Few games combine pure fun, accessibility and innovation as well as Katamari Damacy.
While the graphics of Katamari Damacy aren’t necessarily going to overheat the PS2, the game has a visual sense of style that permeates throughout and gives the game an aesthetic which complements the uniqueness of the game.
The Katamari Damacy experience is enhanced even further by an excellent and aptly eccentric soundtrack, featuring some of the catchiest music to ever find its way into a video game.
The control scheme is easy to pick up, even for people who don’t normally play games. Using mainly the PS2 controller’s two analog sticks, the katmari can be rolled and turned forward, backward, and side-to-side; should buttons add a few extra moves as well.
Stages are varied between two basic types: star- and constellation-building stages. Each star stage is basically a challenge to build the katamari as large as possible within a set time limit, while most constellation stages involve gathering as many of one type of thing as possible, e.g., crabs for Cancer, and some other interesting variations.
If you haven’t given Katamari Damacy a chance yet, its $20 price point is as accessible as its gameplay, and this game comes highly recommended for purchase for young gamers. It’s also a great way to get a controller into the hands of a gaming-unfriendly girlfriend or friend.