Katamari Damacy 2 Due In July

A sequel to the ball rolling simulator Katamari Damacy is due out in July of this year, according to a Gamespot news blurb. From the article: "In Minna Daisuki Katamari Damacy, gamers once again assume the role of the diminutive hero known as the Prince of All Cosmos. And, once again, the prince must save the universe by rolling around a giant snowballing mass of sticky debris (katamari) to pick up various objects." Update: 04/08 06:02 GMT by Z : If it's okay with everyone, I'm just going to retcon this one and pretend that I know how to read.

Comments

Sneak Peek!

[American AC in Paris]

Through ultra-secret inside contacts, I've managed to get my hands on some never-released audio clips from Katamari Damacy 2. Here's the transcript of the "intro" dialog:

*skritcha-skritcha skratchitta-rachitta skOOOWP-a skritch skratch skratchitta-skritchitty-skritchitta skewww scratch skritchitta-sratcha-ratch sritch*

Re:Sold Out

[th1ckasabr1ck]

Relax man, games are often more expensive in Japan. For example:

Dragon Quest VIII: Sora to Umi to Daichi to Norowareshi Himegimi will be released in Japan on November 27th for 8,800 yen ($84.45 US).

Re:Sold Out

[UWC]

Well, quite a bit of effort went into ironing out the mechanics of the new card-based rolling system. I mean, is 6 cards in a hand enough? What level of deck customization should be allowed? What about resources? I think the ~$50 price is justified.

June! Now Longer and with Bonus Features!

[WorkerGnome]

And by June, they actually mean June 38th, in that The Powers That Be have declared an extension of June into the domains previously granted to July.

Re:Sold Out

[American AC in Paris]

WTF. The first game was 20 bucks. Just because the game was a underground hit doesn't mean the maker should sell out and over price the game. 50 dollar games make baby jesus cry.

Yeah--the worst part is that giant robotic arm that comes out of nowhere, grabs you by the waist, carries you to the nearest game retailer, and forces you to buy it.

The injustice of it all, I tell you! If only there were some way of not buying these horribly overpriced games!

Re:What is the point of this game?

[American AC in Paris]

I haven't played it, and yes I am feeling lazy...what is the point of this game? How does one "win"?

...one "wins" by growing the katamari (ball o' crap) to a certain diameter before time runs out.

You should really just go out and rent/buy a copy. There's just no good way to describe the game using mere words--you really need to experience whole the giddily bizzare thing for yourself.

Re:Sold Out

[CDarklock]

> WTF. The first game was 20 bucks.

Well, as any smart provider of addictive substances knows, you *always* discount the first dose. ;)

Giant Rolling Ball

[jcuffe]

I want to see how they can make another game where you roll a giant ball around, and manage to make it fresh again... it's like making Tetris 2. How much different can you make it without crippling what makes it fun?

A couple of things.

[schild]

Zonk,

1. How did you manage to get the date SO WRONG?
2. It's only coming out in Japan in July, not America. We'll probably get it late summer early fall if we're LUCKY.
3. Is finding actual news really that hard? This is a press release. A non european/US press release at that.

You've been naughty. You get a copy of Eve Online for Christmas.

gamecube?

[fireduck]

Every time I hear this game mentioned (the original actually), I can't help but think this would be a perfect Gamecube title. "Stick everything in your big ball o' crap" fits beautifully next to "town full of animals that trade shirts" and "diminutive astronaut throwing sprouts at pill bugs". I wish Nintendo would be a bit more proactive when it comes to nudging developers to release games for their system.

Can't wait

[Gwenna]

to pick this up in June. Like that's possible....

Re:Can't wait

[CoffeeJedi]

you'll be able to pick it up eventually...

you just need some more stamps, erasers, bugs, pencils, and thumbtacks first!

Re:food

[biglig2]

You're thinking of the Calamari Damacy.

Re:What is the point of this game?

[tepp]

I disagree. It's much more than an "Average" game.

I have other ball-rolling games. Most notably - and most horribly - Fusion Frenzy for the xbox. You know, the game they have to GIVE away cause nobody in their right mind would buy it.

But Katamari is the only ball rolling game that's horribly addictive. It's because I love to see the world from different perspectives, and I love the whole klep-o-mania aspect of being able to reach out and steal everything into my big ball.

The soundtrack is adorable. It's the only one nobody asks me to turn down or turn off when I play video games. I sometimes find myself whistling the "roll you up into my life" song while doing housework. The opening title, with the psychadelic mushrooms, is so happy and peaceful. In fact, there's nothing violent in this whole game... and yet it's still fun. Well, you can pick up people, but they're still alive when you do that, and don't seem to be harmed that much.

The king's dialog is hysterical. That's another big part of the charm. The king is massively high on drugs, I think, and his inane comments really perk up the game. "155 maidens! The sky will be so lovely! Still, I am far, far, prettier than them..."

I've played a good number of games this year, but usually once I finish the game, that's it. I don't play it again. With Katamari, I often pick it up for a few minutes of happy ball rolling, constantly trying to beat my old scores and unlock the eternity levels on stars 4, 8, and the moon. Or find all the presents. Or finish my collections of objects. The replay value is incredible.

I can't wait for the next version. I only wish they'd announce a date so I could get my pre-order in. I worry that NAMCO will underestimate the demand and not make enough copies... it's very hard to get a hold of the original Katamari Damacy, due to NAMCO not wanting to flood the market, so I've been unable to give copies of this game away as presents to my relatives. I just want to make sure I get my order in early so I don't have to wait. :)