Recapturing your childhood is hard, especially those really indescribable feelings. But Wattam has an incredible ability to bring me back to the simpler days of chaos and childhood friendships.
You know, the ones where you instantly click because you both like dinosaurs or Lego. It’s not an easy feat to stir up these feelings so positively, and that is one of the main reasons it’s my Indie Star of 2019.
For those unfamiliar with the magic that is Wattam, you play as a square character to start: The Mayor. The Mayor is quite lonely, which only makes their plight that much more compelling. You instantly want to help out this cube fellow. To your good fortune, you will find no shortage of potential new friends in this world that is bursting at the seams with joyful feelings. You’ll be able to switch around between all your new friends as you obtain them to create some hilarious scenes and solve increasingly goofy puzzles. Hold hands with your new pals, form a long chain to dance in, chase friends, enjoy mini-games -the list goes on. Your goal is to make friends and have a blast – which is easy with The Mayor’s exploding hat.
Wattam rewards those who throw all caution to the wind and dive in head, or hat, first. Usually blowing up your friends sounds terrifying, but you’ll quickly find that these explosions are a cherry on top of a wild party, your buddies clamoring for more ka-booms. It’s the best opportunity to push the game’s goofy physics to the limits. You may need to coordinate some wacky explosions to complete some puzzling circumstances and meet your newest friends. Don’t feel like you have to follow instructions, either. There are definitely some secrets to find if you are curious enough. This is especially true if you bring along your friend in local co-op mode to share this unique experience.
These wild characters, their instantaneous bonds, the fun soundtrack, and the utter joy I feel when watching it all unravel with not a worry of penalty is what makes Wattam a special game. When I heard that Keita Takahashi, developer of Katamari Damacy, was at the helm, I knew I was in for a treat. I couldn’t tell you far my expectations were surpassed when I played Wattam for the first time. It makes me smile without noticing and makes my heart swell in a nostalgic way. You can’t get that in every game you play, but when you do, it’s a wonderful feeling. I hope that if you choose to pick up Wattam, you’ll feel the same childlike whimsy I did.
Wattam is available now on the Epic Games Store and PlayStation 4.
About The Author
