Katamari...finally!

[DaytonaUSA]

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/joystiq-...tamari-forever/

 

Looks to be a great game so far. The thought of a more fleshed out Katamari game in HD, with the control sticks in the correct orientation is pretty exciting . I love this franchise, and I'm glad I have a PS3 already. I would have bought one just for this game, like I did for the 360 and Beautiful Katamari.

[moycon]

I do love Katamari games.

One thing I noticed in that trailer though, much of the levels shown looked to me to be Beautiful Katamari and there were some levels that looked cell-shaded that were new. Is this just Beautiful Katamari with a few new cell-shaded levels tacked on?

[Artlover]

Darn exclusive.

 

Guess I'm going to have to get a PS3 now.

[liveinabin]

Is this just Beautiful Katamari with a few new cell-shaded levels tacked on?

 

It's not Beautiful Katamari at all. It's the first two games interspersed with a few new levels. So, even though Keita Takahashi hasn't worked on it, his levels are here in lovely Hi-Def.

 

On the Takahashi front, today's 1.1 update of Noby Noby Boy is superb and it's well worth a purchase now. Much more varied sound and offline multiplayer.

[DaytonaUSA]

I do love Katamari games.

One thing I noticed in that trailer though, much of the levels shown looked to me to be Beautiful Katamari and there were some levels that looked cell-shaded that were new. Is this just Beautiful Katamari with a few new cell-shaded levels tacked on?

 

There aren't cell shaded levels or regular levels.. it's simply different presentation styles that you can choose. That means you can play the game with the classic look, cell look, or otherwise.

 

It's not Beautiful Katamari. Far from. It's actually, if anything, getting praise from the press on how UNlike the 360 version it is. Considering the 360 version just didn't work control wise for me (not the joystick positions so much as it felt floaty. I played the first two after I played the 360 version, and you can move where you want to move snappier and with less effort), that's a great thing.

[NE146]

It's not Beautiful Katamari. Far from. It's actually, if anything, getting praise from the press on how UNlike the 360 version it is.

 

Well.. if it has the entire game in it and doesnt require you to PAY EXTRA to get the complete game, then it's 100% better than the 360 version right off the bat

[DaytonaUSA]

It's not Beautiful Katamari. Far from. It's actually, if anything, getting praise from the press on how UNlike the 360 version it is.

 

Well.. if it has the entire game in it and doesnt require you to PAY EXTRA to get the complete game, then it's 100% better than the 360 version right off the bat

 

Cute lol.

 

But I'm just hoping for the return of the old style snappier control. After the 360 version (and the PSP version), it really gave me a new found respect for the original 2 on the PS2.

[+Atari_Warlord]

I love the 2 PS2 Katamari games. Right now this is in my top 5 most anticipated games for this year. It will be interesting to see what trophies they come up with. I never found all the items in the other games despite playing them for hours and hours. Just don't put in that damn 1,000,000 rose collecting task!

[moycon]

It's not Beautiful Katamari at all.

 

I just re-watched the video. From 0:00 to 1:00 into that video is 100% Beautiful Katamari with the exception the graphics look cleaner. I played that game for about 50 hours and got 1250/1250 achievements (Yep even the extra levels you had to buy) I know the game. That entire first minute is all exact play fields from BK, no question. I do see what Daytona ment by being able to choose the look. The inside of the house with the attached candy shop, (which is absolutely in Beautiful Katamari right at the beginning of the game) is cell shaded in that video. Where is the press that says this isn't like Beuatiful Katamari on the 360 and are you sure they aren't talking about the controls, because even the items in those videos are the same as the 360 version. Daytona you have the 360 version don't you?

 

After that first minute of video passed, there were two brief scenes that last about 18 seconds. One where you roll down hill and one that looks like it was in a garden. Those aren't from Beautiful Katamari. What exactly makes you say its not Beautiful Katamari? Based on that video, it's about 70% Beautiful Katamari (sharper look and cell-shading aside) Is there another video out there I'm missing?

 

I wonder if the sixaxis control will be used in this game and if so, how?

Hopefully there will be a demo of this game in the Sony Store.

I will admit the 360 version had some sluggish controls especially the bigger you got.

I still enjoyed the hell out of it and plan on getting this version.

Edited May 1, 2009 by moycon

[Artlover]

This thread got me to turn my PS2 on again, something I haven't done in over a year. It's funny how the game keeps track of dates and gives amusing little dialogues relating to how long I've been gone and stuff.

 

 

It's not Beautiful Katamari at all.

What exactly makes you say its not Beautiful Katamari?

Have you played "We Love Katamari"?

 

Pretty much all those scenes were in WLK and some reminded me of "Katamari Damacy" The scenes towards the end reminded me very much of KD even more.

 

Only thing I saw that screamed "Beautiful Katamari" was around 30-45 seconds when it was rolling up the earth and in space.

 

Off the top of my head the race car one from WLK and Make a Star #4 from KD come to mind.

Edited May 1, 2009 by Artlover

[moycon]

Have you played "We Love Katamari"?

 

I have not, I only played the first one. Regardless, I am telling you. Those are the exact same scenes from Beautiful Katamari.

 

The question is....Have you played Beautiful Katamari?

 

No-one here has to take my word for it.

Load up Beautiful Katamari and play it, film it if you want, you can find those exact same scenes, and items in it.

If you need help finding the locations, hit me up because I can tell you exactly where they are in the game.

Just name the scene in the video and I'll tell you the world to go to.

You can say it all brand new and based on the older stuff, then so was Beautiful Katamari because those scenes are the same.

Edited May 1, 2009 by moycon

[Artlover]

I have not, I only played the first one.

If you haven't played it, then how can you say those scene's aren't from it?

 

The question is....Have you played Beautiful Katamari?

Yes, I have. Quite a bit. The 360's staggered analog sticks do it no justice.

 

Load up Beautiful Katamari and play it, film it if you want, you can find those exact same scenes, and items in it.

You are correct, those scenes are in BK. But keep in mind that BK did copy many enviorments (some almost verbatim) from WLK.

[moycon]

If you haven't played it, then how can you say those scene's aren't from it?

 

Maybe they are.

But I'm telling you they are from Beautiful Katamari as well, and in regards to this "new" game I've heard...

 

It's not Beautiful Katamari at all.

 

It's not Beautiful Katamari. Far from.

 

It doesn't matter what other game those scenes resemble or where they were originally taken from.

I'm telling you they ARE IN Beautiful Katamari.

 

They don't just resemble Beautiful Katamari.

 

They are there, and anyone can see it for themselves if they have the game. The big difference I'm guessing is they are presented in 1080p.

If that is being "far from Beautiful Katamari" I really don't know how!!

I'll assume it's the controls? Maybe the premise of the game?

 

Look, I'm not knocking this game. I'll be first in line for it if only to experience the enhanced visuals and control. (Yes I realize there are more difference than that, I'm just saying "if") I thought the 360 version kicked ass, and if this is better...well then that's a good thing, but I find it hard to believe that folks have played the 360 version (and played it "Quite a bit.") and don't recognizes every single scene from the fist 60 seconds of that video.

 

That's all I'm trying to say.

Like I said.

Give me a time stamp from that video and I'll tell you where to go in BK to see the same thing.

Edited May 1, 2009 by moycon

[liveinabin]

OK

 

I'm sure they were in Beautiful Katamari. Still, this new game is a remake of Katamari 1+2 with some extra levels thrown in to fit a new story arc.

See, the 'plot' is this:

 

The King of the Cosmos is in a kind of coma. The baddie, Roboking, has taken control and, while the new levels will be in service of the Robo King, the rest will be going over old Katamari 1+2 levels in order to help the real King regain his memory and wake up.

 

Just because the same levels were in BK, there's absolutely no reason to assume it'll be a similar game as BK is widely regarded as a bit of a false step in the series mainly, I guess, because of the control and all the silly DLC.

Certainly the control will be miles better. The sticks are in the right place on the PS3 pad and, of course, Namco already have a control system for dual shock pads from the PS2, screwing it up would actually take effort on their part.

The music will be mixed versions of tracks from all previous Katamari games (including BK, although Guru Guru Gravity is an awesome song).

Namco haven't announced DLC details yet. I'm sure there'll be some but, given that we already know that most of the decent levels and music from the first games are already part of the main game, nothing critical.

 

 

I think the only thing that can ruin this are the new Robo King levels. Might be fun, might suck, but they're the only unknown.

 

I'm still hotly anticipating this. It'll be a nice sign off for a great series (and it means I won't have to get the PS2 out again).

[moycon]

OK

 

I'm sure they were in Beautiful Katamari. Still, this new game is a remake of Katamari 1+2 with some extra levels thrown in to fit a new story arc.

 

Right, so you agree. Beautiful Katamari was a remake of Katamari 1+2 and Katamari Forever contains the same levels presented in 1080p with a different "plot" to wrap up the levels, a few extra levels tacked on, and the ability to change change the look to cell-shading if it strikes your fancy. Got it. Hopefully the game will be priced accordingly.

 

EDIT : looks like it is a bit cheaper... I found the pre-order on Amazon. Says it goes for $49.99:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Katamari-Forever-Pla...9659&sr=8-5

 

It is obvious based on the video, lots of things have been re-used from the BK version. "The Prince must use his finely tuned Katamari rolling skills once more to re-create the absent celestial bodies, save his royal father and restore order to the Cosmos." Rolling up things to "re-create the absent celestial bodies" is exactly what you did in BK. The big difference? The King wasn't in a coma. I hope the other differences will make it seem fresher than it appears to me at first glance. My point is, this isn't as far from BK as people are making it out. I was hoping for a NEW game. I'm not convince there is a whole lot new. Coma's and remixed music I'll give you but "far from BK"? I dunno. I'll surely find out though.

 

There are actually several filters you can apply to the levels, check it out...

 

http://www.siliconera.com/2009/04/10/filte...w-visual-style/

 

I think I'll be sticking to the standard view though.

Edited May 3, 2009 by moycon

[Lord Helmet]

Yes, I have. Quite a bit. The 360's staggered analog sticks do it no justice.

 

I have both of the PS2 games and the 360 one. I have no issue with the 360 controller itself...I could care less that the sticks aren't in alignment with one another. The dual shock controller and its more recent cousins have always had a "tacked on" feel when it comes to the analog sticks...which is exactly what they are since the original PSX pad didn't have them...then they were just added on. Really though, the orientation of the sticks is a non issue...and not just on this game.

 

However, the controls feel really mushy on BK, where they are all kinds of responsive on the two PS2 games.

[liveinabin]

Right, so you agree. Beautiful Katamari was a remake of Katamari 1+2 and Katamari Forever contains the same levels presented in 1080p with a different "plot" to wrap up the levels, a few extra levels tacked on, and the ability to change change the look to cell-shading if it strikes your fancy. Got it. Hopefully the game will be priced accordingly.

 

Fine, Moycon. Yes. It's exactly the same game.

[moycon]

Fine, Moycon. Yes. It's exactly the same game.

 

Who said that? I merely argued that it doesn't appear far from Beautiful Katamari like other people have claimed.

I guess we'll know in a few months.

Edited May 4, 2009 by moycon

[Artlover]

I was hoping for a NEW game.

AFAIK, it's so niche, there isn't a lot of room to make it anything else then it is.

 

That said, what pray tell do you have in mind for a "new" game? Sure hope you aren't thinking something like "Super Katamari RPG", cuz I'll smack you!

[moycon]

That said, what pray tell do you have in mind for a "new" game? Sure hope you aren't thinking something like "Super Katamari RPG", cuz I'll smack you!

 

Nah nothing like that. I'm one of those guys that has no problem buying the same game over and over with slight differences (Think the Koei games) but the more differences the better. Slight game play changes, again using the Koei games as an example, like say being able to climb ladders, or swim, definitely add something. Some of the Dynasty Warriors games re-cycle levels, and even use the same cut-scenes, the series as a whole seems to have kept the same strategy. (Push the A button a few times, then push the X button once...repeat) Sure there ARE differences between the games. Still, I personally wouldn't Warriors Orochi 2 a far cry from Warriors Orochi 1 even though the stories are different and there are minor tweaks to the game play. In fact they are pretty much the same game.

 

Obviously the greatest differences in this case would be all new locations and items to find. Even the added visual treat of starting off the level in black and white and adding color to the world when you roll up a unique item isn't anything more than a minor visual change (actually in BK when you rolled up a new item it was displayed in a rainbow font to let you know it was new) and adding filters to the levels? *yawn*

 

Like I said, I plan on getting this game for sure. I do want to see the world in 1080p, and if the controls are better so be it. This remains to be seen, if they are better, it won't be because the analog sticks are in alignment with one another, I had no issue with that in BK. I thought I read that the reason the PS2 versions controlled differently (better?) was because it didn't actually use analog on the sticks. When you pushed up it was all or nothing unlike on the 360. If this is true and the PS3 version does use the analog sticks, then it might not control any different than the 360 version.

 

I just have a feeling if you've played BK through, you probably have seen the majority of this new game already. At least that was my impression after seeing that video. Most of what I'm saying is just speculation. A simple observation based on that video really. I'll let you know for sure when I get it in a few months. I'm just not getting overly excited by this one.