Review: Monster Hunter (PS2)

Graphics- 7/10
Sound- 8.5/10
Gameplay- 8.5/10
Replay Value- 9/10
Overall- 8.5/10

Monster Hunter by Capcom is an RPG in which hunt monsters, like the title implies. However, the main premise of the game is to carve dead monsters for parts which the player uses for weapons and items. This system, whether it sounds like it or not, works very well, and creates a fun and unique experience.

As soon as I heard about this game, I was excited. The whole monster-carving thing seemed like a cool idea. Thankfully, it worked very well, because now that I think about it, it could have been horrible. This game has both single-player and online multiplayer. At the time I got the game, I didn't have online, so I played offline. The offline part is okay. You talk to the town elder to get quests. They start off incredibly easy, and gradually get harder. The difficulty is rated by stars, with 5-star quests being the hardest. The thing is, in the first 2 stars, you barely hunt any monsters that can cause you significant harm. But in 3-star quests you get to fight more deadly prey. Unfortunately for me, I was really bad at first and had horrible weapons and armor. If I were to have reviewed it then, I probably would have given it a 5 or a 6.

But then my friend encouraged me to get the online because he said he was getting it, so I decided to finally get online for my PS2. This move was well worth it. The online portion of the game is very well done. First of all, there are more monsters you can fight. These are mainly ones that would be too hard to fight offline by yourself. This brings me to my second point: more materials to carve. These are used for the third point: more armor and weapons. The variety is truly incredible. The weapons get more powerful and the armor protects more. Also, there were a ton of people online to play with. Another advantage of online play: playing with someone better than you to get better stuff for yourself. Most of the quests from offline are here, but the game gets right to the action with some hunting quests in 1-star. There are up to 6-star quests online, with the 6-star ones being near impossible to beat alone, and still hard to do with 4 HR 20's (HR = "Hunter Rank" = level of character; 20 is the highest level). There are some quests that are very easy for 6-star (kill 20 ioprey), but also some that are very hard (powderstone, four horns).

The graphics in this game are decent; they sure could have been a lot worse. But there is so much clipping in this game that it's a little distracting. The soundtrack however, while a little repetitive, is very well done. It is orchestral, and fits the mood of the game very well. The sound effects also work well, although they are repeated for several different weapons.

If this game doesn't sound like a game for you, it might not be. It does take a while to get a very good character, especially if you play offline. The game also gets repetitive, even with all of the different weapons, armor, and enemies. Also, the game has been out for a few years. While there are still people online, there are only about a third of the amount at the game's peak. That doesn't mean you won't have fun, though, because the game is fun. It just means there is probably a different game you will like more. Also, a sequel has been out in Japan for a while, but it doesn't seem like the sequel is coming here to the States. Strangely enough, though, Monster Hunter Freedom has been released for the PSP, and a sequel is scheduled to be released later this year.

Pros: Lots of monsters, tons of upgradeable weapons, orchestral soundtrack, online.
Cons: Gets repetitive after a while, graphics could be better.

Review: Eric

Review: Dynasty Warriors 4 (PS2*)

Graphics- 4/10
Sound- 6/10
Gameplay- 4/10
Replay Value- 6/10
Overall- 5/10

The 4th part of the Dynasty Warriors series- not much has changed... and that's a problem, a BIG problem.

Dynasty Warriors 4 is simple enough. You're in ancient China fighting thousands of cloned foot soldiers, squashing them like ants. As you rampage through the bland battlefield, a rock'n'roll soundtrack with a hint of the orient rages. This is the basic premise of Dynasty Warriors 4, just like 2 and 3.

The gameplay involves using the same two buttons to attack over and over again, making the game horridly repetitive and boring. Although you might find a few power ups and mounts such as horses and elephants along the way, it doesn't change. I've said it and I'll say it again- this game is PAINFULLY repetitive... As well, the graphics are so bland it's like you never change battlefields. Although the game allows you you to use different characters and unlock more along the way, it still plays the same in the same bland battlefields. The only bright spot is the music, for some. The mix of hard, metal rock and Chinese instruments might be welcomed by some, but it'll be annoying to others. The graphics, as I said, are bland. Although the player characters are actually well designed, the enemies in the game are all the same, and most of the time, that's all you'll see- the cloned soldiers and you. And as for the environments, I've already mentioned them- not good.

Dynasty Warriors 4 is a game that uses the same gameplay, same enemies, same environments, and same music throughout... no thank you.

Pros: Some might like the music, and the player's character looks cool.
Cons: Repetitive, repetitive, and repetitive. Bland environments and bland enemies.

Review: Vedran

* Also for Xbox, review only for PS2.

Review: Ratchet and Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal (PS2)

Graphics- 9.5/10
Sound- 9.5/10
Gameplay- 10/10
Replay Value- 10/10
Overall- 10/10

Ratchet and Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal is the best game in the series from Insomniac. They took what worked well from the previous game, and added multiplayer, both split-screen and online, to create a very fun adventure that shouldn't be missed.

If you've read my reviews for the first two games, you'll notice that I am a huge fan of the Ratchet and Clank series. And after the second one, I was very excited to see what would be in store in the next edition. And, even with such high expectations, those expectations were met. No, exceeded. This game throws you right in the action and never lets you out. There is never a dull moment in this game. And because of this, this game is a little harder than Going Commando. I think this is because the developers were assuming if you are playing this one, you have played the one or both of the previous two, so you know what you are doing. Also, as a side note, this game is making me incredibly excited for Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (the next game in the series, coming out on PS3 later this year, if you didn't know).

Up Your Arsenal looks about the same as Going Commando, as in there are no huge graphical upgrades, but this definitely isn't a bad thing. The universe that Insomniac has created is vast and brings the game to life. And so does the sound. The weapon sound effects are fantastic and unique, and the background music is creative and fits well in this universe. The graphics aren't perfect, though, as there are some minor clipping issues, especially with big head mode. On the plus side, however, they have fixed the camera problems from the previous game. Also, even when the screen is loaded with enemies, there is no lag to speak of, which is quite an accomplishment for a later-gen PS2 game. Plus, the developers added in a new control scheme, called Lock-Strafe mode. Although it took a little getting used to, it paid off because it is very useful.

This game is shorter than the previous one, and about as long as the first, maybe a little longer. Because of this, you can finish the story in a weekend (which I have actually done). But I said story for a reason. There is so much to do in this game that it would be impossible to finish 100% in one weekend. The weapon upgrading is back in this version, but now you can upgrade your weapons to eight different versions (five in first run-through, three in challenge mode), as opposed to only three in Going Commando. Also, titanium bolts (gold bolts in Ratchet and Clank 1, platinum bolts in Ratchet and Clank 2) are back, and instead of using them for weapon upgrades as in the first two, they are used to by skins for Ratchet during the game. Gameplay with Clank is just about gone, as you will only use him three or four times throughout the whole game. I was rather disappointed with this move, as the Clank sections are often the most creative gameplay-wise in the whole game.

The thing that sets Up Your Arsenal apart from the previous two games was the addition of multiplayer. There are three different game modes: deathmatch, capture the flag, and siege, where there are two teams trying to destroy each other's base. The game is fun to play with your friends in split-screen, but really shines online. The online system worked very well. The only bad part was that stats could be somewhat manipulated and the ranking system was a little finicky at times. Other than that, though, the system was very solid for Insomniac's first attempt at online. By the way, I have checked, and even though this game was released in 2004, and a sequel (Ratchet: Deadlocked) has come out, people are still playing this game online. This game is amazing and you should buy this game if you are looking for a fun, and funny, adventure.

Pros: Somehow better than Ratchet and Clank 2, online multiplayer, funny, controls.
Cons: Some clipping issues, (almost) no playing as Clank.

Review: Eric

Review: Supercar Street Challenge (PS2*)

Graphics- 3/10
Sound- 1.5/10
Gameplay- 3/10
Replay Value- 2/10
Overall- 2/10

Supercar Street Challenge simply put, is a bad game. A really bad game. I mean, this game is just shameful. The graphics suck. The gameplay sucks. Everything else sucks. The one good thing about this game only applies to certain people: the game features a techno soundtrack that only major techno fans will enjoy. Just don't buy it.

Supercar Street Challenge for the PS2 has a simple premise: design a car, and then race it. Actually, that is more or less the game's slogan. Here is the game's real slogan: "Design it. Build it. Race It." Yea, that's it. It was that simple premise that made me buy the game. Oh, and the $20 price tag, without being a "Greatest Hits" title. Me in my misguided youth... I really should have known better. The thing is, the designing of the car, the game's main concept, doesn't work well, whatsoever. On the back of the box, a picture of a designed car, which, might I add, looks pretty retarded, cannot even be made at the start of the game. And even if it could, the editing system is so bad that you would lose your patience well before you finished the car. However, the single player mode isn't all that bad. Oh, wait, yes it is. The cars have amazing handling at less than 70 mph, but over that, they become incredibly hard to handle. Not that it really matters though, because if you hit a wall, unless it is a head-on collision, you only lose 40 mph, at the most. And when you are going 150 mph, that doesn't really matter. Also, the first series of races is too easy, the second series is fairly difficult, but the last series is so frickin' hard, you will wonder why you are even playing this game. Which will probably happen quite often, actually. If, no, when you get bored of the single player, you can play some two player multiplayer with your friends. It's only you two, no extra computer players. And since you both should stay above 120 mph the whole race unless you get into a really bad crash, whoever gets the better start usually wins.

As if to add insult to injury, the game looks like crap. Gran Turismo 2, for the PS1, looks better. The nine cars available are nice cars, but the game simply doesn't do them justice. Also, hopefully you have some music of your own to play, because the background music sucks, with as much emphasis on "sucks" as possible. My friend was over, and we were playing this game. Less than 30 seconds into the first race, he said, "Sounds like a night club." And it does. Except for it sounds like a really bad night club. Apparently the music is by some good techno bands. But since I've never heard such crap before, I had no idea that this was actually licensed music, not just some cheap tunes made for the game. I bought this game for $20. If you really are stupid enough to want this game, you can probably find it now in a bargain bin at your local game store. Or, you could just buy Gran Turismo 3, or just about any other racing game, for a much better gaming experience. Just say no, kids.

Pros: Bargain price, soundtrack if you are hardcore techno fan.
Cons: Everything else.

Review: Eric

*Also available for PC. Review for PS2 only

Review: Samurai Warriors (PS2*)

Graphics- 5/10
Sound- 5/10
Gameplay- 6/10
Replay Value- 6/10
Overall- 5.5/10

Samurai Warriors from Koei is pretty much the same game as Dynasty Warriors, just set in Japan, not China. So if you've played any of the 5,000 Dynasty Warriors before, you know what you're getting. If you liked those games, or if you like other pointless button-mashers, you'll probably like this one too. If you didn't, then stop reading this review, because nothing will convince you to buy this game.

Samurai Warriors is set in ancient Japan. And while I'm pretty sure this game might have some historical accuracy, I can't really tell. But it doesn't really matter, because the stories suck. Each playable character has a separate story, although since almost all of the stories overlap, a lot of similar elements are used throughout. There are a good deal of playable characters, but it's rather pointless to play them all, since you just unlock new characters with the same story you have already heard. Also, you can create your own character if you like, and while the character creation mode is pretty good, I don't really see the point for the same reason mentioned above. But if you get bored, which you will, you might want to give it a shot.

And to make it worse, this game is a pure button-masher. You can upgrade your character to give them new moves, but it doesn't really matter, since you just press the same button or two over and over again. There are two attack buttons, Square and Triangle. Square is your basic attack (the only button you'll ever need) and Triangle is a stronger attack. However, all you need to do is press the Square button 100 times, anytime you are near a group of enemies, and you will get the job done. Speaking of the enemies, they all look the same. There are maybe five different types of enemies, but most of the time you will only see a group of 20 of the same type of enemies. And if there happens to be more than 30 enemies and/or allies (which also look the same) on the screen at once, the game will start to lag. Because of this, you can usually only see enemies that are 20 ft. in front of you or closer. But it doesn't matter, because the AI sucks too much to attack you anyway. You can run straight passed a group of enemies, and they will just stare at you. To prove my point, I took the character with the worst defense at level 1, and just stood in a group of enemies. Even with two officers, it took me 2 min. to die. That is way too ridiculously long, even for a game of this low caliber.

Because of your near-inability to die, most of the time you lose a mission, it's not because you died, but because of the next point. The game will give you objectives based either on a timer, or on your progress. You will sometimes think you are going the right way, and then will get an objective telling you to go to the opposite side to the map, and since the characters move incredibly slow without, and most of the time even with, the use of a horse, you will not reach where you are supposed to go in time.

Every once in a while, there will be an "officer" (very slightly stronger enemy with more health) who comes along. After you defeat them, you see a cut scene to break up the monotony. However, the voice acting is so bad, and because you most likely won't care about what the officer has to say, you will skip it. Speaking of the cut scenes, you know how, in most games, the cut scenes look better than normal gameplay? But do they in Samurai Warriors? No. They look just as bad as the rest of the game does, and most of the time, the very repetitive animations during gameplay are actually better than those in the cut scenes. The only reason I bought this game was because I played a little of Dynasty Warriors at a friend's house, and the game seemed fun. It was for a little while, but soon enough I began to see this game for what it really is: the same garbage featured in every other Dynasty Warrior game, and a poor excuse to make money.

Pros: A lot of playable characters, character creation mode, ability to skip cut scenes, same as Dynasty Warriors.
Cons: Button-masher, stories in story mode suck, voice acting, animations, graphics, lagging, AI, same as Dynasty Warriors.

Review: Eric

*Also available for Xbox. Review for PS2 only

Review: Ratchet and Clank 2: Going Commando (PS2)

Graphics- 9.5/10
Sound- 9.5/10
Gameplay- 10/10
Replay Value- 9/10
Overall- 9.5/10

Ratchet and Clank are back. The folks over at Insomniac improved the gameplay mechanics, upgraded the graphics, and fixed the glitches from the previous game. With more to do, more weapons and gadgets, and simply more fun, this game should be owned by every PS2 owner.

The best word to describe why this game is better than the first: more. There are more weapons, more bolts, more levels, more destructible environments, more continue points (check points), more health... well, you get the picture. There is improved versions of things from the first game, like hoverbike races and the ability to control Clank. In the first game, there were hoverboard races, but there were only two of them, and there weren't any cash rewards for winning. Also, you could control Clank in the first game, but he wasn't as big of a part of the game the first time around. Also, the wrench combat has improved, and you get better wrenches throughout the game. Like I mentioned before, there are more bolts in the game. The hoverbike races provide a good way to earn cash, and the enemies drop more bolts. In the first game, levels usually warranted about 5000 bolts each. However, in Going Commando, levels can easily dish out 20,000 bolts, and, because I died a couple of times, I once got about 40,000 bolts, even after I had paid for all of the ammo I wasted. The biggest improvement, however, in my opinion, is the upgradeable weapons. The player is able to upgrade the weapons once during their first run-through, but not by purchasing better versions, like in the first game. They are upgraded by the usage, but the second time you play through, you can buy a better version (it costs a LOT of bolts, but you can get them fairly easily if you're good).

Gameplay wasn't the only thing that is better in this game, however. The graphics are improved, but the graphics in the first game were good already, so the difference may be hard to notice. Also, Going Commando features one of the best soundtracks in the series. The music completes the game, and sets the mood for the situation. However, the game isn't all good. First of all, the cleverly named RYNO II makes the game too easy. Even though the RYNO II is hard to get (unless you are in challenge mode), it takes out just about every non-boss character in the game in one hit. That isn't my biggest complaint about the RYNO II, though. The final boss is a challenge without the RYNO II. With the RYNO II, however, it takes literally only 20 hits to take it out. So with its high rate of fire, that takes about three seconds. No matter what the game is, the final boss battle should not take three seconds. Also, there are some times when the scenery gets in the way of the camera, making it act a little weird. And even though the single player is really good, I think some multiplayer would have been good, and would have helped the game. Despite those complaints, many people call this the best game in the series (I like #3 more because of online), and it is clear why. This game just has more of everything, and with the addition of multiplayer would have been just about perfect.

Pros: Better than the original in every way.
Cons: No multiplayer, RYNO II makes game too easy, camera can be a little screwy.

Review: Eric

Review: Ratchet and Clank (PS2)

Graphics- 9/10
Sound- 9/10
Gameplay- 9/10
Replay Value- 8/10
Overall- 9/10

Just like Crash Bandicoot became the mascot for the PS1, Ratchet and Clank, along with Jak and Daxter and Sly Cooper, became the mascots for the PS2. With a funny story line, unique weapons, and excellent gameplay, Ratchet and Clank was a very solid title for the PS2. Too bad it didn't have any multiplayer...

Ratchet and Clank is a very fun game, and an excellent start to the series. The story line is pretty creative, with plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep you interested. Plus, it features something not too common: good voice acting. This really helps keep you involved in the story. Also, there is plenty of sarcastic humor spread throughout, keeping you entertained if you don't care about the story, since the cut scenes cannot be skipped. The game also gave Insomniac its reputation for unique weapons, like the Morph-o-ray, which transforms your enemies into chickens. These themes are brought back in the game's sequels.

However, something the sequels have that this game doesn't: multiplayer. This brings down the replay value, but since there is a lot to do in single player after beating the game for the first time, the category still gets a high score. Some of those things includes getting gold bolts, for buying gold weapons (upgraded versions), and getting skill points by completing unusual tasks. Another complaint is that it is rather difficult to earn bolts (the game's currency). You get the bolts by killing enemies and breaking open boxes. This isn't that much of a nuisance until you try to get the R.Y.N.O., the best weapon in the game. It costs 150,000 bolts, while the next expensive is 40,000, and isn't nearly as powerful. The R.Y.N.O. isn't a must-have weapon to beat the game, but it sure makes it a hell of a lot easier. And since you get an average of about 5,000 bolts each level, if traverse the entire level, it takes a long while to get that R.Y.N.O. While this does add another degree of challenge, it seems unnecessary to make it that hard.

The graphics in this game are very good. The cartoonish style fits the atmosphere perfectly. The environments are nice and big, and, although rather linear, leave a lot to be explored, as usually the gold bolts are hidden somewhere, sometimes obvious, sometimes not. There are some minor issues, such as clipping, and one time I shot an enemy halfway into a wall and it just strangely disappeared. The sound is also done well, from the previously-mentioned voice acting to the well-composed background music. I would say that this game is a must own, but frankly, the sequels are better, so, unless you care about the story leading up into those games, just buy them.

Pros: Humor, background music, creative weapons, good story line, good voice acting, challenging.
Cons: Minor graphical glitches, no multiplayer, takes too long to get money.

Review: Eric

Review: Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (PS2)

Graphics- 10/10
Sound- 9/10
Gameplay- 8.5/10
Replay Value- 8.5/10
Overall- 9/10

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is a solid RPG from Square Enix. The game features excellent graphics, a good story line, and a huge world to explore, but the game moves too slow in some parts to be enjoyed by every one. I highly recommend this game for fans of the RPG genre, but for fans of more fast-paced games, this might be a pass.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King has excellent cel-shaded graphics. Most of the time, however, the graphics don't look like cel-shaded graphics. The designers did a very good job with this, and make the game look absolutely stunning. Plus, the characters in the game were designed by the creator of Dragon Ball, so they are very well done. In addition to the graphics, the game also has a great soundtrack. It sounds really good and fits in well with the situations in the game.

The gameplay in Dragon Quest VIII is what one would expect from a Dragon Quest game. There is plenty to explore and the combat is turn-based. However, a new addition to Dragon Quest VIII is the way to level up your character's stats. For every level you gain, you attribute points to spend on your character. This allows you focus on one type of combat style you like best. However, some people might think they are smart by creating a well-balanced character with a few points in each category. I highly advise against this, because this makes you just okay in all categories, instead of amazing in one or two.

Also, this game's story has a tendency to move too slowly. Often times you will find that you must up your level by two or three just to complete the next part in the story. This isn't very bothersome in the beginning of the game, when it is easy to level up, but after a while, when you need to do forty battles to level up once, this gets rather annoying. This leads to the game getting too repetitive for me, and distracts from the story, which is rather good. RPG fans may be able to endure this, but fans of more fast-paced games, this may become too boring. Plus, there are some points in this game (particularly after you get the boat) where you may have no idea where to go. Right when you get the boat, you can travel to some of the hardest places in the game, and the place you are supposed to go is on the opposite side of the map. All in all, though, if you are an RPG fan, this game is a must have. For everyone else, consider my complaints and try to figure out if this game is right for you. (The Final Fantasy XII demo was also once a good selling point, but since it came out already...)

Pros: Excellent cel-shaded graphics, nice orchestral soundtrack, plenty to do.
Cons: Gets repetitive, story moves too slow.

Review: Eric

Review: Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction (PS2*)

Graphics- 8/10
Sound- 8/10
Gameplay- 9/10
Replay Value- 8/10
Overall- 8.5/10

Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction is a pretty fun game by LucasArts. The expansive environment and many purchasable items make the game entertaining and last for hours. This is a very solid game and should be checked out by fans of the third person shooter genre.

Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction is set in North Korea, around the capital of Pyongyang. The environment is well-detailed and well put together. The character models also look nice and the animations flow smoothly. The game has many vehicles, and they all look good. The sound effects are also well done. There is no strange echo or unnecessary overlapping.

The best part of this game, however, is the gameplay. The story is ok and could use some improving. Besides that, there is just so much that you can do in this game. It is a lot of fun to just drift from the story line and wander around, doing random stuff, like putting C4 on the street and exploding it when a car goes by. The ability to do so much really adds to the replay value, because you always can figure out new areas to explore and new things to do.

Pros: Graphics, sound, expansive environment.
Cons: Story a little weak.

Review: Eric

*Also available for Xbox. Review for PS2 only.

Review: Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (PS2)

Graphics- 10/10
Sound- 9/10
Gameplay- 10/10
Replay Value- 9/10
Overall- 9.5/10

The Gran Turismo series is known for excellent racing games, and Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec is no exception. With excellent graphics, a nice soundtrack, and plenty of cars and racetracks, Gran Turismo 3 will keep you entertained for hours on end. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec is probably the best racing game on the PS2.

Gran Turismo 3 was a huge step forward for the series from Gran Turismo 2. First of all, it was the first game in the series on the PS2. Second, the graphics made a huge improvement. Yes, I know PS1 graphics are much worse than PS2. However, people were complementing GT2 on its graphics and it was on the PS1. The graphics of GT3 are amazing. They are so realistic (besides the fact that there is no collision damage). Everything in GT3 looks nice. The cars, the courses, the scenery, everything. In addition, GT3 comes with an exceptional soundtrack to add to the experience.

As for the gameplay, Gran Turismo 3 is more than the average racing game. The guys at Polyphony made sure that the physics in this game were lifelike, and they are. Also, there are a ton of cars in this game. Most of them are offered from the get-go, and their price range from around 10,000 Credits to 2 million Credits. However, the best cars are only available by unlocking them. You do this by coming in first in all of the races in a tournament. There are cars from several automakers around the world, and there are many types of cars, too, from sedans to racecars to rally cars to F-1 cars, they're all here. Also, the game has plenty of beautiful looking tracks to race around on. With all the unlockables and races, GT3 will keep you busy for a long time.

Pros: Superb graphics, lots of cars and tracks, good soundtrack.
Cons: No collision damage.

Review: Eric

Review: Guitar Hero (PS2)

Graphics- 8/10
Sound- 10/10
Gameplay- 10/10
Replay Value- 9/10
Overall- 9.5/10

Guitar Hero, for the PS2, delivers fun gameplay and an amazing soundtrack, and makes great use of the guitar controller. A must-have game for any PS2 owner.

Guitar Hero is a very fun game. The guitar controller adds a lot, and really immerses you in the game. It also brings a new level of difficulty to typical rhythm-based games. But the most important part of the game: music. The variety of music in this game is incredible. From classic rock to heavy metal to punk to alternative to grunge, it's all here. There are four difficulty levels: easy, medium, hard, and expert, and for each difficulty level the number of notes in a song and the amount of frets used increases. The learning curve is a little steep, but if you play guitar or are good at rhythm-based games you should be fine.

And for the graphics, well... the fretboards look cool, I guess, and the characters look... interesting. Yeah, it is a little hard to judge the graphics because all there is the background and the characters. They all look good, though. The replay value for this game is really high because there are plenty of unlockables and it will take you forever to be perfect at this game. Also, the amount of songs that you can play really helps so that it doesn't feel like you are playing the same old stuff over and over again.

Pros: Soundtrack, controller, plenty of unlockables.
Cons: Learning curve, no Pink Floyd or Beatles.

Review: Eric

Review: Katamari Damacy (PS2)

Graphics- 8/10
Sound- 8/10
Gameplay- 10/10
Replay Value- 6/10
Overall- 8/10

Katamari Damacy is a simplistic but innovative game from Japan. The simple graphics, sound, and gameplay are trippy, different, and fun, but after a while gets a little boring.

Katamari Damacy is one of those trippy games from Japan that is a sleeper hit, like Rez. The gameplay is very simplistic. You, the Prince of All Cosmos, have to roll up all the things that are scattered across the Earth with your Katamari to create stars because your dad, the King of All Cosmos, accidentally destroyed them all one night (how they make this stuff up, I'll never know). While this may sound boring, it actually leads to some surprisingly fun gameplay.

You will quickly become addicted to this game, as the strange but fitting graphics draw you in to a cartoonish representation of the Earth. The reason the graphics work for this game is because of the type of game that Katamari Damacy is. You would not want ultra-realistic graphics for this game. Also, the soundtrack and sound effects of Katamari Damacy fit well into this crazy game. They are not distracting and complement the game nicely.
That being said, this game has very little replay value. The multiplayer may keep you and your friends entertained for a short while, but after you beat the game, you become bored because once you have seen what this game has to offer once, it is not as fun the next time.

Pros: Innovative gameplay, creative storyline, good control scheme, trippy graphics and. soundtrack
Cons: Multiplayer lacking, little replay value.

Review: Eric