As a great song once said, reach for the stars. Because Katamari Damacy, another game in the weirdly wonderful series, has been released. Titled “Once Upon a Katamari,” this new entry builds on the solid gameplay of the original while introducing an inventive new level of the night sky.
As bold and brilliant as the rest of this popular series, Once Upon a Katamari is fun to play whether you’ve played all the games or are just getting into it.
What is Katamari Damacy? What is Katamari Damacy?
For those not familiar with the Katamari Damacy series, it’s a little difficult to describe this series without adding at the end, “No, I promise, it’s really good.” Basically, in each game you play as the prince of the entire universe. His father (naturally, the king of the entire universe) accidentally destroys the part of the starry sky he was supposed to rule over. So he sent his son down below to help him create a new astral body in a process that I believe is completely accurate to real star formation.
As a prince, you must roll a small sticky ball (the titular “Katamari Dama”) around and collect scattered items as you roll. Over time, it gets bigger and bigger, eventually going from rolling up rows of candy to knocking over rows of apartment buildings. As long as its size and speed satisfy the king. Then he will throw it up into space and turn it into a beautiful star. Some levels challenge you to get as big as possible, while others try out this formula to collect certain types of items or make decisions based on other merits.
Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
It’s almost incredible how satisfying this deceptively simple formula actually is, especially when combined with Katamari Damacy’s signature low-poly art style, intense Shibuya-kei soundtrack, and ridiculous sound effects. But you’d better believe it. That’s because it became a massive series loved all over the world for its quirky setting and quirky sense of humor.
This latest installment takes a slightly different approach in an attempt to modernize the series that began in 2004. In Once Upon a Katamari Damacy, the King accidentally destroys the entire Earth. Oops!
Fortunately, there’s a way to put everything back together, and even luckier, it requires rolling a ton of Katamari. In this game, a prince must craft a star out of dinosaurs, cowboys, and pirates while riding a time-traveling spaceship and listening to Earth’s era’s greatest hit mixtapes. By completing a wide range of levels divided by time period, you may be able to save the Earth.
Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Let’s Roll Up (To become a star in the sky)
To be honest, when I first heard about this game, I was a little skeptical. I love Katamari’s soundtrack, and We Love Katamari is my go-to game on bad days, but the original game’s director, Keita Takahashi, hasn’t worked on the series since the original game’s sequel. Not to mention, some of the recent entries (such as Touch My Katamari, a simplified mobile version of the game) are controversial at best, or just remasters of older games. Publisher Bandai Namco counts this as their first mainline game in 14 years.
Then I booted up the game, and as soon as Once Upon a Katamari Damacy’s main theme started playing, all those concerns curled up into a big ball and were thrown into the air.
I’m relieved to say this new game is fun. It perfectly captures what made the original Katamari Damacy so fun to play, and puts just enough twists on its formula to feel fresh and original. It splits the difference between what old fans want and what attracts new players. Dividing the game into time periods adds new characters to the game and imbues each stage with its own personality. This format also means that the game is completely and heavily stocked with new levels.
Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
However, don’t be fooled into thinking that these distinctive stages are just surface-level changes to the popular Katamari Damacy format. The thorough approach makes the entire game feel a little different than its predecessor, even if it’s only slightly different at times. This includes a different control scheme, a change from the original two-stick “tank” controls that will definitely be welcomed by new players (although older players can still use the classic format), a grading system to make level scores more clear, and the return of power-ups. There are also several levels that change as you play, as well as a new co-op mode.
That goes without saying, and it’s customizable enough to satisfy even the king of the entire universe, including additional cousins for the prince’s family (referred to as alternate player characters in the game) and the ability to expand your family by creating your own Katamari Damacy character.
There are also more collectibles and additional challenges for perfectionist players, with a new rating system to help you reach your goals. For some reason, some of these collectibles even have king-themed gachas, which certainly weren’t on the bingo cards in this game.
Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Come on, it’s a beautiful star
If Once Upon a Katamari Damacy had strayed from the series’ perhaps outdated (but now very retro) low-poly art style, I would have rioted. But we’re accepting it instead, so developers are safe for now. As bright and beautiful as the other products in the series, it is a feast for both the eye and the ear.
The over-the-top colorful aesthetic (this applies to everything from the visuals to the level design, the music, and even the sound effects, but it’s completely ridiculous in a good way) was an endearing part of the original Katamari Damacy. Once Upon a Katamari not only effectively captures this prismatic style, but expands on it in a new world. Many of the objects that adorn these new levels feel like they came straight out of the original Katamari Damacy games, especially when placed alongside the original objects and sound effects. The cutscenes are silly and bright. The soundtrack is a bop.
The visuals can get a little choppy at times, especially during interaction with 2D and 3D assets, but it’s not really noticeable unless you’re a pedant like me.
Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
This katamari is on the rock
Ironically, given the trend of the game’s level design, all these new aspects can make the game feel cluttered. Sometimes, all too often, it takes away from the simple fun that this game is known for, like rolling a little ball or cleaning up a mess.
The beginning of the game symbolizes this. The tutorial and first few levels offer few moments to catch your breath between half a dozen useful pop-ups, humorous insertions from the king, new features that demand your attention, and cutscenes. This first segment is also on rails. Only when you reach the third era will you be able to choose between several different levels for yourself, rather than being forced to a specific level. It’s not suffocating, but it feels like the game needs a little more breathing room, especially at first.
Similarly, the sheer amount of new content, while most of the time a blessing, can sometimes feel like a bit of a curse. There are always a lot of things competing for your attention, and while most of them are welcome or fun, most aren’t truly innovative. The game feels a bit bloated, but a little slimming down could go a long way. That way you can get closer to the core game you love.
Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
final thoughts
No, Once Upon a Katamari Damacy isn’t perfect, but honestly? It’s surprisingly close. It was closer than I expected.
It may not revolutionize the series, but it brings a fresh new approach and a full suite of new levels in a familiar blend of old and new. The music is great, the art is appealing, and the gameplay is as fun as ever. I welcome this new entry to the iconic Katamari Damacy series. And I think that’s here to stay.
4 stars (out of 5)
Highlights: Smooth gameplay, wide level range, great music
Cons: Messy game design, minor visual issues
Developer: Rengame
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Windows
Available: Currently
The review was conducted on a Windows PC using the release code provided by the publisher.
A featured header image is also provided by the publisher.
