Me & Katamari Damacy out this week

[Nick Laslett]

I picked this up yesterday.

It plays well on the PSP, can't understand why people would think it wouldn't.

If you like Katamari, very hard to resist the portable version, more of the same, but still great.

I'm looking forward to my first 4 player wireless battle, when I find someone else with a copy.

Anyone else pick this up? Or did you all buy it on import?

[The Liberal Elite]

does it have progressive scan?

[ROLF]

actually, anyone know if the PSP screen is progressive or interlaced?

[Super Craig]

It plays well on the PSP, can't understand why people would think it wouldn't.

Something to do with the PS2 version using two analog sticks perhaps? How does it control anyway?

[blackplastic]

Something to do with the PS2 version using two analog sticks perhaps? How does it control anyway?

I never played it on the PSP but have got this... The controls are weird. You can see that they have attempted to recreate the right stick on the face buttons but it miss-fires slightly, since to turn left you have to press left on the nub and triangle but to turn right you press forward on the nub and circle. I'm getting used to it and it is a lot of fun but I wish you could customise the control scheme which is frankly nuts.

[diggler]

It's best to ignore the nub and use the D-Pad. The face buttons kinda mirror it, so it (almost) feels like you have dual analogue control.

Except it's dual button control, if you get me.

[Sprite Machine]

Dunno why they don't just use normal FPS-style control. Seems so blindingly obvious.

[evilwallpaper]

I got it and the controls are perfect, they just need a little time to get used to them. Like diggler said use the D-Pad not the nubbin.

[MoFo2]

I found it broken. Ok, so you get used to the controls, but more than often I found myself stuck and the levels are boring. That's because as you progress you're basically playing the same levels over and over again with few new bits. However the 2D-bit after you complete the missions is a bit fun.

[Nate Dogg III]

The controls are no problem after the first ten minutes or so.

It's after twenty minutes when you realise you have shooting pains going all the way up your left arm that they become a problem. Or maybe that was the heart attack. I dunno.

Agree with the level repetition but that should be familiar to anyone who played the first one first; it's house/town/world like KD, not different levels for specific tasks a la WLK.

[cassidy]

The controls are no problem after the first ten minutes or so.

It's after twenty minutes when you realise you have shooting pains going all the way up your left arm that they become a problem. Or maybe that was the heart attack. I dunno.

Agree with the level repetition but that should be familiar to anyone who played the first one first; it's house/town/world like KD, not different levels for specific tasks a la WLK.

dont have a PS2 so never sampled the delights of Katamari, even though I always wanted too. So is this a must buy for the PSP then. Its about time it got a dusting off?

[misterSquare]

I've had it since the US launch. Its not all that - and I thought I'd *never* say that about a Katamari game.

Its just a bit dull, as others have mentioned. You get the same levels repeated over and over, with none of the size progression that made Katamari so good, or the tasks that made We Love... so fun. The levels are too small too, and you never seem to get a run anything beyond six minutes, so you're quite limited in the size you can actually grow to. Obviously if you start out big, you can get huge, but one of the fantastic Katamari things was returning to some problematic area later in the level and just rolling up all the stuff that was giving you grief. Here, you just get whisked off as soon as you get going, so the opportunity never really arises. Its probably all for the sake of portability etc, but it just makes the game far less interesting.

I found the controls fine, but the music is almost entirely recycled from the previous two, and the King somehow seems less funny than before. The whole menu system is ace though.

If you haven't already, I'd really recommend spending the money on a swap-magic and the original game or We Love... rather than this.

[df0notfound]

Its just a bit dull, as others have mentioned. You get the same levels repeated over and over, with none of the size progression that made Katamari so good, or the tasks that made We Love... so fun. The levels are too small too, and you never seem to get a run anything beyond six minutes, so you're quite limited in the size you can actually grow to. Obviously if you start out big, you can get huge, but one of the fantastic Katamari things was returning to some problematic area later in the level and just rolling up all the stuff that was giving you grief. Here, you just get whisked off as soon as you get going, so the opportunity never really arises. Its probably all for the sake of portability etc, but it just makes the game far less interesting.

I pretty much agree with square.

I had high hopes for this but its been a massive disappointment, I don't think the PSP or the team were up to the technical challenges and to make it even worse it feels like a child that missed the abortion tongs, it just lacks the care and love the others do and feels incredibly forced.

[Nick Laslett]

does it have progressive scan?

Would I buy it if it wasn't?

[ryodi]

Spotted this for only £24.99 in Gamestation today. I was tempted but after the negative comments in this thread I decided to get Metal Gear Ac!d 2 instead.

[robbright]

All I'm gonna say is wait until the last level

pure bonkerness

[Nate Dogg III]

That's the other notable similarity with the first KD - it only really lets you off the reins on the last level. And it could really have done with a new soundtrack during the levels, especially as the incidental music everywhere else is utterly new and better than ever (arguably).

It's not perfect, and it's the weakest in the series, but it's still Katamari on the move, which is utterly essential by default.

Though for those of you that haven't played the first, or haven't played either, I'd suggest spending that £30 on swapmagic and a US import of the first.

[cassidy]

Though for those of you that haven't played the first, or haven't played either, I'd suggest spending that £30 on swapmagic and a US import of the first.

Well seeing as I dont have a PS2, nor do i have enough cash to get one currently, then the PSP version is all I can manage.

I have to say I'm really enjoying it though. Its just got such a unique style about it, V cute and V amusing.

Shame I'm currently having spasms in my right hand thanks to the PSP size and the control method.

RSI for teh win

[SaintM]

I bought this yesterday and have to say that the controls are the most unintuitive possible. I can see no logic for them being so fucked up and it has spoiled the game for me since I end up fighting to control the little guy so much.

Rubbish.

[Paulando]

You get used to the controls after a while, they're alright after some practice. It's much better using the nub than the D-Pad though.

[shirubagan]

I thought it was great fun... completed it last night. Was grinning all the way through the game.

[mechamonkey]

I just dont understand all the control complaints, you must have flippers or no thumbs or something to explain this madness.

Brilliant game and I dont think for one minute it deserves the flack its been getting.

[Nate Dogg III]

I have made a videogame review using this videogame and some words and my brain.

http://www.pressstartonline.co.uk/index.ph...d=351&Itemid=43

[Distinct muttering]

Never played a Katamari before. So was really looking forward to finding out what the hype was all about.

Upon loading up I instantly looked the style and the whackyness of it all. So colourful and nice to look at, and the music was ace also.

The training level was a bit like, "ooh, there is quite a lot of button combos to learn, but Im sure I will get the hang of it". I then went onto the first level, and I kinda managed to stumble my way through it, just. By the second level I was getting stuck on every wall, frantically trying to remember the right combination of moves to turn around, and generally turning the wrong way and sending the camera spinning in weird ways

Im gonnna persevere cause I like the game, but the control method seems like it was determined by generating them randomly.

[shirubagan]

Im gonnna persevere cause I like the game, but the control method seems like it was determined by generating them randomly.

Stick with it, it's brilliant.

Going to buy We Love Katamari now and give the PS2 a dusting off.

[shirubagan]

I have made a videogame review using this videogame and some words and my brain.

http://www.pressstartonline.co.uk/index.ph...d=351&Itemid=43

Good review. As a newcomer to the series, I found it charming, funny, enjoyable and a great introduction to the series (have just ordered it, even though it's still £30) so felt the 6 may be a bit harsh or off-putting.

Nor did I ever suffer any discomfort from the controls. Seriously... how hard were you pressing the buttons?

[Sideshow]

I'm liking it, I find the controls easy enough, but I've played the PS2 version. Remember that you can use the shoulder buttons to turn. The levels are smaller than the PS2 versions but it is a PSP you're playing would you expect otherwise?

[whykt]

After loving Locorco, I was on a roll (never heard that one before!) with trying different games I normally wouldn't buy. I've never played it on the PS2 so it's all first impressions... love the funny King intros and speech noises, but the controls seem very awkward and the music not as brilliant as Locoroco.

Game targets are harder than I expected... can't even get past the second level Is there some obvious gameplay strategy I'm missing? Am I supposed to Dash around in straight lines like a mentalist in order to become the required size in the (strict!) time limit? Or is it do-able by rolling along at normal speed and being careful about what I pick up?

[Strafe]

Just got this today, decided to try something different like this after loving Locoroco. I've never played it on the PS2 so it's all first impressions... love the funny King sequences and speech noises, but the controls seem very awkward and the music not as great as Locoroco.

The game is harder than I expected... get past the second level Is there some obvious gameplay strategy I'm missing? Am I supposed to Dash around in straight lines like a mentalist in order to become the required size in the (strict!) time limit, or is it do-able by rolling along at normal speed and being careful about what I pick up?

It's very pretty and it has it's charm but it loses it's appeal quite quickly.

Plus, the control system seems to have been based on ancient scripture taken from the Devil's autobiography; "How to make life worse, musings from Satan's diary".

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

Got bored of 'We Love Katamari' (my first Katamari game) on the PS2 very quicky, so I won't be picking this up. I don't really understand the forum-love this game is getting, as I found the novelty wears off very quickly. It's very weird and very Japanese, but not that much fun IMO.

Oh well. Back to my spacemarines.