Gamespot: Beautiful Katamari coming to Xbox Live Arcade [update]
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Jun 16th 2007 at 2:30PM }
As the extreme and possibly insane cynic might ask, "Isn't there already a colossal ball of junk on Xbox Live Arcade?" To that we answer, "No sir, but there soon will be. Although, Feeding Frenzy was a bit rubbish, wasn't it?" The destined arrival of Bandai Namco's next Katamari game on Xbox Live Arcade is announced in a rather blasé manner by the first sentence in Gamespot's hands-on preview of the title: "The big, huge Katamari ball of junk just keeps on rolling, this time with a new installment called Beautiful Katamari slated to hit Xbox Live Arcade in October."
The news sticks to yesterday's word from Newsweek's N'Gai Croal that Beautiful Katamari would be an Xbox 360 exclusive, and neatly contradicts previous XBLA portfolio manager Ross Erickson's "total crap - not happening". Something obviously changed in the months since then, an observation not befitting of the Katamari franchise, it seems. Gamespot's Brad Shoemaker labels the game as "more of the same," noting the presence of new levels, high-definition graphics, 4-player online gameplay and, perhaps most importantly, an original soundtrack. Despite losing momentum in terms of moving the series forward, we suspect there's still plenty to heart about Katamari -- especially if the price is right.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LTNK @ Jun 16th 2007 2:42PM
Well since the game supports 720p only in pixels, not texels, the game wouldn't be that big anyway, especially with all the compression available now.
Grant @ Jun 16th 2007 2:43PM
now,this i would actually pay 1200 points for on XBLA.
but if they massacre this one and give us a watered down crappy sequel like they did with worms... blood with be shed.
Maurice M @ Jun 16th 2007 2:55PM
I loved Katamari... but it's "jumped the shark" now. I have both PS2 games, and that's really all anyone needs. If you don't own a PS2 (or PS3), then by all means GET THIS! If you do own one, then just save your cash.
sheppy @ Jun 16th 2007 2:56PM
My only fear of this hitting XBLA and arcade in general is that, if my fifth 360 dies, I'd have to be logging into XBL to take my purchased games beyond demo mode (I wasn't big into XLA until this 360).
synce @ Jun 16th 2007 3:33PM
Whew, for a while there I was wondering how they'd price the next game. I was thinking 40-60 bucks, but since it's XBLA I will guess 10-20, which means my cheap ass will bite.
KOACfan @ Jun 16th 2007 3:16PM
Oh please!!!!
They must've sticked to the original information. How can all that power stay on the XBLA limit?
I hate to say it but this is "total crap" to me as well.
BK is (TO ME!!!) still being released retail
Jonah Falcon @ Jun 16th 2007 3:59PM
I seriously doubt Beautiful Katamari is smaller than 150 MB. Is it?
Tron Knotts @ Jun 16th 2007 4:02PM
I just want to hear the original soundtrack.
Vids of gameplay and interview with the game's producer.
http://www.dailymotion.com/waxc3
Patrick @ Jun 16th 2007 4:09PM
@7, look at roboblitz, and that is under 50mb
Seroth @ Jun 16th 2007 4:28PM
Well, looks like I need to buy an XBLA Points card...
nick @ Jun 16th 2007 4:46PM
Was Fusion Frenzy on XBLA?
John @ Jun 16th 2007 5:31PM
This is funny. It's not an exclusive to 360, of course. The guy with the teeth says, that they are taking more time developing it with ps3 especially in regard to sixaxis motion.
This is a weird post, as it's very ambiguous, and certainly lacking the charm and cleverness of other Kietzman blogs. Perhaps he was stunned? Tired?
Anyways, Katamari will be available for ps3, it'll just take a little longer (good things often do).
elmer @ Jun 16th 2007 5:38PM
For all you questioning the memory requirements, consider that the game can run on a PS2 which has 32 MB of RAM. Of course the game may be loading from disc as the scale gets larger, but much of it is likely to be in memory simultaneously. The games appear to have little in the way of textures and the geometry for each object is likely to remain similar. Without high-res textures or geometry, HD graphics don't take more memory, just more power to render.
Doable
Jamesology @ Jun 16th 2007 5:52PM
Aww man.. I have the Wii and the PS3 and now they only release it for 360... WHY GOD WHY???
Rubang B @ Jun 16th 2007 6:02PM
The announcement that Katamari would roll onto my Wii and into my heart was the 2nd greatest day of my life (after the SC2 announcement of course), but now this is the saddest day of my life.
Eric @ Jun 16th 2007 6:42PM
@13,
They're talking about HDD or memory card memory, not RAM. We all know the 360 can handle Katamari's simple graphics in HD.
Katamri @ Jun 16th 2007 6:43PM
LOL @ the Sony Fanbots....
Great Job 360!!! Hopefully it is Exclusive!!!
12(Anyways, Katamari will be available for ps3, it'll just take a little longer (good things often do)
Ahhhh Not really bud,
1st off the PS3 took ALOT Longer & it still Sucks. No Good Nothing, & oh yes will give it time & see Exactly what we see Now NOTHING...
Just keep telling yourself that...
2nd If Katamri does Eventually go to the PS3 It will be the Exact same as the 360. (besides motion) Its because it takes them 2/3 times as long to Program for.
SUKA, Get Your Facts Up!!
Cal @ Jun 16th 2007 7:40PM
As said on my Gamespot account:
"10,000km goal?!"
Genital Ben @ Jun 16th 2007 8:26PM
I'm just happy that the game is coming to the Xbox, I could care less about exclusiveness. I would of never thought this game would come to the Xbox 360.
I'm not sure the Wii could handle the graphics of Katamari.
Kyle K @ Jun 16th 2007 10:05PM
Too bad the game looks like total dog-sh%#, and looks to be about as entertaining as flies on crap.
If I had a 360, I wouldn't but it - and I wouldn't but it for a PS3... if I had a Wii, maybe... cause the gimmick controller would actually aid the gameplay.
Genital Ben @ Jun 16th 2007 10:14PM
I wouldn't butt it either, the DVD might shatter in your colon and cause severe bleeding.
Meloche @ Jun 16th 2007 10:52PM
I want it on Wii. We NEED it on Wii.
Genital Ben @ Jun 16th 2007 11:16PM
The Wii can't handle the graphics, obviously.
BPM @ Jun 17th 2007 12:32AM
Are you high, Genital Ben? You'd have to be to think Wii can't handle Katamari.
Let me refresh your memory about the history of the series...
The first two games were on PS2. Which was, easily, the weakest of the three systems of the last generation.
The third game was on PSP, which was even weaker than PS2 (granted, it didn't need to be as strong as PS2, since it's a portable, not a console).
The Wii is, roughly, twice as powerful as GameCube. And GameCube was already a more powerful system than PS2.
And you think Wii can't handle a Katamari game? That's a good joke, pal.
Tony Blair @ Jun 17th 2007 3:19AM
I second the notion that the Wii can't handle the graphical goodness that is the Katamari series.
Jamesology @ Jun 18th 2007 12:40AM
Lol its funny how these 360 fanboys are soo happy. Then at the last momment... Sorry 360 it wont be coming to to you instead just Wii and PS3. HAHHAHAHA What games was it that you 360 ppl thought that was coming to you o yeah Final Fantasy.... hehehehe. Pls. don't laugh b/c PS is not getting it no more; it Namco making it not the original creator himself. Why waste time on a useless system anyways. All reall gamers need is the Wii for Quick action Party games like Mario Party and the PS3 for those intense long loner games like Final Fantasy and MGS.
Oliver Cromwell @ Jun 18th 2007 4:58AM
James can you sell me whatever you're smoking? This thread is about Katamari not vague ramblings.
scapermoya @ Jul 12th 2007 4:50AM
Jamesology - way to mention the only two exclusive games to your system that anyone even cares about. Let's talk about GTA 4 exclusive episodic content. Let's talk about gears of war, halo 3, and call of duty 4. Not to mention xla. i'm no 360 fanboy, and i can smell a shitty platform as good as anyone. the ps3 is an overpriced and ugly, and is probably going to be the last nail in sony's coffin. and final fantasy is for assholes.