Katamari Forever
Encyclopedia
Katamari Forever, known in Japan as , is a video game in the Katamari
series. The game was released for the PlayStation 3
console in Japan on July 23, 2009, on September 22, 2009 in North America, and September 18, 2009 in Europe. A demo of the game became available on the Japanese PlayStation Network on its Japanese release date and on the North American PlayStation Network on September 10, 2009.
. The levels are black-and-white in appearance, and the objective is to roll up junk to bring color
back to the stages. New stages take place in the present, where RoboKing, a robotic version of the King of All Cosmos created by the cousins, goes on a rampage and destroys all the stars in the sky.
The objective of the new levels involves creating stars by rolling up junk as in previous Katamari Damacy games. New additions to the gameplay include: the "Prince Hop", which allows the Prince to hop into the air by flicking the controller up or pressing a shoulder button; and the "King Shock", which sucks nearby objects onto the katamari like a magnet.
Katamari Forever does not include online multiplayer as in Beautiful Katamari
but instead features offline multiplayer and online leaderboards.
The game utilizes a full high-definition video
format. In addition to graphics in the original style of Katamari Damacy, the game allows the players to select graphic filters such as cel-shaded, colored pencil, or wood grain graphics.
Katamari Forever is also said to include the feature of unlocking PlayStation Home
Rewards through gameplay. Some of the items will include a t-shirt with a miniature Prince attached to the shoulder. Other cousins with other shirts will be unlockable for male and female avatars.
ed tracks from previous iterations of the series, using a combination of "electric" and "organic" sounds according to the sound director Yū Miyake
. Miyake employed the help of other Japanese artists and remixers to help the soundtrack. The soundtrack was released in Japan on August 19, 2009. It includes a total of 36 tracks spanning two discs.
. It was the 6th best-selling game in Japan during the week of its release, selling 28,000 units. In America, IGN
awarded the game a 7 of 10 noting that the game still suffered from many of the issues that plagued past entries in the series. PixlBit
awarded the game 4 of 5 stars recommending the game to both fans of the series and newcomers alike.
Katamari (series)
The Katamari series is a series of video games which puts players in control of a character called The Prince as he uses a ball called a katamari to roll up objects. The first title in the series was Katamari Damacy for the PlayStation 2, which became a cult classic and led to several sequels and...
series. The game was released for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
console in Japan on July 23, 2009, on September 22, 2009 in North America, and September 18, 2009 in Europe. A demo of the game became available on the Japanese PlayStation Network on its Japanese release date and on the North American PlayStation Network on September 10, 2009.
Story and gameplay
Katamari Forever contains a mix of 34 levels, with some being brand new and some being levels from previous titles in the series. Older levels take place within the mind of the King of All Cosmos, who gets knocked in the head and suffers from amnesiaAmnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
. The levels are black-and-white in appearance, and the objective is to roll up junk to bring color
Color
Color or colour is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, green, blue and others. Color derives from the spectrum of light interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors...
back to the stages. New stages take place in the present, where RoboKing, a robotic version of the King of All Cosmos created by the cousins, goes on a rampage and destroys all the stars in the sky.
The objective of the new levels involves creating stars by rolling up junk as in previous Katamari Damacy games. New additions to the gameplay include: the "Prince Hop", which allows the Prince to hop into the air by flicking the controller up or pressing a shoulder button; and the "King Shock", which sucks nearby objects onto the katamari like a magnet.
Katamari Forever does not include online multiplayer as in Beautiful Katamari
Beautiful Katamari
Beautiful Katamari, released in Japan as , is a video game by Namco Bandai for the Xbox 360. Beautiful Katamari is the fourth game in the Katamari series of games following Katamari Damacy, We Love Katamari and Me & My Katamari....
but instead features offline multiplayer and online leaderboards.
The game utilizes a full high-definition video
High-definition video
High-definition video or HD video refers to any video system of higher resolution than standard-definition video, and most commonly involves display resolutions of 1,280×720 pixels or 1,920×1,080 pixels...
format. In addition to graphics in the original style of Katamari Damacy, the game allows the players to select graphic filters such as cel-shaded, colored pencil, or wood grain graphics.
Katamari Forever is also said to include the feature of unlocking PlayStation Home
PlayStation Home
PlayStation Home is a virtual 3D social gaming network developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's London Studio for the PlayStation 3 on the PlayStation Network . It is available directly from the PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar under PlayStation Network. Membership is free, and only requires a PSN...
Rewards through gameplay. Some of the items will include a t-shirt with a miniature Prince attached to the shoulder. Other cousins with other shirts will be unlockable for male and female avatars.
Music
The music for the game includes a number of remixRemix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed tracks from previous iterations of the series, using a combination of "electric" and "organic" sounds according to the sound director Yū Miyake
Yu Miyake
is a composer and sound engineer for the Namco video game company. One of his most memorable works surfaced with Katamari Damacy soundtracks, on which he served as a sound director. Other works include the Tekken series and Ridge Racer series.Before joining Namco, Miyake was a university student...
. Miyake employed the help of other Japanese artists and remixers to help the soundtrack. The soundtrack was released in Japan on August 19, 2009. It includes a total of 36 tracks spanning two discs.
Reception
Katamari Forever received a 33 out of 40 by Japanese gaming publication FamitsuFamitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
. It was the 6th best-selling game in Japan during the week of its release, selling 28,000 units. In America, IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
awarded the game a 7 of 10 noting that the game still suffered from many of the issues that plagued past entries in the series. PixlBit
PixlBit
PixlBit is a video game news, reviews, and features site that covers games on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and PlayStation Portable.-History:...
awarded the game 4 of 5 stars recommending the game to both fans of the series and newcomers alike.