I'd like to hear some impressions from those who picked this game up, or who have actually played it. What are your thoughts on the use of the d-pad and face buttons to control the Katamari?

I personally found it to be a bit difficult at first, especially since I had to 'relearn' the rolling technique. But after giving it a long run through the tutorial, I'm ready to tackle the stages.

As far as the game itself: It looks and sounds like any other Katamari game, so that's good. The only real downer is the fact that it's $40, double the price of the original and 1.5x the sequel. I traded in to get my copy, but Ive got a feeling that a lot of folks are going to take the 'wait and see' approach.

What say you?