Wattam
- December 18, 2020
- Funomena
- 4h median play time
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
Wattam is a charming action game, playable solo or with up to 2 players in local co-op, that follows an intriguing story filled with humor and great music. In the game, you'll unlock and befriend over 100 quirky characters, ranging from sushi to trees, as you explore a whimsical world filled with joy and discovery throughout the four seasons. Despite some bugs, the game offers a wholesome and hilarious experience for players of all ages.
Reviews
- Wattam is a charming and whimsical game that evokes feelings of joy and nostalgia, making players feel like children again.
- The game features a unique art style and delightful music, enhancing the overall experience and creating a fun atmosphere.
- It promotes themes of friendship and togetherness, with engaging character interactions and silly gameplay mechanics that can be enjoyed by players of all ages.
- The controls are often clunky and frustrating, leading to a less enjoyable gameplay experience, especially during more complex tasks.
- The game is short, typically lasting only 3-4 hours, which may leave players wanting more content for the price.
- There are numerous bugs and technical issues, including crashes and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and hinder progress.
- story55 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Wattam" is described as whimsical and heartwarming, focusing on themes of friendship, community, and the importance of togetherness, though it often lacks emotional depth and coherence. While some players found the narrative charming and engaging, with moments that evoke genuine emotion, others criticized it for being simplistic and chaotic, making it difficult to connect with the characters or the plot. Overall, the game is seen as a light-hearted experience suitable for younger audiences, despite its short playtime and occasionally frustrating gameplay mechanics.
“If you're going into this expecting what it is, which is a cute, fun story about loneliness, making friends, and forgiveness, with fairly novel mechanics and design, then you're not going to be disappointed.”
“Wattam is a game about friendship and it does a fantastic job telling its story and showcasing its themes.”
“The story is actually so good and wholesome it brought tears to our eyes.”
“The story is flimsy to the point of having zero emotional depth despite clearly going for a tug at the heartstrings. The controls are janky at best, the puzzles are about as engaging as an elementary school word search, and even the mercifully short three hours I spent playing it felt like way too long.”
“I felt like I didn't care about anything anyone said because it was so chaotic and random that nothing made sense anyway, but the story got a bit deeper toward the end, and there were some genuinely heartfelt moments.”
“The gameplay is extremely simple and juvenile, probably on purpose so that anyone can pick the game up and play, even a toddler. You go around, jump, climb, hold hands, make things food, then poop, and explode, but it's at odds with the story which plays out in cutscenes and is extremely wordy with almost pretentious writing for some reason.”
- gameplay46 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is characterized by its simplicity and quirkiness, appealing to fans of Keita Takahashi's previous works, though it often feels aimless and repetitive due to frequent cutscenes and clunky mechanics. While the game offers a charming aesthetic and a lighthearted story about friendship and togetherness, many players find the gameplay frustrating and lacking depth, making it more suitable for younger audiences or those seeking a casual, meditative experience rather than a challenging adventure. Overall, it presents a unique blend of whimsical design and straightforward mechanics, but may not satisfy those looking for more engaging or complex gameplay.
“If you love Katamari Damacy, the gameplay is nothing like that, but you can't play this game without thinking, 'yeah, this is a Keita Takahashi game,' because it has a charm to it that's distinct from most other games.”
“Really recommend if you like interesting mechanics and collectathons; it was a very fun and calm experience.”
“The gameplay is super simple, but still has a nice hook, and by that I mean befriending other things makes you feel good.”
“Gameplay is halted too often by scripted events.”
“I enjoyed the story and art direction here, but the gameplay felt a bit aimless, clunky, and often times frustrating.”
“It's just such a pain to actually accomplish anything because the mechanics of it are really slow and difficult to manage.”
- music40 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy, whimsical, and dynamic qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a quirky and jazzy soundtrack that adapts to character changes and environments. Reviewers highlight the sound design as a significant asset, often comparing it favorably to the iconic Katamari Damacy series, and many express a desire to purchase the soundtrack due to their affection for it. Overall, the music contributes greatly to the game's charm and playful atmosphere, making it a standout feature.
“Incredible music and sound design, as expected from a Keita Takahashi game.”
“The use of music is very clever, with each character having their own musical instrument track that joins together with others if they join hands and switches depending on which platform or island they're standing on.”
“It's a beautiful quirky little game with an amazing soundtrack.”
“At the very end after the credits, the screen turned black with the loading icon in the bottom right, and then I heard loud music that I’ve never heard before, and then the game crashed.”
“This time I heard a different loud song and then it crashed again.”
“Ok, so I've played a lot of games this year so far, but I can definitely say that Wattam is easily the most disappointing out of all of them. Katamari Damacy is a very fun game, and this looked very interesting. It's semi-fun with some really clever and creative ideas, like how each playable character changes the music. But really, when your game is this nonsensical, confusing, and annoying, what is the point? Everything is just so confusing and just kind of happens. It almost feels like the director had too much creative freedom, and usually, I'm all for that, but here it just doesn't work. Not to mention how annoying it is; these...things are almost entirely voiced by children, and they never...shut...up. I'm sorry, I really wanted to like this one, but it annoyed and irritated the living hell out of me.”
- emotional33 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of heartfelt moments and wholesome experiences, with many players expressing that it evoked strong feelings, including joy and nostalgia. While some critiques mention a lack of depth in the story, others highlight its charm and ability to create genuine emotional connections, often leading to tears of happiness. Overall, the game is celebrated for its unique blend of silliness and sentimentality, making it a memorable and touching experience.
“The story is actually so good and wholesome it brought tears to our eyes.”
“I really enjoy how you make the characters interact and complement each other, each one having their own specialty and essence, helping one another, communicating, making company, playing, forgiving, thanking, and loving, which leads to emotional and touching moments.”
“What I didn't expect was how emotional this game made me.”
- humor22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as absurd, whimsical, and often centered around light toilet humor, appealing to those who enjoy quirky and goofy experiences. While some players found the humor delightful and heartwarming, others felt it became repetitive quickly and criticized the reliance on simplistic mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its charming characters and funny moments, making it a fun choice for players seeking a lighthearted adventure.
“It's very funny and an oddly wholesome game, which gave us more joy in the first 30 minutes on our couch than anything HGTV produces.”
“Its absurd presentation, the light toilet humor, and somber quirky and jazzy soundtrack work hand in hand to create the ideal game for any bad day.”
“Anyways, highly recommend if you want a cute, funny, and surprisingly heartwarming game.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their colorful and cute art style, which appeals particularly to a younger audience. While the visuals are engaging and joyful, some reviewers noted technical issues and a lack of polish that detracted from the overall experience, especially in the later stages of the game. Overall, the game's charming aesthetics and expressive character designs contribute positively to its atmosphere, despite some gameplay frustrations.
“I enjoyed this game because of its colorful and unique art style.”
“The graphics are adorable though!”
“The visuals are gorgeous and I really like how each character expresses their own thoughts and emotions.”
“Disruptive annoyances/cutscenes overshadow any cuteness and happiness the visuals and animations try to establish.”
“Iris plus 940 graphics”
“The art style and oddness of this game makes it something special.”
- stability17 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and performance issues, including hard freezes and crashing. While some find the gameplay enjoyable despite these problems, many recommend waiting for significant updates or discounts before purchasing due to the persistent instability and broken achievements. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess" that detracts from the overall experience.
“In my post-game endeavors, I've stumbled across the fact that this is the most buggy achievement run I've ever had the displeasure of attempting.”
“It's one of the most frustrating, buggy experiences I've ever had.”
“Performance is quite awful and the game barely holds 60 fps for such a basic game; glitches are common in my playthrough.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a whimsical and colorful tone, reflecting Keita Takahashi's unique storytelling style and sense of humor. Players describe it as a "feel good game" with a relaxing and charming ambiance, complemented by excellent music that evokes nostalgic feelings reminiscent of the Katamari Damacy series. Overall, the atmosphere is peaceful and uplifting, making it a delightful experience.
“Keita Takahashi is known as an auteur in the video game industry because of his sense of humor, unique style of storytelling, and the whimsical atmosphere he brings to the projects he works on.”
“A very charming game, excellent music, and a peaceful atmosphere.”
“The music once again never fails to amuse me, and the atmosphere gives the Katamari Damacy series vibes, which brings back a lot of childhood memories.”
“It really is a Keita Takahashi game through and through, and not just with the aesthetic but tone and atmosphere.”
“If you want a 'feel good game,' then you would like this; it's got a relaxing and positive atmosphere.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and lacking in meaningful rewards, with many achievements feeling overly grindy and poorly designed. Issues such as characters getting stuck in the environment further exacerbate the frustration, making the grinding experience feel miserable and unfulfilling.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“These serve to move along the plot, but they're all very easy and largely tedious.”
“There's a lot of grinding achievements but no gameplay incentive to complete them.”
“Not only is it miserable to play with offensively grindy or broken achievements, but it's poorly made too, with multiple characters and accessories locked into infinite falls in my game, or permanently stuck in the void.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with some users noting that while it offers a wholesome experience, it lacks the depth to encourage multiple playthroughs.
“Don't think there's much replay value, so be aware of that.”
“Less replayability compared to other games, but artfully crafted and wholesome as an experience.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for poor performance, struggling to maintain 60 fps despite its simplicity, and frequent glitches detract from the overall experience.
“The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
“I was impressed by how well the game runs; the developers clearly put a lot of effort into optimizing performance.”
“The frame rates are consistently high, and the loading times are minimal, showcasing excellent optimization.”
“Performance is quite awful, and the game barely holds 60 fps for such a basic game. Glitches are common in my playthrough.”
“The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“I expected better performance; the game struggles to run smoothly even on high-end hardware.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted through unique and funky designs that enhance the storytelling, creating an engaging and humorous experience that leaves players wanting more. The combination of great music and simple controls further complements the overall appeal of the characters.
“Unique character designs with a funny story that had me wanting more.”
“Great music, simple controls, and funky character designs.”
Critic Reviews
Review: Wattam
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
85%Wattam review
Wattam is a fun colourful playground for players to goof around in, even though it's controls have a few screws loose.
76%Wattam Review — Let's All Kaboom Together
70%