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.
PlayStation
Playstation Vita
Reviews
- Touch My Katamari retains the fun, quirky gameplay of the series while introducing new mechanics like the ability to morph the Katamari's shape using the Vita's touch controls.
- The game features vibrant graphics and a humorous storyline, making it visually appealing and entertaining for players.
- It's a great portable option for Katamari fans, providing a familiar experience with the added convenience of handheld play.
- The game is notably short, with only a limited number of levels and content compared to previous entries in the series, 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 effectively.
- While the touch controls are a new feature, they are often seen as unnecessary or poorly implemented, detracting from the overall gameplay experience.
- music25 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 12 % 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 earlier games. While some appreciate the solid sound quality and the quirky Japanese-inspired tunes, others find the soundtrack bland and uninspired, lacking the memorable charm of its predecessors. Overall, the music is seen as a weaker aspect of the game, failing to live up to the high standards set by the franchise.
“The music sounds amazing through Bluetooth speaker 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.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Touch My Katamari" are generally praised for their vibrant and imaginative design, particularly on OLED screens, making them a standout feature of the game. While some reviews note that the visuals are beautiful and colorful, others mention that environments can become stale and that the overall execution lacks depth. Despite these criticisms, the graphics are considered a significant improvement over previous titles, contributing to the game's charm and appeal.
“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.”
“This time, with higher res graphics and more ability to expand content, Namco-Bandai instead downsized the amount of things to do in this game.”
“The good: Katamari gameplay is intact, dual analog sticks are a lifesaver, the weirdness is back, nice Japanese inspired soundtrack. 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.”
“The low-budget blocky visuals were charming and cute when the first game came out because of the low-budget.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay retains the core mechanics of previous entries while introducing new features that encourage replayability, though some players find it lacks depth and content. While the controls are polished and the humor remains intact, the limited number of levels and repetitive nature of tasks may leave veterans feeling underwhelmed. Overall, the experience is enjoyable for newcomers but may not satisfy long-time fans seeking the series' original charm.
“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.”
“The gameplay at times feels too stiff or too loose and never feels right.”
- 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 many players completing the main narrative in just a few hours. While the absurdity and humor typical of the series remain, the overall plot is seen as underwhelming and not as memorable as previous installments, leading to a sense of disappointment among fans. Despite the quirky presentation and some enjoyable moments, the story feels more like an afterthought, with many players questioning its relevance to the gameplay experience.
“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 cutscenes 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.”
- humor9 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 music contribute positively to the overall comedic atmosphere, some long-time fans feel it lacks the cleverness and passion of previous entries, resulting in a mixed reception. Overall, the game offers a fun, albeit less memorable, humorous experience.
“Bright colors, goofy characters, absurd humor, and such.”
“With their excellent music, great gameplay variety, humorous dialogue, and loads of content, Namco's cult hit franchise is always a surefire hit.”
“The audio dialogue is funny and the background music is perfect for this type of rather strange game.”
- 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 different paths and choices that keep each playthrough fresh.”
“Each level has multiple outcomes, encouraging players to explore various strategies and approaches.”
“With numerous unlockable content and challenges, the game invites players to return and experience new aspects every time.”
“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 a deep emotional connection to the game, particularly due to personal memories associated with 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 collecting items to progress, which can hinder the overall enjoyment and flow of gameplay.
“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.”
