Beautiful Katamari Exclusive Interview

We head out to Japan for an exclusive Q&A with the Beautiful Katamari team. Read on for all the juicy tidbits.

We went straight to Katamari headquarters in Yokohama, Japan to get the scoop on Beautiful Katamari for the Xbox 360. Here's what Namco-Bandai had about the first Katamari game on new console hardware.

GamePro: The first two Katamari games were very similar in terms of gameplay. Will Katamari on the Xbox 360 stick closely to the original formula, or is it a new beginning for the Katamari series?

Katamari Team: The basic gameplay remains unchanged as do the graphics. The major change is the new hardware, along with and increased graphic resolution and online functionality with the Xbox 360.

GP: What characters will return, and will we see some new ones?

KT: The King, all of the cousins and the Prince will return, and new cousins will be introduced.

GP: Will the game follow a similar structure as the last two console games? Will there be new modes of play?

KT: The basic structure remains the same as the previous version. It will have versus and cooperative play, as well as new online modes.

The online mode will be limited to 4-player games, and it's really hard to do more than that because of the sheer number of objects that needed to be drawn on-screen. There will be two types of online games. The first challenges players to be the fastest to a particular size requested, and the second to pick up a predetermined number of objects. To play in an online game, the players can meet in the lobby area and communicate through voice chat and graphical icons.

GP: Will the game support online leader boards?

KT: We definitely want to implement leader board features, not just simple "who's got the biggest Katamari" but also want to put some unique ones in like judging the weirdest Katamari. How we are going to implement that is yet to be decided, but we want to do more than just rewarding the basic size achievements.

GP: Both Katamari games on the PS2 offered a retro feel. Will that change considering the realistic graphical power of the Xbox 360 and PS3?

KT: The only changes to the graphics are in the resolution, and a move to 16:9 widescreen, so the retro-looking graphics are sticking, but the number of objects and resolution are getting a huge upgrade.

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