Don’t be shocked, but the King of All Cosmos once again needs the Prince to roll up balls containing everything under the sun to create new stars. Yes, after years of remakes, a brand new Katamari Damacy game is available for consoles with Once Upon a Katamari. Focusing on what works and adding in a few fun gimmicks, such as power-ups and different time periods, this is a tried-and-true sequel that fully understands what is so special about the Katamari franchise.

The main gimmick of Once Upon a Katamari is that you’re rolling around in different eras. From the Jurassic period to the Wild West, there’s a lot of fun to be had rolling around and collecting objects you’d normally not see in a Katamari game. This also gives the game a great sense of progression as you go from world to world, and there are charming little hubs that you can move around to select missions as well. The franchise’s signature style is in full effect here, as the King still talks entirely too much before and after missions, and the art design is colorfully distinct.

From a core gameplay perspective, not much has changed. This is still a Katamari game, so you’re using both analog sticks to move around your ball (although there is a casual control scheme that you can choose if you’re a heathen). The classic gameplay is complemented by the addition of power-ups that appear within stages, such as a magnet that grabs nearby objects and a radar that shows where collectibles are. Dashes are also made much simpler, as you can just tap he trigger to do it rather than wiggling both joysticks rapidly. I was never good at the old method, and it’s still best used sparingly, so making it easier to do is a good call.

Once Upon a Katamari is also inherently replayable. Beyond the typical high score race of making bigger balls or doing it faster, there are also three hidden crowns to collect in every stage, which give you a trophy for completing them. There are also gifts and cousins to be found, giving you additional playable characters and customization options. There’s always a solid reward for going back and exploring, which will make this a fun Platinum trophy to go for.

Rounding out the package is a new multiplayer mode called KatamariBall. I’ve never been huge into these modes, and this seems totally fine in both online and offline play (thankfully, no trophies are tied to it). The mode revolves around depositing objects into a ship that constantly moves around, and you have to be careful when you try to bank in your points, as you can also be rolled up by other players when you’re small. It’s a fun diversion, but the draw is definitely the great campaign.

Once Upon a Katamari (PS5) Review: Final Verdict

Once Upon a Katamari gets what has made the series such a long-lasting and beloved gaming franchise. The latest Katamari game is simply a joy to experience, as it gives the Prince plenty of wacky objects to roll up and is a worthy sequel. Both newcomers and series veterans will have a blast with Bandai Namco’s latest, as it’s hard to imagine anyone not smiling while playing.

Disclosure: The publisher provided a digital copy for our Once Upon a Katamari PS5 review. Reviewed on version 1.000.001.

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