Katamari Rolling to PSP
You knew it was only a matter of time.
Published: November 17, 2005
Between stuff like Liberty City Stories and the still-amazing WipEout Pure, it’s getting awfully hard to deny the appeal of Sony’s little black wunderportable. Though everyone knew this was coming, it’s still yet another kick to the junk of your common sense lobe when you hear that Namco is prepping Me and My Katamari.
Still, with three games in less than half that time, it’s easy to see why series creator Keita Takahashi is already starting to think about projects outside of gaming. The cult hit status of the first game and mass acceptance of the franchise after the second means it’s inevitable that Namco, a company clearly founded on the idea of staying in business, is going to milk the success for all it’s worth.
“The mesmerizing appeal of the Katamari franchise’s game play continues to transcend cultural boundaries and receive critical acclaim,” beamed Yoshi Niki, Business Unit Director at Namco Hometek Inc. “We are excited to expand our offerings to the PSP system, so that our fans can play Katamari whenever and wherever they are.”
While it’s hard to not get that nagging feeling of a horse being beaten to death out of one’s head, it’s more freakin’ Katamari, man. This produces a kind of mind-melting dichotomy as the imagination soars at the prospect of The King of All Cosmos and family taking a vacation only to find animals in need of their own katamari islands, yet reels at the idea that this could be game three out of ten if this pace keeps up.
The PSP version will over wireless four-person multiplayer (as well it should), the return of the Prince and his cousins (including some new ones), new presents to wear, and something Namco is calling “a new island interface that highlights player options and the different stages represented by animals in need of new homes.” Iiinteresting. And now, [media=105]screenies[/media]!
Still, with three games in less than half that time, it’s easy to see why series creator Keita Takahashi is already starting to think about projects outside of gaming. The cult hit status of the first game and mass acceptance of the franchise after the second means it’s inevitable that Namco, a company clearly founded on the idea of staying in business, is going to milk the success for all it’s worth.
“The mesmerizing appeal of the Katamari franchise’s game play continues to transcend cultural boundaries and receive critical acclaim,” beamed Yoshi Niki, Business Unit Director at Namco Hometek Inc. “We are excited to expand our offerings to the PSP system, so that our fans can play Katamari whenever and wherever they are.”
While it’s hard to not get that nagging feeling of a horse being beaten to death out of one’s head, it’s more freakin’ Katamari, man. This produces a kind of mind-melting dichotomy as the imagination soars at the prospect of The King of All Cosmos and family taking a vacation only to find animals in need of their own katamari islands, yet reels at the idea that this could be game three out of ten if this pace keeps up.
The PSP version will over wireless four-person multiplayer (as well it should), the return of the Prince and his cousins (including some new ones), new presents to wear, and something Namco is calling “a new island interface that highlights player options and the different stages represented by animals in need of new homes.” Iiinteresting. And now, [media=105]screenies[/media]!