Katamari is one of those IPs you either get or hate with everything you have. I’m with the first group and was very happy that this collection was ported to the Nintendo Switch. The game is a faithful reproduction of the original work “We Love Katamari,” released in 2005, in the feel of rolling the Katamari and the carefully designed user interface! So, let’s roll in!
We Love Katamari?
We Love Katamari shows how you can create a great video game sequel. Dialing just about every beloved mechanic and detail from the first game up to 11, all while ditching some of Katamari Damacy’s less precious aspects, it’s no surprise that this entry is the fan favorite. For better and worse, its re-release, We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie, asks you, “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?” With a handful of remixed levels, crisp HD graphics, and a smattering of quality-of-life features, Reroll + does its best to avoid stepping on the original’s toes while bringing the nearly 20-year-old game into the present day in clean, vibrant HD.
That new prince-lift might be We Love Katamari Reroll’s most significant addition. Fans of the original often state that the game already looked great back on PS2. Its visuals have aged remarkably well compared to many of its contemporaries. Compared to modern consoles, the PS2’s color palette and graphical capabilities lend a dim, washed-out look to even the brightest, most vibrantly multicolored games. Anyone who played the original back in the day might be shocked to hear that, but even a cursory search or glance at a Let’s Play might surprise you. Jumping 18 years and roughly two-and-a-half console generations into the future, the difference is staggering. Even on my non-OLED, v2 edition Switch, We Love Katamari’s rainbow shines with bright colors that pop almost as much as the game’s charming writing and incredible soundtrack.
Kata-what?
We Love Katamari is the second installment of the renowned Katamari Damacy franchise, which quickly gained attention for its unique soundtrack, quirky writing, captivating visuals, and innovative gameplay. Your character’s father is the flamboyant King of All Cosmos, a god who, in a moment of drunkenness, destroys the stars in the sky – because why not? Your mission is to restore the night sky by rolling everything on Earth into a ball, which is the essence of the Katamari franchise. As your ball (or Katamari) grows, you can collect increasingly larger items, starting with small objects like ants or pencils and ending up rolling up entire continents. The gameplay is similar to a dung beetle rolling a ball or a snowball rolling down a hill.
The game truly excels in providing unparalleled progression and grandeur with every challenge. Its highly addictive gameplay will captivate you in no time, complemented by an exceptional soundtrack that easily stands amongst the best in video game history. Like Katamari Damacy Reroll in 2018, this re-release maintains the game’s original charm and excitement, allowing players to indulge in rolling up all sorts of peculiar objects, creatures, and even relatives. When you roll up a relative, your father comments on why the relative is on earth, often leading to a funny conversation or witty comment. The soundtrack continues to be a timeless classic, the writing is humorous and insightful, and the addition of diverse challenge levels only adds to the game’s overall appeal. To be clear, they’re all remixed versions of existing levels, and some are just straight-up reskins of challenges from the main game. While rolling up a Katamari will constantly scratch an itch not quenched by many other games, anyone expecting wholly new levels might be disappointed.
Monkeycraft, the remaster developer, is facing a challenging position. While promoting its new levels, the team must ensure they are up to par to avoid backlash from fans. The so-called new levels may not be entirely new as advertised, but they are still enjoyable. Thankfully, the game has introduced helpful features that greatly enhance the overall experience. Players can now create customized playlists with their favorite tunes, and a new hint feature guides newcomers struggling with the ebb and flow of a Katamari level. It certainly helped me and my daughter roll up some of the more tricky levels this re-release offers.
Conclusion
So to conclude! Initially released in 2005, We Love Katamari outdid its predecessor, refining gameplay mechanics, introducing more challenges and various features, and incorporating a hilarious script and a fantastic soundtrack. The game has remained a benchmark for video game sequels and stood the test of time. With its improved visuals and quality-of-life enhancements, the new Reroll + Royal Reverie edition takes the already excellent game to new heights. It’s undoubtedly the ultimate way to relive this classic gem.
