bit-tech Shopping: Namco Bandai Games Beautiful Katamari (XB360)

• 1080i (HDTV)
• 1080p (HDTV)
• 720p (HDTV)

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: Same addictive gameplay, colorful graphics, catchy bizarre J-pop tunes

Weaknesses: Short time to completion, have to pay to download many of the additional content, graphics aren't much better than the PS2 version

Summary: If you've never payed a Katamari game, it's pretty hard to explain. Basically, you start from a small ball and roll up everything in site, including food, clothing, rocks, plants, animals, and eventually other people, vehicles, houses and even entire continents. Bizarre, yes. But basically you have to do this on each level in different locations and reach certain goals (reach a certain size within a time limit, roll up a certain amount of specific items within a specific time limit, etc.). It's as much fun as you remember it on the PS2. Unfortunately, it also doesn't do much more than was on the PS2. Graphics look similar, control is basically the same, and this game is inexplicably shorter than the original PS2 games. In order to get more game play, you need to actually pay to download it. That's just ridiculous. If you can get past that though, there's lots of fun to be had here.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 1

Strengths: Improved graphics; catchy music; still good core gameplay; online play

Weaknesses: Not a lot has changed; basically half a game unless you download the additional content

Summary: It's great to finally see a Katamari game in HD. While the graphics themselves have never been the strongest point of this series, the art style does benefit from the higher resolution, helping make the game look more like the fantasy cartoon that it is in many ways. This isn't really a revolutionary take on the Katamari franchise-- it's just a graphically enhanced take. In that sense, if you've already played the other games, there is a lot of fun to be had in this one, but don't expect anything radically different. There is a very distinct charm and flair to this series-- if you haven't played it before, this is as good a place to start as any. It's also nice because it's a very family friendly game, and there is a lot of fun to be had even if you don't meet all the level objectives just rolling your katamari around and seeing how different objects collect. There is online play but I wasn't able to test that since I don't have an Xbox Live Gold account. The game itself is very short, with additional levels available for download. As others have mentioned it appears those levels are already on the disc so Namco is just being greedy and charging for them. I'm giving the game 3 stars-- it would have been 4, but having to pay for content that is already on the disc just reeks of trying to milk this franchise for every last penny, which I can't respect (or reward). But it is a really good game, and now that it's available at a budget price everywhere I guess the downloadable content price is a little more palatable.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 3

Strengths: Great graphics and sounds, addictive gameplay, online play

Weaknesses: Short game w/o DLC, evolutionary, not revolutionary

Summary: Beautiful Katamari is the 360 entry in the katamari games from the PS2. In this installment, the graphics are updated for HD, and they look great. The quirky sounds and songs from the other titles are here and also sound great. The controls take a little getting used to for new players, though the game of rolling the katamari around to pick up items is fun and addictive. The single-player gameplay is short, though there's DLC to unlock for a fee. The DLC appears to be already on the disc, so it's a bit of a sting to pay for it. Online play against others over XBL is fun and gives the game some good replay value. Any katamari fans should pick this up, as well as any odd-game lovers.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 20 Days

Strengths: Great graphics. Very original.

Weaknesses: Remembering the controls is a bit hard.

Summary: Katamari is back with more of the same stuff that people just can't get enough of. Rolling around and making your katamari larger and larger is very fun and addicting. There is even a co-op mode where your friends can play along with you. You won't find another game like this one out there!

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: Simple controls and gameplay are backed by a great concept and wacky presentation

Weaknesses: Not much has changed or improved since the first game; downloadable content should have been included from the start

Summary: Fans of the Katamari games know what to expect here: utter craziness! While Beautiful Katamari may be lacking the creative talent of Katamari creator Keita Takahashi, the game maintains a simple charm and fun gameplay. Rolling up gobs of junk remains a mostly smooth and intuitive experience, though the control seems to have suffered a bit. Online play and downloadable content add extra replay to the experience, as do a host of unlockables. Of course, the cast of characters, graphics, music, and sound effects are just as zany as ever, which fans of the series are sure to appreciate. Everyone else, however, may be scratching their heads over the appeal of the game.