Once Upon a Katamari Reviews
Once Upon a KATAMARI is a Katamari game at its best, rolling, rolling, and rolling through time collecting items and constructing new planets. The 10+ year wait has been worth it, as it introduces just enough novelty all the while preserving the best bits of the series. Its uniqueness aside, it's the most approachable Katamari yet.
Once Upon A Katamari takes the tried and tested formula of the series past and presents it as more of a straightforward game
Long time fans of the off-the-wall action puzzler and newcomers alike are bound to have a ball.
Once Upon a Katamari is the return fans have been waiting for: colorful, eccentric, and brimming with the carefree absurdity that made Bandai Namco's franchise so unique. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, it tastefully modernizes it with a more cohesive structure. It's a game that chooses refinement over revolution, but does so with genuine love for its quirky universe and characters. In short, Once Upon a Katamari doesn't redefine the series; it celebrates it in the most joyful way possible.
Review in Italian | Read full review
It sticks hard to the formula established two decades ago, but Once Upon a Katamari's tumble through history has enough new ideas and relentless charm to make it a worthy entry for fans old and new.
Once Upon a Katamari keeps the series' trademark charm and eccentric humor intact. Some old flaws remain ' the clunky camera, minor grind, and brief loading pauses ' but they're easy to forgive. It's quirky, joyful, and still one of the few games that can make you smile just by playing.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Once Upon a KATAMARI makes its long-awaited return, delivering the series' trademark blend of simple yet addictive gameplay and quirky humor. Unfortunately, a few frustrating bugs also roll back in, but the game's charm is hard to resist.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Once Upon a Katamari is another excellent title in the series. The game design is still timeless, and the act of picking up everything in your path never gets old. The additions of power-ups don't change the game dramatically, but the solid level design and varied objectives do a good job at keeping the game fresh. The time travel concept also helps in that regard. Still bathed in that joyful but lo-fi presentation, Once Upon a Katamari is a game that's benefitted from long stretches between releases and remains a great title for both veterans and newcomers alike.
Once Upon A KATAMARI is a visually and audio-visually excellent experience, but unfortunately the gameplay lacks traction and suffers from a number of issues. On the other hand, the $40 price tag for such a game is insane, which makes it hard to recommend it.
Review in Persian | Read full review
The new Katamari has returned in the best possible way. The new features and the variety of missions add great layers to the gameplay, and the inclusion of different time periods brings an interesting twist compared to the past. There are a few minor shortcomings that slightly affect the experience, but they’re not enough to disrupt the overall flow of the game. Once Upon a Katamari offers an enjoyable experience for both newcomers and longtime fans, marking another success for the series.
Review in Persian | Read full review
It's even better that the one on Nintendo Switch feels like the third game in a trilogy with the two original PS2 games (that are also available in HD remaster form on Switch). Once Upon a Katamari is a full-fledged fresh entry in a series that hasn't had this kind of shot in the arm since HDTVs were a thing. Here's hoping we get a more consistent drip of Katamari following this charming entry that largely understands why the first one was such a cult hit.
The first brand new Katamari game in years, Once Upon a Katamari doesn't disappoint. While it suffers from the same issues the series always has, like wonky controls and camera, there's no denying that it's as fun as ever to play. There's nothing else like it, and we'll never grow tired of the utter weirdness of rolling up items with a special ball.
Once Upon A KATAMARI takes one of the most unique and enjoyable formulas in gaming history and makes it even more fun thanks to its many elements that add up to one cleverly quirky era-spanning adventure. 👑
The music and melodies fast become earworms hard to cleanse
Once Upon a Katamari delivers a chaotic, joyful experience, proving that simple ideas in a vibrant, creative world can be incredibly fun. The game doesn’t aim for realism but celebrates the madness and chaos that have defined the series from the start, offering a unique experience that reminds us games can be simply fun, wild, and charming all at once.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Ultimately, Once Upon a Katamari is a new Katamari, with some very nice new features but without any choices that significantly alter the experience. Whether that's good or bad depends on your opinion of the previous games. For me, it's good. It's not a lazy sequel, but it might seem that way if you're not a fan of the series. The team's desire to create something special can be seen in the variety of stages, the attempts to create new gimmicks to accompany the classic levels, and the soundtrack. In fact, the new tracks in Once Upon a Katamari are beautiful and perfectly maintain the style I've become accustomed to from the old games. Once Upon a Katamari is another Katamari, for better or worse. New gimmicks enrich the experience for fans of the saga, and the new songs are delightful, but the experience is very faithful to Katamari Damacy. Personally, I've always been a fan of the saga, and Once Upon a Katamari was exactly what was needed after a fourteen-year hiatus.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Once Upon a Katamari is a beautifully crafted game with no flaws that I can think of. The King of Cosmos has once again exceeded my expectations with another very fun entry to the series, with a lot of content, challenges, customisation options, great presentation, and many katamaris. Colombo
After years of remasters, collections, and mobile spin-offs, Once Upon a KATAMARI marks the return of Bandai Namco's crazy series with a totally new chapter. Faced with yet another mess caused by the careless King of the Cosmos, it will once again be up to the Prince to find a solution, this time by traveling through time. A chapter in which the magnetic simplicity of the franchise shines with ever-new and entertaining ideas, without offering an experience that overturns tradition. Those who have always loved the brand will adore this long-awaited revival. For those who have never had the opportunity to try an episode of the series, there is no better time to start rolling!
Review in Italian | Read full review
Once Upon a Katamari is not an inventive game in terms of new features, but there was no need to reinvent the wh, I mean, the rolling sticky ball anyway. What we wanted was a new Katamari game after fourteen years, retaining everything we love about the franchise, and that’s exactly what we got. There’s no need to complain about it not being innovative. It’s stupidly fun, addictive as always, and downright charming, and that’s what really matters at the end of the day.
If you can get past Once Upon A Katamari's sticky controls and a general sense of deja vu, the many time periods, customizable cousins, unique challenges, and features make even a decades-old formula feel fresh again.