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We Heart Katamari Preview

Posted by Zonk on from the i-can-feel-it-i-can-feel-the-cosmos dept.

1up.com has up a look at the upcoming sequel to Katamari Damacy, set to launch in Japan sometime this summer. Besides some screenshots and discussion of new gameplay, the article discusses the original title and its place in the industry. From the article: "With intuitive, non-violent action and simple but stylized visuals, Katamari was one of those rare creations that managed to transcend the stereotypes and demographics of gaming and strike a chord with a wide spectrum of gamers, both casual and hardcore, male and female, youthful and elderly. The brainchild of Keita Takahashi, an artist turned game producer, Katamari's unique appeal can largely be chalked up to its creator's unique aspirations."

5 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. Release Date by Mandoric · · Score: 2, Informative

    The release date is 7th July, coinciding with Sakura Taisen 5 and a week before Super Robot Wars Alpha 3; most of the major importers appear to be offering preorders already.

  2. Non-violent action? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    The average player kills ten times as many people in Katamari Damacy as they do in GTA. And that's probably an under-estimate.

  3. I'm fed up of hearing about Katamari's sequel by EnglishTim · · Score: 4, Informative

    ... because the bastards still haven't released the original in Europe. Grrrr.

  4. Euro release possible: ) by sbszine · · Score: 4, Informative

    A European release for the sequel has been mentioned here and there. No details, but some scant info here and here. Also, Namco sent Katamari 2 press packs to the Euro press, which would be pointless if there were no Euro release planned. Failing that, there is a Nintendo DS version coming out.

    Fingers crossed, eh?

    --

    Vino, gyno, and techno -Bruce Sterling

  5. Disturbing: Yes, Violent: Not Really. by Leadhyena · · Score: 2, Informative
    Nah... they're still wriggling in the katamari after they've been rolled up, so they're still alive. The only time that those people die is when the star they get rolled into gets smashed into dust (because of a failure to meet the sceneraio requirements). Even the ending alludes to this, where the family after being rolled up in the katamari that becomes the moon, is grooving with all the other people rolled in with the other continents that you roll up in the credits.

    So I would say that while it is most assuredly disturbing, it's not especially violent.