Regardless of the specifics, the co-op mode seems to embody the spirit of We Love Katamari as a whole: evolving the fundamentally brilliant design of the original in small, unexpected ways. Of course, there's still a load of questions hovering over the game that probably won't be answered until E3 or later: Plot specifics, co-op mechanics, and perhaps most importantly, if the soundtrack will be as utterly brilliant as the one in the first game. Fortunately, Namco seems committed to making a success of We Love Katamari, promising a top-notch English localization from the team responsible for the superb original and a respectable ad campaign targeting both hardcore and novice users.

We Love Katamari doesn't look as though it's poised to take gamers by surprise with jaw-dropping new innovations or concepts, but neither will it be merely more of the same. Namco promises a more complete build for E3 (including a chance for hands-on with the co-op mode), but even at this stage it's safe to say that Keita Takahashi's dream of making a positive impact on gamers through sheer, unrelenting fun lives on. We loved Katamari Damacy...and we think we'll love We Love Katamari, too.

posted by Cory Doctorow at 11:12:37 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments