10/06 Update: Since we no longer write for the Edmond Sun, this section is temporarily housing our podcast links for our iTunes feed. All of the columns are in the archives menu if you feel like exploring.

These columns (as well as the 'releases') come from weekly content that we write for the Edmond Sun, out of Edmond, OK (though we live in Chicago). This page contains the archives for said column, many of which are in their pre-published, unedited state. Some titles and editing by Brendan Sinclair.

Column Archives:

Katamari Damacy
Saturday, October 02, 2004

Katamari Damacy is not exactly your typical action game for the PS2. To get a taste of what this game entails, and what kind of road the developers have laid out for you, you must hear the story first. The king of the universe, who just so happens to be your father, got drunk one night and accidentally destroyed all the stars in the sky. Like any respectable king who practically destroyed the entire universe, he takes full responsibility for his actions. He got a little carried away, he explains, but clearly, this problem must be remedied.

Being the upstanding ruler that he is, he places the duty of replacing the stars in the sky with you, his pint sized son. How exactly does one go about replacing the heavens? By collecting every object on Earth, of course. Using a super sticky ball, called a katamari, you roll around Earth snatching every object you see. And that is the entire game. No, seriously, that's it.

Shockingly enough, the game is absolutely fantastic. Using just the two analog sticks to move, no old fashioned buttons needed in this adventure, you can capture any object you roll into. The catch is, you can only pick up items that are slightly smaller than your katamari. Because of this simple idea, levels are laid out in such a way that urges exploration and rewards growth. In the beginning, you'll find your katamari is only a few centimeters high. During this time you'll scour the landscape for tiny push pins and matchsticks and any other item smaller than your thumb.

As you pick up items, your katamari grows in size. This not only allows you to pick up larger objects, but also effects how your katamari handles. Pick up a pencil, for instance, and your katamari will be much more awkward to push. The physics in this game attempt to replicate what it would be like to push a bulky ball around a cluttered world, but never gets so realistic as to detract from the simple joy of collecting objects.

As you amass more objects and grow ever larger, you'll be able to pick up a huge variety of items. Anything you see can eventually be plucked from the ground. I won't spoil what cool creatures populate the world later in the game, but let it be known Katamari Damacy provides plenty of incentive to explore every nook and cranny. If you're good, you may just be able to capture a mythological creature that resides in Scotland, and I'm not talking about the chupacabra.

I know what you're thinking right now: so you roll around a ball collecting objects, big deal. I admit, the game does sound pretty ridiculous. Why bother purchasing this when a pretty darn good X Men game just came out and Paper Mario is on the horizon? Honestly, the only thing I can tell you is that this game truly is what makes playing video games so special. This is the type of game you will keep replaying to beat your old high score and find yourself whistling the opening tune while waiting for a train.

As I am the master of segue, I will now tell you about the awesome music. If you think it's hard trying to explain how fun it is to roll a magical ball around is, wait until you see me struggle to compliment this game's music. It's good, I can tell you that much. And, it covers a lot of different genres, though each with a distinct Japanese flavor. There are even one or two songs that you might recognize, though they are changed ever so slightly. I find myself humming the opening track to myself all the time.

This is probably the best soundtrack I have heard in a game since Lemmings came out on the SNES over a decade ago. The funny part is, if I were to buy the soundtrack to this game it would cost more than Katamari Damacy itself did.

Developer Namco must have realized how hard it may be to release a quirky, Japanese title in America right around the Holiday buying frenzy. So they were nice enough to charge a mere $20 for this game. Granted, it may only take you a few hours to play through the first time, but it will still be the best $20 you ever spent on a video game.

If you're wondering if you really should trust me on this game, ask yourself one question: did you wonder, as you read this review, if the graphics were any good? If you said yes, this may not be the game for you. This is as old school as you are likely to find on the PS2, outside of compilations, and really is not for everyone. But, if you like the idea of a game that doesn't rely on any technological tricks to suck you in, and is as addicting as any game out there, there's no reason not to try this. At the very least, rent it one night with your friends just to laugh at how absurd the story and characters are. You may find a great game underneath.

- Tom


|