Review
Brutal, bloody and brilliantly tough: Ninja Gaiden 4 review
by Domagoj Belancic
"Once Upon a Katamari": crazy in space
24.10.2025
Translation: machine translated
We had to wait 14 long years for a new instalment of the puzzle game. "Once Upon a Katamari" delivers chaos, simple but great gameplay and a king who lets you know how disappointingly mediocre you are after every level. What more could you want?
«Once Upon a Katamari» is bizarre. From the design to the characters to the highly idiosyncratic gameplay. Even in this day and age, when indie developers regularly outdo each other with the most absurd premises, the puzzle game stands largely alone. I love it. And I hate it a bit.
When I start the gaming fever dream for the first time, I have a massive case of déjà vu. The story feels strangely familiar. It starts with a rather large oopsie from a deity, the «king of all cosmos». The monarch is highly eccentric (and just as stupid) and destroys all the planets during an improvised juggling act.
You don't really forget a plot this confused, but a quick wiki check reveals that the king reboots the universe on a fairly regular basis. Sometimes because he's drunk, sometimes because his tennis serve goes wrong. «Once Upon a Katamari» continues the tradition, expanding the synopsis with an additional time travel plot. This makes just as much sense as the rest of the story, namely none at all.
The consequences of his misadventure are once again left to his tiny son - the prince - in whose role I slip. And «roles» is also the credo of the game.
They see me rollin' ...
The universe is rebuilt using the eponymous Katamari, a sticky ball that gets everything smaller than it stuck to it. Depending on the level, this may initially be paper clips, my self-confidence, shot glasses or similar tiny items. Every item I catch makes my Katamari grow and increases my collecting ability.
Shot glasses become beer mugs and beer mugs become kegs. The bigger the ball, the bigger the things. At some point I swallow cats, then people, then houses, and finally entire neighbourhoods. It's the classic snowball principle: I roll a ball. The ball gets bigger.
Power-ups help with this. A magnet extends the radius, rockets give a speed boost and a radar reveals hidden collectibles. More on this below.
Once around the world
The time-travelling plot allows «Once Upon a Katamari» the most varied selection of levels in the franchise to date. I roll through feudal Japan, the prehistoric dinosaur age and other eras, all of which are pleasantly diverse.
The objectives within levels are similarly varied, even if the principle is always the same: Rolling. I am often tied to a tight time limit, which turns the whole thing into a hectic race against the clock.
Unfortunately, the many funny details in the game world sometimes get a little lost in the stress. If you pay attention, you'll find a quirky scene at almost every turn - dogs with Roman helmets, cowboys playing tag and more emphasise the eccentric concept of «Once Upon A Katamari», provided you notice it.
Nice, but it doesn't really matter.
Acoustically hui, visually naja
The soundtrack, on the other hand, is not at all indifferent. Countless funky J-pop bangers accompany the gameplay - wonderfully crazy catchy tunes that lodge themselves in the ear canals and remain there long after the console is switched off. The music is creative, varied and perfectly matches the absurd atmosphere of the game.
Optically, «Once Upon a Katamari» can't quite keep up. The graphics are quite charming and, as already mentioned, there is a lot to discover. From a purely technical and sober point of view, however, the game clearly fails. Graphically, this would also have been possible on the PS3.
Only the developers probably know whether this was a conscious decision or whether the Nintendo Switch version is to blame.
Everything under control?
«Katamari» has a loyal fanbase and they'll probably have their say about my view in the comments: The game's default controls, where you roll with the two sticks, suck.
That was the case with the first part in 2004 and it still is today. The prince steers like the worst remote-controlled car in the world and, combined with the game's idiosyncratic physics and the stubborn camera in tight spaces, it becomes a frustrating test of patience.
Developer studio Rengame takes pity on overwhelmed gamers like me, however, and gives «Once Upon a Katamari» a simplified control option. This eases the situation a little, but there is still a steep learning curve.
A warning at this point for anyone who is prone to dizziness: The constant rotation of the ball, the rapid camera changes and the hectic gameplay can cause nausea in sensitive players. If you want to roll, you need a strong stomach.
An audience with the king
My performance is assessed after each level. But not from a neutral scoreboard or a benevolent mentor - the feedback comes from the King of All Cosmos himself and the guy is a colossal arse.
No matter how well I do, the King always finds a reason to put me down. «Have you even tried it?», «disappointing», «that's better» - his comments are brutal and entertaining at the same time. It's this absurd mix of nonchalant megalomania and passive-aggressive dad energy that makes the monarch one of the most memorable video game characters ever.
His peptalk also ensures that I don't lose motivation even when I've messed up a level for the third time in a row.
Thank you, Daddy.
«Once Upon a Katamari» is available from 24 October for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch. I tested the PS5 Pro version, which was provided to me by Bandai Namco.
In a nutshell
Out of time and that's a good thing
"Once Upon a Katamari" is a journey through time. In both a direct and indirect sense. The first new mainline game since 2011 plays practically the same as the series debut back in 2004. Of course, everything looks a little more stylish and the gameplay has been given a little fine-tuning. Beyond that, there are no big surprises.
For fans of the series, this is a blessing. For newcomers, it could be a problem. Those rolling through the world of "Katamari" for the first time may be put off by the steep learning curve and tight time limits. The game doesn't make it easy for rookies to discover the charm that lies beneath the often frustrating surface.
But if you take the time and give "Once Upon a Katamari" a chance, you will be rewarded with one of the most fun and unusual gaming experiences ever. "Katamari" has never been perfect. And that's kind of the point.
Pro
- Endless charm and lots of personality
- Simple, addictive gameplay
- great soundtrack
- the King of All Cosmos
- a feel-good game through and through
Contra
- bitchy camera
- Controls take some getting used to
- technically only average
- Time limits can be frustrating
Header image: Bandai Namco
Rainer Etzweiler
Freelance Editor
rainer@rockstar.chIn the early 90s, my older brother gave me his NES with The Legend of Zelda on it. It was the start of an obsession that continues to this day.
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