Touch My Katamari
| Touch My Katamari | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Namco Bandai Games |
| Publisher(s) | Namco Bandai Games |
| Director(s) | Fumihiro Suzuki |
| Series | Katamari |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation Vita |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Puzzle, action |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Touch My Katamari, known in Japan as Katamari Damacy No-Vita[a], is an action-puzzle video game developed and published by Namco Bandai Games for the PlayStation Vita. An installment the Katamari series, was released as a launch game in Japan on December 17, 2011 and in Europe and North America on February 22, 2012.[1] It received mixed reviews from critics, with strong criticism for its constant reuse of assets and levels from previous games and stale nature; it led to a hiatus for the Katamari series (excluding spin-offs for mobile devices and remasters) until 2025.
Gameplay
[edit]The game carries on the gameplay of previous Katamari games in which players must roll a sticky ball, known as a Katamari, over hundreds of objects, allowing it to grow in size and reach a desired size within a time limit. This iteration adds new gameplay mechanics that makes use of the PlayStation Vita's features. Along with the analogue controls, players can move their fingers across the touch screen in order to move their Katamari in the desired direction. By moving fingers along the back touch panel, players can squash and stretch their Katamari, stretching it lengthwise in order to roll over more objects or squashing it upwards to fit into tighter areas.[2]
Plot
[edit]One day, a boy asks his Dad "Who is more awesome, the King of All Cosmos or his principal?" When the dad is trying to make up his mind, the mom says they are both equally awesome. The king overhears the conversation. Distraught by this, he becomes an utter train-wreck. Somewhere else, a slacker named Goro, who puts off studying for video games, television and the Internet, sees a news broadcast telling of the King's apparent depression. Goro believes that this is his moment to start his life anew, so he starts to make a new lifestyle for himself.
Reception
[edit]| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 69/100[3] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| The A.V. Club | B[4] |
| Destructoid | 7.5/10[5] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 6/10[6] |
| Eurogamer | 6/10[7] |
| Famitsu | 32/40[8] |
| Game Informer | 7.5/10[9] |
| GameSpot | 7/10[10] |
| GameTrailers | 7.8/10[11] |
| Giant Bomb |   [12] |
| IGN | 6/10[13] |
| Pocket Gamer |  [14] |
| Polygon | 5/10[15] |
| PlayStation: The Official Magazine | 8/10[16] |
| Push Square |  [17] |
| The Digital Fix | 6/10[18] |
The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of one eight, one seven, one nine, and one eight for a total of 32 out of 40.[8]
Media Create reports did not have the game in the top 50 selling games in the week after its debut.[19] On PlayStation LifeStyle, Heath Hindman's review claimed the game was better for series newcomers than veterans, because longtime fans were likely to find the recycled stages somewhat stale.[20] In a hands-on preview, 1Up.com's Jeremy Parish had similar comments, saying that the series now "continues to miss the point".[21]
Notes
[edit]- ^ 塊魂ノビータ, yes
References
[edit]- ^ Egan Loo (November 22, 2011). "Touch My Katamari PS Vita Game's English Trailer Posted". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Crystalyn Hodgkins (November 17, 2011). "Katamari Damacy No-Vita to Roll into Otaku's Room". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ a b "Touch My Katamari". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ John Teti (February 20, 2012). "PlayStation Vita Launch Games". The A.V. Club. G/O Media. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Dale North (February 14, 2012). "Review: Touch My Katamari". Destructoid. Gamurs. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Andrew Fitch (February 22, 2012). "EGM Review: Touch My Katamari". EGMNow. EGM Media LLC. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ Tom Bramwell (January 11, 2012). "Touch My Katamari Review [JP Import]". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ a b "塊魂 ノ・ビ〜タ". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Jeff Cork (February 14, 2012). "Touch My Katamari". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Jason Venter (February 17, 2012). "Touch My Katamari Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ "Touch My Katamari". GameTrailers. Defy Media. February 17, 2012. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Alex Navarro (February 21, 2012). "Touch My Katamari Review". Giant Bomb. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Tristan Ogilvie (February 14, 2012). "Touch My Katamari Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Alan Purvis (January 31, 2012). "Touch My Katamari (Import)". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Griffin McElroy (March 8, 2012). "Touch My Katamari review: Slow your roll". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ "Review: Touch My Katamari". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. No. 57. Future plc. April 2012. p. 58.
- ^ Mike Mason (March 16, 2012). "Touch My Katamari Review". Push Square. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ James Harvey (March 20, 2012). "Touch My Katamari [author mislabeled as "Andrew Phillips"]". The Digital Fix. Poisonous Monkey Ltd. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ Anoop Gantayat (December 29, 2011). "PlayStation Vita Lives in the Media Create Top 50". Andriasang. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Heath Hindman (January 9, 2012). "PS Vita Review – Touch My Katamari". PlayStation LifeStyle. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on March 20, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Jeremy Parish (December 30, 2011). "Katamari's Vita Debut Continues to Miss the Point". 1Up.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2024.