Post #133761 by Tiki-bot on Mon, Jan 3, 2005 4:32 PM

Hi Cyn. Congratulations - you've just taken your fisrt step into a larger world.....or a really lazy one filled with couches and junkfood.

I just picked up a game yesterday I've been reading a lot about called Katamari Damacy. It's pretty addictive and completely incomprehensible in that Japanese game kinda way. The object is to roll a ball around and make stuff stick to it. You have to create ever-bigger junk balls (eventually made with buildings and even continents) and launch them into space to replace the stars that someone has knocked down. Like I said, incomprehensible. Graphics aren't great, but the wacky/weird bloopy soundtrack is, and the gameplay is inventive, even if the controls are a little counter-intuitive. Plus, it's only $20. It's about as far as you can get from American style games, which are starting to all look and play alike.

Probably my favorite games from the past couple years are the Ratchet & Clank games. They are nearly flawless in design, tuning and art and animation. They are sort of the modern version of "side-scrollers" of the old days, but are now luscious 3D rendered worlds where you can go practically anywhere you want. Great voice acting and excellent character designs, too. I think you can pick up the first one for around $20.

Another game I liked was SSX 3, the snowboard racing & stunt game. If that sort of thing interests you, it's definitely worth the money. The graphics and play-tuning are outstanding.

Of course, if you can stomach the gruesome violence and intensity, all of the Grand Theft Auto games are great. They are perfect examples of how design and play-tuning can send a game go over the top, even if it doesn't have the best graphics out there. Good violent, perverted fun.

Hope this helps.