Clump of Souls

After frothing at the mouth and raving about the gloriously ridiculous Katamari Damacy, it's pointless to discuss why and how much I like the follow up PS2 game, "We (heart) Katamari." The title says it all. Yes. I heart it. With many hearts.

This incarnation of the bizarre Japanese roll-athon makes no bones about the fact that it's only back because so many people thought the first one was the bee's knees. "What is it they love about me?" the massive King of the Cosmos muses, "Could it be that my head is of such a cool shape? Could it be my tights? Could it be my chin? Yes. Clearly it is my magnificent chin that the fans swoon for." (paraphrased)

There are always going to be some annoying things, to be sure--on a few levels it's really difficult to get the katamari to a point that will satisfy the king and the fan who requested that particular roll-up. It's also still difficult for me to do the rocket roll move without pressing L3 and R3 doing flipping completely around. I have clumsy thumbs. Bad, bad thumbs.

For the most part though, I find myself playing with a big dumb grin on my face, as I did the first one. It's silly, and it's just plain fun.
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Also qualifying for the "just plain fun" category is the not-so-high seas adventure of Puzzle Pirates. I take a certain wicked glee in the fact the no less than three friends have signed up and been soundly hooked in the past couple weeks. We finally met up (or our little digital avatars did) on a northern island, traded piratey swag, and chatted for a good while. It's nice to just pop on and say hi to a friend far away, and even nicer to collaboratively play a fun puzzle-type game with them.

What I need to be more conscious of is the severe nerd-i-tude emanating from public conversations about playing Puzzle Pirates. Offhand comments like, "Oh--I quit my distilling job and now I work at the apothecary. It's the best way to make POE without pillaging all the time," do little to enlighten any surrounding folk who may not be familiar with the game. In fact, talk about how your crew all up and moved to another island, but you're staying until the iron monger you placed and order with is done your sword... this may only serve to alienate people.

I do my best to be socially acceptable. Sometimes I suck though.