The Video Game Review: Me & My Katamari
by Regan Letourneau
Japan has had many exports that make the masses question the culture. Sumo, sushi, and karaoke — all have a following that requires a certain acquired taste. The most recent of fads hitting the mainland comes in a portable form with Namco’s latest franchise, Me & My Katamari for PSP.
After a tidal wave leaves the animals from the Isles of Paradise homeless, gamers take on the role of the vertically challenged Prince. Although only five centimeters tall, the Prince rolls around a katamari that items stick to, increasing the overall size. If you reach the target height before the allotted time expires, the King will exhale his royal puff to change the katamari into an island for one of the zoological refugees.
As bizarre as that all sounds, it’s also strangely addictive. Despite the elementary storyline, play control is not easily mastered and some funky camera angles might turn off potential Katamarians.
The hardest thing to swallow is that, when staring down at the über-slick PSP in your hands, action junkies must wonder: “This is what we get?” Even after reaching the height needed to pass a level, all the animals do is bitch about your craftsmanship. You’d think they’d go easier on a guy who made them an island out of candy, toy planes and sledgehammers. The game retails at $40 bucks a pop, but most people interested in rolling a lil’ somethin’ have already blown their wad on trees, Slurpees and Funyuns.
Best feature: Gaining some speed and steamrolling everything in your path.
Worst feature: Lack of variety in gameplay.
Weirdest feature: The audacious King wears tights, a cape and uses hyper rainbow for transportation.
After a tidal wave leaves the animals from the Isles of Paradise homeless, gamers take on the role of the vertically challenged Prince. Although only five centimeters tall, the Prince rolls around a katamari that items stick to, increasing the overall size. If you reach the target height before the allotted time expires, the King will exhale his royal puff to change the katamari into an island for one of the zoological refugees.
As bizarre as that all sounds, it’s also strangely addictive. Despite the elementary storyline, play control is not easily mastered and some funky camera angles might turn off potential Katamarians.
The hardest thing to swallow is that, when staring down at the über-slick PSP in your hands, action junkies must wonder: “This is what we get?” Even after reaching the height needed to pass a level, all the animals do is bitch about your craftsmanship. You’d think they’d go easier on a guy who made them an island out of candy, toy planes and sledgehammers. The game retails at $40 bucks a pop, but most people interested in rolling a lil’ somethin’ have already blown their wad on trees, Slurpees and Funyuns.
Best feature: Gaining some speed and steamrolling everything in your path.
Worst feature: Lack of variety in gameplay.
Weirdest feature: The audacious King wears tights, a cape and uses hyper rainbow for transportation.
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