Touch My Katamari
- December 17, 2011
- Namco Bandai Games
- 10h median play time
Touch My Katamari makes little changes to the core gameplay and art style, but it's still so much fun.
Roll up some fun with this portable entry in the beloved Katamari Damacy franchise. In Touch My Katamari, the ever-growing ball of bits and bobs is controlled by touching the screen or using both analog control sticks to roll it in any direction.
Reviews
- Touch My Katamari retains the fun, quirky gameplay of the series while introducing new mechanics like shape-shifting using the Vita's touch controls.
- The game features vibrant graphics and a humorous storyline, making it visually appealing and entertaining.
- It's a great portable option for Katamari fans, allowing for quick, enjoyable gameplay sessions on the go.
- The game is significantly shorter than previous entries, with only a handful of levels and limited content, leading to a feeling of disappointment for long-time fans.
- The menu design is confusing and poorly executed, making it difficult for players to navigate and start the game properly.
- The soundtrack is lackluster compared to earlier titles in the series, failing to capture the catchy and memorable tunes that fans have come to love.
- music21 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the latest installment of the Katamari series has received mixed reviews, with many fans expressing disappointment over the lack of catchy tracks that characterized previous games. While some appreciate the new sound design and find it enjoyable through quality audio equipment, others criticize the soundtrack as bland and uninspired, lacking the quirky charm that made earlier entries memorable. Overall, the music is seen as a weaker aspect of the game, failing to live up to the franchise's legacy.
“The music sounds amazing through Bluetooth speakers or headphones.”
“With their excellent music, great gameplay variety, humorous dialogue, and loads of content, Namco's cult hit franchise is always a surefire hit.”
“The music is pretty much the same as you'd expect -- strange sounding J-pop, or J-pop-inspired tracks, most of which are catchy enough.”
“The soundtrack in this game is a sorry affair, with barely any tracks, and most of the tracks there are very bland and uninspired.”
“In an attempt to match the quirkiness and variety of past soundtracks, the developers have lost sight of what made the past games sound so great.”
“You just won't get these stuck in your head, like some of the bizarre songs from the previous entries.”
- gameplay17 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay retains the core mechanics of previous entries while introducing new features that encourage replayability, resulting in a mix of polished yet sometimes repetitive experiences. While the game offers a variety of content and humorous elements, many players feel it lacks the depth and charm of earlier titles, with some criticizing the limited number of levels and the reliance on unlockable content to extend playtime. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable for newcomers but may leave veterans wanting more due to its perceived shortcomings.
“It sticks to the formula presented in the previous games but adds a few mechanics that encourage you to replay levels over and over.”
“I finished the main story in about two hours, but I've already gotten about 10 hours of gameplay out of it.”
“With their excellent music, great gameplay variety, humorous dialogue, and loads of content, Namco's cult hit franchise is always a surefire hit.”
“Sure, the gameplay is about as polished as it's ever been, but there's nothing to really do with it.”
“Even though the gameplay is incredibly polished, and the imagery behind the stages is funny, and the plot is rife with laughs, this game is missing the soul and passion that made the others such memorable classics in the eyes of fans.”
“With only a dozen levels, lame attempts at extending gameplay (do I really want to dress up the king?), and a sad excuse of a story, Touch My Katamari is disappointing.”
- graphics15 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Touch My Katamari" are generally praised for their vibrant and imaginative design, showcasing beautiful visuals that stand out, especially on OLED screens. However, some reviews note that while the graphics are decent, they can feel repetitive and lack depth, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite the appealing aesthetics, the execution and use of the platform's features leave some players wanting more.
“This version has great graphics and is probably the funniest yet in the series.”
“Visuals are amazing on the OLED and this is a must-own title.”
“Very imaginative, colorful graphics with excellent PS Vita control.”
“I had played other titles for PS3; however, the lack of additions made it feel like I was playing knock-offs that had only better graphics.”
“This time, with higher resolution graphics and more ability to expand content, Namco-Bandai instead downsized the amount of things to do in this game.”
“The bad: poor use of Vita features, extra content is lame, only a dozen levels, headache-inducing camera, ugly graphics. I remember when the first game came out, it was something I had never seen before.”
- story14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The story in "Touch My Katamari" is generally considered short and lacking depth, with players completing the main narrative in around two to five hours. While the absurdity and humor of the plot are appreciated, many reviewers feel it lacks the soul and passion of previous installments, making it feel more like a tech demo than a fully realized experience. The storytelling remains nonsensical, which some find enjoyable, but overall, it fails to leave a lasting impression.
“Even though the gameplay is incredibly polished, and the imagery behind the stages is funny, and the plot is rife with laughs, this game is missing the soul and passion that made the others such memorable classics in the eyes of fans.”
“Touch My Katamari adds a new story presentation with voiced hand-drawn cut scenes that are as absurd as the King of All Cosmos himself, and that's about it.”
“It seems nonsensical, but the story is enjoyable.”
“With only a dozen levels, lame attempts at extending gameplay (do I really want to dress up the king?), and a sad excuse of a story, Touch My Katamari is disappointing.”
“Gameplay's awkward, story is so close to non-existent I don't even know why I'm mentioning it; feels like a tech demo to show off color capacities.”
“Storytelling in this rendition is about as nonsensical as it is in previous installments, so nothing new there.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its bright colors, goofy characters, and absurd comedic elements, making it a hilarious experience for newcomers. While the dialogue and quirky collectibles add to the fun, some long-time fans feel it lacks the cleverness and passion of previous entries, resulting in a mixed reception overall. Despite its vibrant imagery and entertaining audio, the humor may not resonate as strongly with veterans of the franchise.
“Bright colors, goofy characters, absurd humor, and such.”
“Hilarious game.”
“With their excellent music, great gameplay variety, humorous dialogue, and loads of content, Namco's cult hit franchise is always a surefire hit.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that while there is some replay value in the levels, the experience may become monotonous before achieving full completion.
“The game offers a significant amount of replay value, with multiple paths and choices that keep each playthrough fresh.”
“Each level has enough variety and hidden secrets that I find myself coming back for more, even after completing the game.”
“With different character builds and strategies to explore, the replayability is impressive and keeps the experience engaging.”
“There is some replay value to the levels, but you'll probably get bored long before achieving true 100%.”
“The game lacks enough variety to keep me coming back after the first playthrough.”
“Once you finish the main story, there's little incentive to replay the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players often find the emotional aspect of the game deeply personal, with many highlighting significant memories tied to the series, such as receiving the first game as a cherished gift from a close friend.
“It has special emotional meaning to me as well, due to the fact that the first game in the series was the first present I ever received from my best friend.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as it requires repeatedly rolling up items to accumulate mass, which can hinder progress and enjoyment.
“You'll never really move past the initial tediousness of rolling up enough items to allow you to truly accumulate a significant amount.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“It often feels like the game is more about grinding for resources than actually enjoying the gameplay.”
