Katamari PSP Scan

[IntvGene]

I found this over at http://www.pspupdates.com:

http://www.pspupdates.com/katamari_20050915.jpg

I think someone here likes this game. Maybe a couple of people.

Me? I'd like to see it. But, I don't know if this series has enough going for it for me to keep buying sequels and ports ad infinitum.

[pacmanhat]

Interesting...how are the controls supposed to work without 2 analog sticks?

[hezeuschrist]

Interesting...how are the controls supposed to work without 2 analog sticks?

Thats exactly what I was thinking. I think Katamari DS will work fine, just roll the ball in whatever direction you want with the touchscreen... but I dunno how it'll pan out on the PSP.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I don't know if this series has enough going for it for me to keep buying sequels and ports ad infinitum.
I kinda agree with you there. I'm down for the sequel game, but this is starting to look like the Namco Museum of the 21st century.

[IntvGene]

Well, http://www.1up.com fillls in some more info on the game:

"Thanks to a little translation action, though, we have plenty of new details on the game. In the PSP version, there's Paradise Island, a remote where animals lived happily, but when a tidal wave comes and floods the island, a lone turtle sent adrift. This singular turtle lands on the Prince's Island, where he retells the story of the tragedy. Being the nice guy he is, the kind prince swears to rebuild the animals' island.

A big change in the gameplay is that time of day and seasons change while you're playing. For example, you can go back to the beach in the winter and the level's become a snowy ice lake. Namco seems to be really taking advantage of the possibilities of portability here.

One of the new locations shown is a haunted house, and you can even play as other character by rolling them up ala We Love Katamari."

[davepesc]

Interesting...how are the controls supposed to work without 2 analog sticks?

Thats exactly what I was thinking. I think Katamari DS will work fine, just roll the ball in whatever direction you want with the touchscreen... but I dunno how it'll pan out on the PSP.

Maybe you use the d-pad as left and right buttons as right, or maybe just a simplified 1-stick movement system with a "strafe" button.

[Policenaut]

Just great, now this is a real reason for me to buy a PSP, :evil:

Well, Katamari and Wangan are my two reasons to get a PSP LOL

[roushimsx]

as soon as play asia begins accepting preorders, i'm ordering it. the day it comes it, i'll buy a PSP.

I don't care how you control it as long as it's not with that piss poor analog device that's on the PSP. Using 4 buttons on the left and 4 buttons on the right wouldn't be too terrible (in comparison).

I must have it.

[Niku-Sama]

hmm at this rate i see sequals of death for this game.....sad

edit:

err woah, howd i get so much board money?

[EricRyan34]

I <3 Katamari :-P

[Jasoco]

I know I'll buy it the day it comes out. I'd import it too, but isn't the PSP regioned? Is it easy at all to mod a PSP to allow other countries games if it is?

All in all, it looks awesome. I hope they don't screw up controlling. I for one do NOT want to have to use the Square, Triangle, Circle, X buttons as a second control "stick" Fuck that. I refuse to play DS games that do that. (Metroid Prime anyone?) It's not comfortable, not easy to do and I just can't get used to it.

I'm all for the Nub as movement and L and R buttons to turn. Because in reality, that's all you really need. So please, Namco, do it this way.

Also, the DS Katamari was a rumor and isn't actually true. :(

[MarHel78]

PSP games are region-free. Only the movies have region protection.

And for the game: I need to play the PS2 episodes first. :)

[Jasoco]

PSP games are region-free. Only the movies have region protection.Really? Well, cool to know. I wonder if there are any really good Japan-only games with English language option. (I don't know a bit of Japanese.)

[Daniel Thomas]

I mentioned this yesterday on my blog/e-zine, actually. It looks really cool, and I'm sure they'll figure out the control scheme without too much trouble.

[GameSlaveGaz]

That would be the one game I buy the PSP for. Yknow, if it was a lot cheaper than $250

And I wish the DS version wasn't just a rumor. If Namco was smart, they would so put a Katamari game on the DS. It would sell like hotcakes and make DS owners and Katamari fans VEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERY happy.

EDIT: PS...I hope you don't have to use the analog nub. I HAAAATE that nub.

[fpstream]

Interesting...how are the controls supposed to work without 2 analog sticks?

Thats exactly what I was thinking. I think Katamari DS will work fine, just roll the ball in whatever direction you want with the touchscreen... but I dunno how it'll pan out on the PSP.

With the DS it would be TOO easy. Just steering using the touch screen would be one of the easiest games in history. That was part of the challenge in the PS2 version(s).

[Jasoco]

I just hope the PSP version is a totally new game. And if they do get a brain and make a DS version that one should be as well. I don't want any ports. I want unique games. So let's hope.

Can't wait for Wednesday to pick up my copy of We Love Katamari.

[LiquidX01]

PSP games are region-free. Only the movies have region protection.

Yup, But if your running Homebrew than there is a hack available that allows you to play any regions UMD Movies along with other "illegal" things...Works like a charm.