Once Upon a Katamari Game Review – Game Review

About twenty-one years ago, I played a strange little game on my PlayStation 2 that left me bewildered and confused. I was in fifth grade and I was tasked with putting all the stars back into the sky along with a little guy simply called the Prince…and we were going to do that with something called a “Katamari.” I had some trouble wrapping my young mind around the tank-like controls this ball uses, but after renting the game a few times, I found myself able to use the best of them. It wasn’t long before I was captivated by the game’s eclectic soundtrack and retro-futuristic visuals. Oh, the name of this game? Katama.

A series of sequels, decades later, and a few remakes later, the little guy used Katamari Past. This is a new version of a delightfully weird game I remember from years ago…and then some. This time, the King of the Universe takes his spring cleaning a little too far and ends up wiping out the entire universe. Thankfully, the king has a time-travelling gadget that sends the prince on an adventure across the ages to find a solution to this disastrous mistake.

Much like the original Katama, Katamari Past First, players will perform a simple task – roll the prince’s Katamari to a certain size before time runs out. Oh, they don’t just roll up anything, oh no. Snacks, people, buildings, dinosaurs – as long as the Katamari is big enough, it can be rolled up. The controls function the same as in the previous game, but there’s also a simple single-stick option for players who have difficulty using the standard controls.

Oddly enough, I tend to think of Katamari The game loops to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, as it encourages players to revisit levels for high scores, hidden collectibles, and progression. Both series have this ability to put my brain into a flow state, allowing me to focus on my goals and give my noisy brain a minute or two to rest. Although I occasionally felt like my flow was broken by sections that required the player to collect medals from previous levels in order to progress.

However, I understand the existence of these progression gates, as players could potentially fly through the eras without exploring the most exciting spin on the game’s core Katamari concept. Need to fatten up a young lord? Sweep him into every scrap of food in sight! A prehistoric creature needs to dig a new home? Deep into the bedrock! Want to race against pirates? Get lost! There are a variety of silly yet satisfying challenges to tackle during the game.

Not to mention players also get some useful power-ups. Magnets, rocket boosters, clock stoppers and simple radar became key tools in determining the path of each stage. While I enjoyed this additional feature, I found myself wishing for more, weirder power-ups that greatly affected the Katamari’s physics or its interaction with the environment. Another change is the introduction of a multiplayer mode called “Katamari Ball.” I haven’t been back to this mode much other than tutorial matches. The game feels more geared toward the individual sessions I mentioned earlier, rather than trying to collect the most points among players. I finished the main story in about eight hours, but immediately went back to wrap up everything I’d missed and unlock additional levels.

Katamari Past‘s visuals ooze the weirdness one would expect from the series, but its soundtrack left me feeling conflicted. The vibe surrounding songs like “Lonely Rolling Star,” “Katamari on the Rocks” and “Que Sera Sera” is also key to laying the groundwork. Katamari Just like its visuals and gameplay. Although these classic tracks are presented in the form of DLC, Katamari Past‘s original songs slowly won me over. But to my credit, one song played on a particularly rose-tinted stage had me holding back tears.

Suggested retail price is $39.99, Katamari Past The price is perfect – for fans of the series or parents looking for Christmas stocking stuffers to pair with the Switch 2 they just bought, it won’t break the bank. However, I believe the deal will get even sweeter over time once the game is released alongside great titles. Katama and We love Katamari Remastered version. Katamari Past It’s definitely going to be one of those games that I find myself returning to over and over again when I need to relax. But more importantly, I’m curious to see how the team at Bandai Namco take this rock-solid foundation and bring it forward with subsequent titles! Because let me tell you, I love Katamari.