Chris recently picked up a PS2 for Katamari Damacy, but quickly discovered that it’s a pretty short game... So, now what? Well, I told him I’d make up a list of wacky Japanese games to play until We Love Katamari comes out, but once I had it all typed up I figured the rest of the world could benefit from my sagely teachings! Here it is:
Alright, here's the wacky Japanese games list I promised...
Space Channel 5 - this is a rhythm/memorization game (think Simon). This game puts a goofy grin on my face like no other game. I mean, the "story" involves aliens that are terrorizing society by making people dance! Our fearless heroine, Ulala, must dance off with these aliens to save the people (which once saved, dance along with her, ala the opening scene of Austin Powers). Throw in Michael Jackson and you've got heaven on a PS2 disc. (actually 2 discs, as the PS2 version also has the sequel included).
Mister Mosquito - You play as a mosquito, on a mission to suck blood from the various members of a Japanese family. The gameplay is only so-so (like a flight sim game, where you target various body parts and divebomb) but the cutscenes and dialog are crazy. Don't pay too much for this one, but it's worth checking out.
Mad Maestro - You are a burgeoning conductor, ya gotta build up an orchestra to play some kickass tunes. Another rhythm game, but with a unique spin where you must consider not only timing but how hard you press the buttons. Weird, but cool. And some seriously wacky stuff takes place on the screen as you play your concerts. Another one you should be able to find really cheap.
ICO - Ok, so this one isn't wacky, but it's Japanese... Plus, I wouldn't be much of a friend if I didn't tell you about this game. It's truly a masterpiece of gaming, graphics, and ambiance. You play as an outcast boy that has been left to die in an abandoned castle. You meet up with an odd girl, and together you both must try to find a way out. The gameplay is mostly platforming with some spatial puzzles (push blocks around, etc). There is some fighting off of monsters, but for the most part it's very downplayed (no health, no combo moves, etc). This game is a work of art, very beautiful settings and stunning level design.
The nice thing about this list is none of these games will cost you more than $15! Enjoy.
Jake
I love Katamari Damacy, much as I love a lot of bizarre movies and other art forms. So it was with no small amount of excitement that I delved into your list of wacky Japanese games. But it turns out that if you don't like rhythm games (I loathe them) and flight sims don't grab you (yawn), then you actually list nothing wacky and Japanese. Sad. There must be something (aside from We Love Katamari, which I'd never heard of but am now looking forward to) out there that is actually a fun and weird game, ala KD. No? Help us, sage one.
Sorry man, it does seem like the majority of oddball Japanese games that actually get a US release are rhythm games. But how can you hate them? Maybe you haven't played the right ones! Frequency and Amplitude are two of my favorite PS2 games and they are pure rhythm games... YUM!
I can hate them because I have no rhythm at all. I am a poster child for white boys everywhere (I can't jump, either). Plus, to me people look very silly (a polite word, for sure) dance dancing their revolutions away. I can't get around the idea that what the game does is take something that people do in crowded and dark dance clubs and has them bust out synchronized dance moves in a...oh, I don't know...brightly lit arcade. Or maybe their living rooms. Or my backyard (the photos of said ddr'ing are a little blurry, unfortunately). I can't be the only one to think that it's spastic looking (I guess I just like to pick my times and places to look spastic).
Wait, rhythm games don't equal dance games. There is no actual dancing in Space Channel 5, Mad Maestro, Frequency, or Amplitude. These games are all played sitting down with controller in hand. If timing is the issue, then that won't change anything, but if it's the dancing you abhor, then these aren’t the games that you hate!
I suppose I was singling out DDR because it lends an embarrassing and (again) spastic air to a mechanic I am both bad at and don't enjoy. I have played Space "Lady Miss Kier's image stealing" Channel 5 and also did not enjoy the experience. I've tried a few others with the same effect. To me rhythm games condenses all the things I don't like in a video game into one compact package - a complete lack of choices and joystick dexterity. No, I want something in a game that is new and fresh and wacky, ala KD (which gives you a lot of options and is easy to control). I guess I'll just have to wait until the Americans catch up to the Japanese.
Here is another great Japanese game that you didnt mention, Gitaroo Man. Although it is hard to find, the game is amazing. Its a rythm game where you play the guitar to beat the enemys. Althought the normal mode can be beat in a few hours by someone who is good at it, I have yet to see someone make it very far in the hard mode. Its a great game and is worth picking up if you can find it!
Also forgot to mention that I got a Japanese copy of the new "We Love Katamari" and the game is awesome! It is worth the wait! There are so many new levels and it isnt just roll up as much as possible because I said so, people request you to do things like cleaning a room, rolling a sumo wrestler around (which he eats everything he touches) so he can fight someone else, roll a giant ball of fire around and collect enough stuff so you can make it to the top of a mountain where there is a campfire waiting to be lit. Plus there are presents and cousins in every level and now you can play as the cousins once you roll them up! Its a great game!
Yeah, I almost listed Gitaroo Man even though I haven't played it yet. I've heard many good things about it and it definitely sounds like my kind of game!