hate them because you don't want to be considered mainstream. You don't want to share the same enjoyment you get by playing Katamari Damacy with others.

You didn't love Katamari Damacy because it is a fun game, you loved it solely for it's originality and now that that's been taken away from you, you have nothing left but anger because now you can't be one of a select few who can say "I was a fan since the beginning" because nobody else will listen to you, nor will anyone care.

You didnt give one reason as to why We Love Katamari is a horrible game other than the fact that it is a sequel. It is just Katamari Damacy with add features, new levels, and new music. But guess what, all Katamari Damacy was was a game based around music and levels. Same concept, same characters, completely different game.

Get over yourself.

[dAnceguy117]

Heated arguement :O I would jump out of my seat to back what Jewpin has said, but I haven't played it yet. To the basement I go! New post in however long it takes for me to unglue my ass from my comfy futon.

[ImEric12]

Just went and bought it... I'm liking it a lot so far. Multiplayer mode is kinda.. weird. The battle mode is fun, but the co-op mode is stupid.

[MalReynolds]

I enjoyed both games. I got jo' back, Jewpin, if for no other reason than I hate those kids back when I went to Highschool.

Mal

[jewpinthethird]

Okay, I beat We Love Katamari. By that, I mean I completed all the tasks in the game (or so I believe). But, just like Katamari Damacy you have the option of improving your collection. I still haven't gotten passed 1000 meters yet, so I still have a long way to go and I think as of this moment, every fan wants me to improve the katamari's I made for them.

[suicidalmuskrat]

No response. I'm not pissed because it's mainstream. I'm pissed because they didn't push themselves to anything near as great as the first game. WHK is still a good game. That's why I said that if you haven't played the first, then buy either because it doesn't really matter. Yeah, I noticed my indie typo as I re-read my post. I say that because it didn't have near the budget of most games...Especially of most games as popular as KD. I'll repeat myself. It's a good game. Just not what it should be. What's with the co-op mode? I could go on, but meh. And pathetically obsessed doesn't mean not eating and not going outside, it means completely beating it in a matter of days. So I think I was on pretty good with that one. Anyways, end of discussion for me. I hope they continue to release a KD every year, with little to no graphical updates, little to no game engine updates, and some minor gameplay changes, extensions, or additions. Because that's what makes the game industry so awesome. Rather than Namco taking time to create another brilliantly designed small budget game, they spend their time and their money cashing in. THAT'S what I'm so upset about. It could've been any of about 10 franchises that I went off on, I just chose WHK...

[MalReynolds]

You know, I would rather have sixteen new Katamari games than another .KillSwitch.

Sometimes, it's best to stick with what your good at, then branch out. They'll make another breakthrough game some other time ;) You don't know they won't, and you don't know they aren't working on another one right now.

For the record, have you played Nano-Break? It's an excellent blend of FPS and Fighting, but very few people have played it... It's not really an Indie title, either. I saw a fair amount of press. I guess it just goes to show that the game spectrum can go both ways; Indie to popular or Hyped and unheard of.

Mal

[jewpinthethird]

No response. I'm not pissed because it's mainstream. I'm pissed because they didn't push themselves to anything near as great as the first game. WHK is still a good game. That's why I said that if you haven't played the first, then buy either because it doesn't really matter. Yeah, I noticed my indie typo as I re-read my post. I say that because it didn't have near the budget of most games...Especially of most games as popular as KD. I'll repeat myself. It's a good game. Just not what it should be. What's with the co-op mode? I could go on, but meh. And pathetically obsessed doesn't mean not eating and not going outside, it means completely beating it in a matter of days. So I think I was on pretty good with that one. Anyways, end of discussion for me. I hope they continue to release a KD every year, with little to no graphical updates, little to no game engine updates, and some minor gameplay changes, extensions, or additions. Because that's what makes the game industry so awesome. Rather than Namco taking time to create another brilliantly designed small budget game, they spend their time and their money cashing in. THAT'S what I'm so upset about. It could've been any of about 10 franchises that I went off on, I just chose WHK...

I can see where you are coming from. But I dont really see how they could really improve much on Katamari Damacy. We Love Katamari is a sequel for sequel's sake. They make that clear within the first 5 minutes of the game basically stating "Katamari Damacy was so popular that we made a sequel because we can and you will buy it." They don't even try to hide it, Namco made it the plot.

I still standby that it is as good, if not better, than the original. And beating it within a few days, I would hardly called that obsessed. Beating it in a day, which wouldnt be too difficult a task, I would consider obsessed. The game takes no longer than 6 hours to complete. That's two hours a day.

[suicidalmuskrat]

Agreed.

[Kenzya]

I bought it. Marvelous game, again. Did everything I wanted. Better presents, better cousins, longer game, and bigger katamari.

I've yet to play the co-op mode, but you guys make it sound like Cookies & Cream. No biggie there anyway.

[blargherness]

I played Co-op with my friend, he pretty much gave me orders. It was kinda hard. Seems like a good game, I am wishing I had a Ps2 now.

[Moogy]

I'm gonna buy it today.

[ImEric12]

Wow. I just made a 2493m Katamari in 17 minutes.

And there was STILL stuff too big to pick up.

This game is <3333333.

[jewpinthethird]

Wow. I just made a 2493m Katamari in 17 minutes.

And there was STILL stuff too big to pick up.

This game is <3333333.

Damn...were you able to pick up the King of the Cosmos?

[ImEric12]

Not quite. I was about 3/4 as tall as him, and he was solid... I bounced off of him (as opposed to when I was at like 850 the first time I played, and rolled right through the King)

[Tasuke]

I've yet to play the co-op mode, but you guys make it sound like Cookies & Cream. No biggie there anyway.
That was an awesome game.but incredibly difficult if you don't have any freinds

I want to get this game because you all say it's so baddass. But i have no money. So, i know the first game I'll get when i have the money.

[Kenzya]

I've yet to play the co-op mode, but you guys make it sound like Cookies & Cream. No biggie there anyway.
That was an awesome game.but incredibly difficult if you don't have any freinds

Yeah... I made it to like the 5th level and that was it. Even with a friend..

[joNJon163]

I heard you have to be around 3000 meters in order to pick up the King of all Cosmos.


The only thing im dissapointed with in WLK is that there are no eternal levels like in KD (levels with no time limit or limit on how many items you can pick up). Eternal levels had to be unlocked in KD, but there doesn't seem to be any in this game.

[evilbutterfly]

I have never played KD. Do you just roll around? What's the big deal? I don't see why people like it......

[jewpinthethird]

I have never played KD. Do you just roll around? What's the big deal? I don't see why people like it......

Really, it is just a game you have to play to understand. It's just fun and addicting. You just want to make things bigger and bigger.

[dAnceguy117]

Yeah, so whenever it was I posted on the first page, I went downstairs to realize I hadn't beaten KD yet. I beat Make the Moon with like 780-something and did Make the North Star, then proceeded to put in the WHK CD.

It's <3333333 I'm not as far as I should be now, for one reason. I was playing for a good 2-3 hours when my mom and my sister turned on their hairdryers at the same time and blew a circuit.

That's my only complaint about the game. They didn't put in an autosave feature. I mean, I think I quit KD twice after a couple of hours without saving accidentally. Not cool D:

Everything else is <33333333. I don't get why so many people are complaining about co-op. I think it's hilarious. Not being able to communicate effectively leads to holding different directions, which leads to going the wrong way, which leads to crashing.. etc. The vs. mode is a lot better this time around in the sense that there's no extra 30 seconds when all of the stuff is picked up, and the one person desparately behind is just trying to knock all of the crap off of the other person. Oh, there is the fact that you can still lock on. I was up like 40-2 or something ridiculous and my friend comes back to win in like the last 20 seconds 8-0. What the hell.

Notice how minor these complaints are? That's testiment to how good the game is. Get it.