A Gaming Diary
Posts tagged katamari damacy
i Love Katamari (iPhone)
Sep 18th
Was in a Katamari mode this lunchtime, so had a quick go.
Managed to the second level, which I failed last night. Playing at my desk works far better than trying to play on the sofa. I think it’s the game’s natural habitat. It may not be the best in the series, but to be in a Katamari mood and just be able to have a quick go of a perfectly decent version is great.
Katamari Forever Demo (PS3)
Sep 18th
So, this is the demo of the new Katamari game on the PS3. The full game is compilation of old and new levels done up with various new graphics filters, I believe. A bit like a remastered greatest hits album with a couple of new tracks.
The demo features two levels. The first has you rolling around a water-covered Katamari, bringing life back to the desert. It’s absolutely wonderful. I love seeing flowers and plants spring up where I roll. The second level is a traditional level, set in a house, where you have to roll up small objects to get to 20cm. As always, it’s throughly enjoyable stuff.
I love Katamari and this looks like being a great game. The series lost its novelty factor long ago, so it’s a good job the charm and the fun still remain.
i Love Katamari (iPhone)
Sep 17th
So, this is currently on sale for £1.79, reduced from £4.99. I had the credit sitting in my account, so I downloaded it without hesitation.
Which may have been a mistake.
It’s not that it’s a small version of the game – that’s understandable and okay by me, given the price.
It’s not the framerate, which though slightly alarming never stops the game being playable on my 3GS.
It’s not the tilt controls as such, they work fine.
It’s that you can’t calibrate the controls, as far as I can see. The game is set up with a neutral angle that makes no allowances for being slumped on the sofa or lying in bed. If you’re not sitting up, almost hunched over the phone, you can’t play it. Bah.
(Also, I apologise for managing to take such a bland, grey screen shot of the game.)
i Love Katamari Lite (iPhone)
Aug 5th
Tried this once again to see if the controls felt any better.
I played for a while, but the “neutral” angle that you have to hold the iPhone at when you don’t want to move feels unnatural to me when I’m slumped on the sofa. I should have checked if there were any calibration options, really. Until I got back and do that, the experiment is incomplete.
Mind you, unless the game goes on sale for half price I’m unlikely to buy it, anyway.
i Love Katamari Lite (iPhone)
Jul 17th
Yes, the title of the game has a small letter “i” at the beginning. Do you see what they did there? Clever, clever people.
Anyway, I went back to this to see if the controls felt better now I’m a bit more experienced with the tilting and turning of my iPhone.
Like many other games I’ve tried, the results were positive. After a couple of games I was rolling around like nobody’s business and even managed to get a katamari of over 25cm, which was brilliant – for me. I’ve no idea if that’s actually any good or not, though. There’s no goal set and the King wasn’t impressed – but is he ever? It would be nice for some better feedback from the demo. I’m not buying the full game if I don’t know if I’ll be able to complete any levels. Mind you, while it’s £4.99 I doubt I’ll be buying it all.
Still, the thing is, it’s Katamari, which automatically sparks lovely feelings in my brain. I just need to see the graphics and hear the music and I’m in a happy place. I think the demo makes me happy enough for now, is all.
Beautiful Katamari Demo (360)
Aug 19th
It’s Katamari. Again. But in HD. That’ll probably just about do.
It was my wife’s first glimpse into the world of Katamari and after one go of the demo she demanded more, so I sat her down in front of We Love Katamari on the PS2, which she’s still playing and which she’s calling, “The funnest game ever.”
I need to find my PSP charger and hope we can work some TV-sharing out when Bioshock comes out.
We Love Katamari
Oct 15th
So, I wanted to play something before bed. Couldn’t think what, so I turned on the PS2, went down the list of games on the hard drive, nothing looked interesting… until Katamari! Perfect!
I started up and had a nice easy kind of bonus level rolling up a snowman’s head.
I should have left it there, but I had to go and try another level. From 20cm to 12m in 12 minutes. I got up to 9m. Oh. Very angry King. Ran away.
We Love Katamari
Sep 27th
I just properly fell in love with this game.
Previously, I liked hanging out with it and wasn’t averse to the odd bunk up and, sure, I loved it in a way, but now I’m completely in love.
It was the Hansel & Gretal level that did it. The simplest and easiest level so far. There’s nothing to it at all. But just the design of the house and the greatness of the concept just worked some magic on me and now I’m in love.
Even if I just let a fire go out twice and had lasers shot at me for my troubles.
We Love Katamari
Sep 27th
Dear Girlfriend,
I’m so sorry I missed our date today. I know, I know, but it’s been a strange diary, even by my standards. I was on my way to see you, trying to mind my own business, when a tiny Sumo wrestler approached me and asked for my help. Of course, he actually meant he wanted my father’s help. I’m nothing to these people – nothing! I do all the work, all the rolling, yet it’s my father who gets the praise, the fans, the glory. I don’t know how much longer I can stand it.
But my father forced me into helping him again. He made me roll this Sumo wrestler around the town picking up food that had been left lying around. I got hit by a train several times because chicken legs had been left on the railway line, but I’m okay. Just a bit sore. This guy ate and ate. He even ate some children I ran into by mistake. Oh God, darling, I’m a murderer! I don’t want to do this! I don’t want to live this life! I want to be good! I want to paint! Maybe teach! Not this endless rolling, rolling, rolling. I’m a thief and a killer!
My father had only given me five minutes to get this Sumo guy up to size and by that time I’d failed. Everything went black and my father appeared above me, terrifying to behold. And then the laser bolts shot from his eyes, something I’ve seen before. He was so mad at me! I ran, trying to evade his terrible discipline, but some of the bolts hit. It was burning agony like I’ve never felt. My poor raw hide! He hit just the spots left raw by the train hits. So I tried again and again I failed him and his rage was no less brutal.
And again I tried and this time I realised I had to take the Sumo wrestler to his match before the five minutes was up. He beat his opponent and my father was all sweetness and light and let me go. I ran all the way to the cinema, but by the time I got there, you’d gone. I’m really sorry.
I know we’ve talked about this, how I should run away, let one of cousins take over my duties, that the way my father treats me is wrong. But I can’t help going back. He’s my father, and he’s King of the Cosmos and I’d never be able to hide. I love you, but like it or not, this is my life. I hope you can accept that. I’ve learned to, in time I’m sure you will, too.
Maybe you should come round for dinner one day, so I can introduce you? Please, reply soon. I miss you.
Your Love,
The Prince
