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[Wario64]

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3137442

After Namco's surprise announcement last week, Impress Game Watch delivers a few of the first details on Minna Daisuki Katamari Damacy, or "Everyone Loves Katamari Damacy," the upcoming sequel to this year's cult hit for PlayStation 2. While the full picture hasn't been revealed quite yet, the new game looks to deliver a lot more of the ball-rolling action players loved in the first game.

The cast of the original is back, the young Prince of the Cosmos and his overbearing father the king (now riding on a massive horse). As before, the Prince's job is to roll his little Katamari ball around, picking up bits of the environment to increase its mass and thus its ability to pick up even bigger bits.

New to the sequel are more environments, including a Candyland area with gingerbread houses, an expansive race circuit, an elementary school classroom, and even a zoo, where players can roll up all manner of animals. The style of the sequel's levels, Namco suggests, is meant to be wider and more open than in the first game, giving players more room in which to roll around.

That's only for the "1P Mode," which is all Namco will talk about at this point. However, the fact that it's specifically described a mode for one player suggests that there will be a multiplayer mode to stand in contrast to it.

Another addition to the sequel's single-player game is the ability to collect small rewards from the King, which can be used to kit out the Prince with various customized fashions. He can snag headwear, neckwear, or clothing for his cylindrical body -- so far, he's been shown wearing a muffler, a pair of rainbow headphones, a bikini swimsuit, and a tall hat shaped like the head of a giraffe.

Namco claims the sequel is perhaps 30% complete at this point, but it's still on track for release in Japan fairly soon, some time next spring. We look forward to seeing more of the game revealed shortly.

 

[DJPS2]

Score!!!

But... I think EA just bought the license to the King of all Cosmos for $10 million. :lol

 

[NotMSRP]

The prince needs to roll up EA into his katamari soon.

 

[koam]

"Everyone Loves Katamari Damacy"

That is perhaps the coolest name for a game ever.

 

[onion_pixy]

Candyland level? I loved the game Canyland as a small child. omfg I cant wait

 

[imastalker co.]

well, i can't really say im expecting much new stuff, but i am expecting namco to deliver with tons of extra modes, and just really awesome style and music. im sure this will be a worthy addition to the series though.

the new levels look great though. im sure the game will manage to have its own fresh feel. atleast i hope so.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Score!!!

But... I think EA just bought the license to the King of all Cosmos for $10 million. :lol

I heard it was $200m, just to be safe.

 

[Falch]

I'm glad this is getting a European release.

 

[goodcow]

They're gonna bump it up to $50 here for U.S. release, aren't they?

 

[FortNinety]

They're gonna bump it up to $50 here for U.S. release, aren't they?

I would have happily paid that much for the first one. Though truth be told, the low price did help make it a success here.

 

[Loops]

no chance I wait for the US or Pal realease. Need the jap import asap !

 

[Greenpanda]

New environments are good, but I also hope there are some new types of challenges / levels. OK, "Roll up as much as you can" should still be the core of the game, but I liked that the original game tossed in different objectives in some stages (the North Star level and the bear/cow stages). Maybe Namco can come up with some more different objectives you can shoot for.

 

[WarPig]

New environments are good, but I also hope there are some new types of challenges / levels. OK, "Roll up as much as you can" should still be the core of the game, but I liked that the original game tossed in different objectives in some stages (the North Star level and the bear/cow stages). Maybe Namco can come up with some more different objectives you can shoot for.

Whoops, that was something I forgot to add. Apparently they are actually looking to put in more and different level goals besides just rolling up the biggest ball possible, extra restrictions and possibly competing factors (this part is kind of vague), so anyway, it looks like you'll get what you want there.

DFS.

 

[Belfast]

More challenge would be great!

 

[Greenpanda]

possibly competing factors (this part is kind of vague)

I have no idea if it's what Namco is actually referring to, but this just made me think of a stages where you have to race against other Katamaris (the Prince's cousins?) to collect stuff. That could be interesting.

 

[etiolate]

Another addition to the sequel's single-player game is the ability to collect small rewards from the King, which can be used to kit out the Prince with various customized fashions. He can snag headwear, neckwear, or clothing for his cylindrical body -- so far, he's been shown wearing a muffler, a pair of rainbow headphones, a bikini swimsuit, and a tall hat shaped like the head of a giraffe.

Umm, isn't this in the first game? My prince has guitars and scarfs and backpacks OH MY!

 

[WarPig]

Umm, isn't this in the first game? My prince has guitars and scarfs and backpacks OH MY!

Ah, you may be right. Most of my Katamari experience was with the Japanese version, when I sort of halfway understood the ancillary features. Thanks for the correction.

DFS.

 

[Mejilan]

More Katamari is good.

More Katamari is great.

Namco. Don't f-ck up. Bring it out over here.

Please.

 

[Gek54]

Since it sounds like it is basically just new maps it better stay $20.

 

[Chipopo]

Yeah, collecting clothing and wearing it was in the first game. It really doesn't seem like anything new, but I'll certainly pick it up and enjoy the hell out of it

Spoiler

post-bong

.

 

[DHGamer]

New Pics?

http://www.the-magicbox.com/0412/game041220b.shtml

 

[Gek54]

Sold:

 

[evilromero]

The game needs to be significantly longer. But I'm wondering how they can really make it seem fresh again. Like I've said so many times before, once you start rolling up clouds, gods and continents it leaves little to the imagination.

 

[sasimirobot]

Wasnt the title at one time

"Katamari Damasii Oni"?

I guess it really didnt fit the game too well since "Oni" (a clever pun) is not as lighthearted as "Minna Daisuki".