The best thing about LEGO was smashing up the model you just built and sticking the whole lot back together in a messy, multi-coloured ball. Katamari Demacy, the precursor to this game, took that feeling of unrestricted play and made a game of it.
It was original, pure brilliance. Or so we were told - none of us Europeans actually got to play it as it only came out in Japan. Praise be to EA, then, because they've taken on the publishing rights to the sequel which means we do get to play this supreme version after all.
Using both sticks to control your ball in much the same manner as a tank's caterpillar tracks, the aim of the game is practically identical to Damacy's: take a katamari - a kind of sticky ball of destruction - and roll over as much junk as possible. The King needs katamaris of varying sizes to replenish his galaxy after he mislaid all his stars. It's best that you don't ask and yes, it's as bonkers as a Japanese school girl playing freestyle jazz on Mars with Peter Andre.
Where the game has altered a little is in its mission design. There's more variation, and again simplicity is king. So you'll need to tidy a kid's room, for example, by mopping up crayons and toy cars, eventually taking in bigger items like slippers. Just when you think it's in danger of getting a bit boring, along comes some imaginative new goal to make it suddenly seem all fresh again.
We Love Katamari is a sunny, friendly game. There are so many little touches which make it a joy to play: the Prince's singing while he navigates through the stage select section; the little ditties emitted from recorders as they're hoovered up; the way a person's legs flail about as they're consumed. You'll be hard pressed not to play this with a cheesy grin on your face and your tongue sticking out (the controls are a little tricky to get to grips with). We Love Katamari - you'll love it just as much as we do.
PSW Staff
// Overview
Verdict
Sidesteps all gaming conventions to offer something totally different. If you don't like this, you may as well give up playing games for good.
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