What's the deal with Beautiful Katamari?

by David Hinkle { Apr 25th 2008 at 5:00PM }

It's been a very long time since we've heard anything about Beautiful Katamari and the Wii. And, seeing as how the game has been out on Xbox 360 for quite some time now, we were done thinking that it would ever grace Nintendo's console. Thanks to select retailers' online shops, however, hope is slowly being restored.

Major retail chains Target and Wal-Mart are both listing the game on their respective websites, while Buy.com lists the game with the same price ($29.99), but states it's "temporarily sold out." Even rental service Gamefly has a section up for a Wii and PS3 version of the game.

So, what's the deal? Who knows at this point, but the Wal-Mart page points to an August 29th release, so perhaps we'll hear something soon? We're not going to get our hopes up like before, but we'd be lying if we said we didn't want this to happen.

[Thanks, Zack!]

Read - Wal-Mart listing
Read - Target listing
Read - Buy.com listing
Read - Gamefly listing

Tags: bandai, beautiful-katamari, katamari, katamari-damacy, katamaridamacy, namco, namco-bandai, namcobandai

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Roto13 @ Apr 25th 2008 5:09PM

I'm not sure if it would work too well on the Wii anyway. It really needs two control sticks to work. Though that could easily be fixed by allowing Classic or GCN controller support.

That said, I'm not buying it if they try that same crap they pulled with the Xbox 360 version. Paid DLC that was already on the disc. Screw that. Right in the ear.

Akbar Fazil @ Apr 25th 2008 5:54PM

You HAVE two control sticks on the wii.

Wiimote and Nunchuck.

Or does everyone seem to forget there is motion control in the nunchuck?

Roto13 @ Apr 25th 2008 6:02PM

You mean you seriously can't tell the difference between a remote control and a control stick?

Matchles @ Apr 25th 2008 6:21PM

How hard is it to understand? You hold the remote and nunchuck vertical and move them as you would the two control sticks. It is probably the best control setup for this game of any of the systems.

Haohmaru @ Apr 25th 2008 6:27PM

Have to agree with Matchles here.

Roto13 @ Apr 25th 2008 7:01PM

Have any of you actually played a Wii game before? The lack of a spring to return it to it's neutral position just makes using it as the replacement to a joystick awkward. It'd be like that weirdass robot game in Wario Ware Smooth Moves for the whole thing.

Alan Friesen @ Apr 25th 2008 9:54PM

"Have any of you actually played a Wii game before? The lack of a spring to return it to it's neutral position..."

roto13, have you *used* a Wii before? The analog controller on the nunchuk snaps back to neutral. What are you talking about?

Ethan @ Apr 25th 2008 10:17PM

Yep! use the two controllers like sticks to control a tank. I'm sure the developers will have come to the same conclusion.

Roto13 @ Apr 25th 2008 11:35PM

"roto13, have you *used* a Wii before? The analog controller on the nunchuk snaps back to neutral. What are you talking about?"

That's not what we're talking about here. We're talking about holding the nunchuck and remote (or at least the remote) vertically like a control stick. It was awkward in Wario Ware, it would be awkward again here.

Orion @ Apr 26th 2008 2:02PM

It's ok Roto13, i completely understand you... i don't understand what is with everyone else, what you're saying isn't that hard to comprehend.

First off, what was trying to be said was.. there is only ONE joystick between the nunchuck and wiimote, so unless you have a classic controller it's not going to work that way.

Second, he said if you had both the nunchuck and wiimote verticle, that because you would have to manually push the controllers up to be in neutral , it would suck..

ANd if anyone has ever played katamari, you'd know that when you want to stop, you want to stop. It's to quick for motion controlls like that and would only hinder you.

Plus, while i love the controllers and all, with JUST motion sensitivity, they aren't all that accurate you know. Have you ever played Wii Boxing? Or trying to use the saber in Gundam 0079? or tried to do a trick in Mario Kart Wii? While it works, it's by no means TOTALLY reading every milimeter of your movements.. or Star Wars Unleashed would have 1:1 movement to the saber.

My point is, you cant have a control set up like that as it would need a much more accurate controller, and it would feel clunky, and slow as going to neutral alone would be a challenge.

I totally agree with you roto.

Roto13 @ Apr 26th 2008 2:26PM

THANK YOU! Someone gets what I'm talking about. xP

mgroves @ Apr 25th 2008 5:23PM

Meh. The motion controls might be cool, but honestly I don't think I'd buy it since I already have the 360 version, and I'm pretty Katamari'd out.

Gewurztraminer says: R.O.B. is the last Cylon! @ Apr 25th 2008 6:38PM

I just never should have sold the PS2 original. ah well. Brawl fixes all.

ALH @ Apr 25th 2008 6:54PM

Beautiful katamari is shallow compared to we

ALH @ Apr 25th 2008 6:55PM

dammit

Beautiful katamari is shallow compared to we love katamari

they should port the first one over to wii, if not just because it was never released in europe.

Shogan @ Apr 25th 2008 7:39PM

Beautiful Katamari was the weakest by far of the console versions of the game, never played the PSP game.

Charles @ Apr 26th 2008 3:05AM

I would kill to have a Katamari game on the Wii. They could have multiple control schemes for it too, with the Wiimote/Nunchuck held vertically for tank type control, CC or GCC. Though in my opinion, I would think the CC would be the best because of the Analogue positions and the fact that Mote-chuck wouldn't be as speedy as an analogue stick for those sharp tunrs and stuff...
Is the PSP game really that good, I wanted to buy it a while back, but I afraid from a few review

Orion @ Apr 26th 2008 2:07PM

It's fun for what it is. I have it for my PSP and it's a good portable fun time. I really enjoy it, and it's one of my favorite games for the system.

That being said it's not We Love Katamari, but I still had a blast with it, and the music was great. Graphics were pulled off nicely on the psp as well.