Katamari Damacy Kicks

So, I'd heard some internet buzz about a PS2 game called Katamari Damacy, and I saw it at a local game store in the bargain bin for $19, so I picked it up.

Now I see what all the talk is about. Basically, you roll a little ball around that things stick to. That's all you do. You start out tiny, picking up buttons and thumbtacks, but by the end of the game, you are picking up skyscrapers and oil tankers.

The best part of the game occurs somewhere in the middle, though. Nothing is more satisfying than rolling into a school assembly and watching the kids and teachers fleeing in terror. Their screams of "What's happening?" as they get stuck to the rolling ball of debris are strangely satisfying.

Next semester, we're doing a game design class here at NMSU, and I think we're going to have to include an analysis of the gameplay of Katamari Damacy. It's fresh, simple, nonviolent, and fun, perfect for kids and adults, so it's bound to yield a lot of useful discussion.