October 23rd 2025.
Once upon a time, a game called Katamari Damacy took the gaming world by storm. With its quirky concept and bizarre gameplay, it quickly became a fan favorite. But who would have thought that this one-of-a-kind game would spawn an entire franchise? With 17 different entries, including spin-offs, it's hard to believe that such a unique game could become so popular. And yet, here we are, over two decades later, with a brand new installment called Once Upon A Katamari.
The original game, released in 2004, was a hit among PlayStation 2 players. Its strange and amusing concept captured our hearts and left us wanting more. However, as with most things, the novelty eventually wore off and the idea of a sequel seemed unnecessary. Even the series creator, Keita Takahashi, agreed to make a sequel with the understanding that he would not be involved in future installments. And now, as an indie developer, he continues to create even weirder games, like the recent to a T.
But despite the lack of new ideas, Once Upon A Katamari still manages to be the best entry in the series since the original. The problem is, why make a new game when there are already perfectly good, and very recent, remasters of the first and second games on modern consoles? It seems a bit pointless, doesn't it?
For those who may not know, Katamari Damacy roughly translates to "clump spirit." In the game, you play as the Prince of all Cosmos, a tiny deity who is constantly cleaning up after his father, the King of all Cosmos. This time, the King has accidentally destroyed all creation and it's up to you to fix it by traveling back in time and rolling up enough objects to create new stars and planets.
The original game was a satirical take on Japanese culture and commercialism, and this new game still has that same theme. However, the true appeal of the original was just how weird and unique it was. The campy, semi-animated cutscenes and the nonsensical ramblings of the King of all Cosmos had us laughing and wanting more. And while the Prince never says a word, the King's dialogue is often hilarious.
As for the gameplay, it may seem strange at first, but it's actually quite simple. Inspired by dung beetles, the Prince rolls around a katamari (a very sticky ball) and collects whatever objects he comes across. The goal is to reach a certain size within a set time limit. As you progress, the objects you collect become bigger and more challenging, eventually leading you to roll up mountains and continents.
But don't be fooled, this game does require some skill. The traditional control system, with its tank-like controls, can be tricky to navigate. However, there is an optional, simplified control scheme that makes the game much easier. But where's the fun in that?
While the original games had a limited amount of variation in the mission goals, Once Upon A Katamari introduces a lot more variety. You might be tasked with collecting specific types of objects or clearing a certain number of smaller items. While this is a nice attempt to add variety, it takes away from the carefree and unpredictable nature of the originals.
There are also new additions, like special items to collect, the option to play as the Prince's cousins, and power-ups to help you along the way. But the overworld map, reminiscent of Super Mario World, feels unnecessary and restrictive, even though the original games were even more linear.
Despite these changes, the time travel element is the highlight of the game. It allows for unique and fun stages, like rolling up philosophers in Ancient Greece or navigating a waterlogged katamari in the desert. These ideas may be entertaining, but they can't make up for the fact that the originality and charm of the first game are long gone.
And let's not forget about the soundtrack, one of the greatest in gaming history. It's a shame to see it being remixed and reused over and over again, diluting its original jazz and samba focus with forgettable tunes from various genres.
In today's world, it seems no franchise can truly die. Even if it goes dormant for a few years, it will eventually be resurrected. And while this may work for some games, it doesn't make sense for something like Katamari Damacy. The appeal of the original was its uniqueness, but now there are 16 other titles that are essentially the same. It's a shame to see such an innovative idea being run into the ground for the sake of making another sequel. As they say, less is more.
Once upon a time, we were enchanted by the whimsical world of Katamari Damacy. Its unique concept and bizarre gameplay captured our hearts and minds, making it a beloved favorite of the PlayStation 2 era. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. And with over 17 entries in the franchise, including spin-offs, it seems that the once one-of-a-kind game has become a never-ending series.
It's hard to believe that a game that never needed a sequel has now spawned so many. The original 2004 title was a standalone gem, with its offbeat humor and eccentric characters. But with each subsequent release, the appeal of the game has diminished. As the creator, Keita Takahashi, moved on to other projects, the series lost its quirkiness and became a mere shadow of its former self.
Don't get us wrong, the latest installment, Once Upon A Katamari, is still a fun and entertaining game. It's just that the idea of making a new one seems rather pointless. Especially when there are already updated versions of the first two games available on modern consoles. The joke has gone on for too long and now, it's just not as funny as it used to be.
For those unfamiliar with the game, Katamari Damacy roughly translates to "clump spirit". You play as the tiny Prince of all Cosmos, who is always cleaning up after his clumsy father, the King of all Cosmos. In this new game, the King has once again destroyed the universe and it's up to the Prince to travel back in time and roll up enough objects to create new stars and planets.
The original game was a playful satire of Japanese culture and commercialism, and that element is still present in this new installment. However, what made the game truly special was its absurdity and the hilarious cutscenes featuring the ramblings of the King. Sadly, those moments are few and far between now.
The gameplay remains simple yet strange. You control the Prince as he rolls around a sticky ball, picking up objects and growing in size. The goal is to reach a certain size within a set time limit, starting with small items like dice and candy and eventually growing to collect mountains and continents. It may not sound challenging, but mastering the tank-like controls takes skill and precision.
In this new game, there's a bit more variety in the mission goals, such as collecting specific items or clearing a certain number of smaller objects. While it's nice to have some variation, it takes away from the novelty of the original games, where each level was a surprise in terms of scale and setting. Now, it seems like the developers are trying too hard to keep the gameplay fresh, rather than embracing the carefree attitude of the originals.
There are also new elements, like special items to collect, playable cousins of the Prince, and power-ups to help along the way. But even with these additions, the game still feels like a rehash of previous titles. And don't even get us started on the remixed soundtrack that has been beaten to death.
It's a shame that in today's gaming world, no franchise can ever truly die. Even when a concept has run its course, it's dragged back to life for another round. For some games, this may work, but for a game like Katamari Damacy, it just doesn't make sense. The whole appeal of the original was its uniqueness, and now that's been diluted by 16 other titles that are essentially the same.
In the end, while Once Upon A Katamari is a decent addition to the series, it's time to let go of this never-ending story. We can only hope that one day, the Prince and his katamari will roll off into the sunset, leaving behind fond memories of a simpler time. Until then, we'll just have to settle for the occasional remaster or reboot.
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