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[gingerbeardman]

So, Katamari Damacy turns 10 today! Time flies.

Seems like only yesterday that I bought a PS2 to roll up random Japanese stuff.

Has the original ever been bettered?

I feel like rolling up some new stuff on a modern console.
Katamari Damacy box shot:

Director: Keita Takahashi
Designer: Masatoshi Ogita
Programmer: Kazumi Yamabe
Artist: Takashi Yoshida
Composer: Yū Miyake
Platform: PlayStation 2
Release date: March 18, 2004 (Japan)

Intro:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgrnIBlxZCk

Make the Moon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwhFH75OCDs

My favourite tune from the game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFLJX-T7LPk

 

[Impossiburu]

I adored the crap out of the first two games in this series. Katamari Forever was solid on the PS3 and Touch My Katamari was decent on the Vita.

Otherwise? Man, I really wish Takahashi would find his way back to this one.

 

[May16]

I love this whole series. Even the PSP one!

 

[codhand]

best game in the series

 

[Noble Neckbeard]

Oh man. One of my favorite series ever. I was playing IIDX at a convention and saw it on a small TV in the corner. Got it when I went back home and never looked back.

 

[Metallix87]

This is a series I've always wanted to try. Is the Vita game any good, or should I track down one of the older games?

 

[Valkyr Junkie]

I remember picking this up and the OPM that had the MGS3 (?) demo disc in it on the same day.

 

[EdibleKnife]

Still one of my favorites. Actually can't decide between it and We Love Katamari

 

[Impossiburu]

Also, if memory serves, the first one launched at $20? Probably the best value in games at the time. Played it so, so, so much in college.

 

[Blablurn]

Loved the first game. So good. Can't believe its 10 years already.

 

[POWERSPHERE]

Only the first one had that charm, and it had it in spades. is it true the creator didn't work on the sequels? Also did he end up making playgrounds?

 

[Vinterbird]

This is a series I've always wanted to try. Is the Vita game any good, or should I track down one of the older games?

The Vita one is surprisingly solid, and even makes fun of the many sequels its had. It's a far cry from the first two games, but it's still really fun.

 

[maouvin]

Cheers!

We Love Katamari was always my favorite, as it fixed some of the issues I had with the first. I enjoyed the new modes that the PS3 version brought, and still carry Touch my Katamari (the most unforgiving of them all, imo) on my Vita, but I think both combined got less playtime than We <3. Those fucking roses helped that, of course.

Spoiler

Let's not talk about the PSP version

edit:

Spoiler

done already

 

[thelatestmodel]

So much love for this series, especially the early ones. It's one of those things that never fails to at least put a smile on my face, I just love the humor and whimsy of it all.

This is a series I've always wanted to try. Is the Vita game any good, or should I track down one of the older games?

I would actually love to know if the Vita version is any good. Any recommendations?

 

[Impossiburu]

is it true the creator didn't work on the sequels? Also did he end up making playgrounds?

He did the first, the second and then Noby Noby Boy.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Adorable game. So many memories!

Also, that soundtrack is so good!
Lonely Rolling Star

 

[Zia]

Only the first one had that charm, and it had it in spades. is it true the creator didn't work on the sequels? Also did he end up making playgrounds?

He was director and designer on both Katamari Damacy and We Love Katamari.

Love those games, and really dislike everything else that came after them. The only retail games I've ever finished in one sitting, the day they were released.

 

[Zach]

The music is sooooo good.

 

[Astro Monster]

Nah, naaaaaaah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, naaah. Katamari Damaci.

Fell in love with the series after playing the second one.

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

Well deserved.

 

[Mistouze]

Only played We Love Katamary (might be the only one that came to EU IIRC), had a blast with it back then. Funny as heck, engrossing as fuck and THAT OST.

Makes me want to look up into PS2 emulators and play it again.

 

[JMTHEFOX]

In my honest opinion, WLK = KD = KF = TMK

Never played M&MK though, I heard it sucks.

 

[Ourobolus]

Fantastic game. Loved this and We Love Katamari.

That soundtrack was amazing. Funnily enough, my roommate at the time in college was going through a rough patch and said that the music from the game when I was playing it was one of the main reasons he wasn't going further and further into depression (really bad break-up). He eventually snapped out of it.

Disco Prince
Everlasting Love
Baby Universe
The Moon and the Prince
Houston
Blue Orb (this song fucks with my ears something fierce when it first starts up and I'm listening in stereo)

 

[Valkyr Junkie]

Also, if memory serves, the first one launched at $20? Probably the best value in games at the time. Played it so, so, so much in college.

Yup, $20. Which made the pricing on the subsequent games all the more bizarre.

 

[Benzychenz]

Only played We Love Katamary (might be the only one that came to EU IIRC)

Pretty sure all but the first got an EU release.

 

[Omegasquash]

Time flies! I like it, and my wife LOVED it. That soundtrack...

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

Also, if memory serves, the first one launched at $20? Probably the best value in games at the time. Played it so, so, so much in college.

This is exactly why not every game should launch at full price. I certainly bought it because it was cheap enough to say "why the heck not?"

I love this soundtrack.

 

[thelatestmodel]

Fantastic game. Loved this and We Love Katamari.

That soundtrack was amazing. Funnily enough, my roommate at the time in college was going through a rough patch and said that the music from the game when I was playing it was one of the main reasons he wasn't going further and further into depression (really bad break-up). He eventually snapped out of it.

Disco Prince
Everlasting Love
Baby Universe
The Moon and the Prince
Houston
Blue Orb (this song fucks with my ears something fierce when it first starts up and I'm listening in stereo)

Love it. I can totally believe that it helped your roomie with depression. Also can we just talk about this song?

Cherry Blossom Color Season

Those singing kids get me every time. Goosebumps and a smile within 5 seconds. God I love the Katamari soundtrack. Some of the best game music ever.

 

[Mistouze]

Pretty sure all but the first got an EU release.

Forgot other games in the series came out after WLK lol. I only meant to say the first one didn't came out in europe.

 

[Hollycat]

Oh man, I absolutely love these games. Especially the one on PS3, it's huge and has remastered levels.


The one on Vita is kinda terrible though.

 

[show me your skeleton]

one of my absolute favourite soundtracks.

 

[Ourobolus]

Love it. I can totally believe that it helped your roomie with depression. Also can we just talk about this song?

Cherry Blossom Color Season

Those singing kids get me every time. Goosebumps and a smile within 5 seconds. God I love the Katamari soundtrack. Some of the best game music ever.

Also great.
I just hopped on Youtube to see what the other games' music was like (I had played...the PSP version and (I think) the iOS version after KD and WLK and was disappointed in the lack of new music), and so far, the first one I pulled up is pretty sweet:
Bless my Stars

 

[Polioliolio]

I adored the crap out of the first two games in this series. Katamari Forever was solid on the PS3 and Touch My Katamari was decent on the Vita.

Otherwise? Man, I really wish Takahashi would find his way back to this one.

Those two games are the only games as far as I'm concerned.

 

[muteki]

One of my favorite series. The first one coming out at 20$ was a steal. Like the soundtrack from the first game just a bit better than the second, but the second had better levels.

 

[Zia]

Really wish We Love Katamari would come to PSN. If Namco were smart they'd release an HD collection of Keita's Katamaris with a bit of context material. You know, if they weren't Namco.

 

[mattp]

Only the first one had that charm, and it had it in spades. is it true the creator didn't work on the sequels? Also did he end up making playgrounds?

he worked on the first 2 games
which, surprise, are MUCH better than all the other sequels

 

[Shinriji]

I would actually love to know if the Vita version is any good. Any recommendations?

The vita version is very good, but short. I love that you can flat or wide your Katamari and bring some much needed improvements to the gameplay. If you grind for all the DLC stages, the game grows a lot.

The soundtrack is, of course, awesome.

 

[Mistouze]

Only the first one had that charm, and it had it in spades. is it true the creator didn't work on the sequels? Also did he end up making playgrounds?

He did Nobi Nobi Boy on PS3 which was more of a toy than a game really but still has a blast with it. Making knots through clouds, yay.

 

[Bravocado]

I still have the first two games on PS2, and Beautiful Katamari for 360. I remember when I bought the first one and had friends try it. Never before has confusion turned to delight so quickly. And man oh man, those first two soundtracks are never leaving my side.

 

[entremet]

Man, did Namco run into it into the ground. And the DLC nonsense on tthe 360 installment was abhorrent. The first two are still in my collection.

 

[StayDead]

ok Mr Sunshine!

I love me some Katamari <3

 

[DrFunk]

<3 <3 <3

Still remember picking it up during college and my roommate asking "wtf are you playing?"

 

[Valkyr Junkie]

All this soundtrack talk, and nobody shares the greatest Katamari track of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFLJX-T7LPk

 

[Jintor]

i love you so much take my breath away~
oh, i miss you, hold me tight, anytime, forever-ever~

 

[FlashFlooder]

One of my fav ps2 games, just bought the Vita version a few days ago.

Also, one if the only gaming soundtracks I've ever bothered to buy.

 

[Bomber Bob]

love it, one of the most original game ever

 

[Sakujou]

Bought it pretty late back then... But i had a blast with this game. Only bought the first(NTSC)and second one(PAL). Never bothered with the others for vita, psp, 360 and ps3. Are they worth playing?

 

[BGBW]

Second one is better because it actually came out in the UK.

Like the OP, I bought a PS2 for this (well it was the game that finally tipped me)

Boyfriend a Go Go is actually one of my favourite not oft mentioned tunes.

Does the PS3 version fix the loading issue. That's the only thing that holds We <3 Katmari back.

 

[spyroflame0487]

I miss this game so dang much. I really wish someone would publish a new one, or bring that one mobile version over here in the least.
Personally, with today's tech, it'd fit right at home on any console. I'd hand it to Nintendo, given the wacky premise. Wii U could be good (use gamepad to roll, see what you picked up) or 3DS (almost same thing, maybe some AR functions)

 

[sixteen-bit]

Japanese WLK has some wild box art