Touch My Katamari

2011 puzzle-action video game published by Namco Bandai Games
2011 video game
  • JP: December 17, 2011
  • WW: February 22, 2012
Genre(s)Puzzle, actionMode(s)Single-player

Touch My Katamari, known in Japan as Katamari Damacy No-Vita (塊魂ノビータ, Katamari Damashii Nobīta[1]), is a video game in the Katamari series. It was developed by Namco Bandai Games for the PlayStation Vita and was released as a launch game in Japan on December 17, 2011 and in Europe and North America on February 22, 2012.[2]

Gameplay

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.[3]

Plot

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

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic69/100[4]
Review scores
PublicationScore
The A.V. ClubB[5]
Destructoid7.5/10[6]
Electronic Gaming Monthly6/10[7]
Eurogamer6/10[8]
Famitsu32/40[9]
Game Informer7.5/10[10]
GameSpot7/10[11]
GameTrailers7.8/10[12]
Giant Bomb[13]
IGN6/10[14]
Pocket Gamer[15]
Polygon5/10[16]
PlayStation: The Official Magazine8/10[17]
Push Square[18]
The Digital Fix6/10[19]

The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4] 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.[9]

Media Create reports did not have the game in the top 50 selling games in the week after its debut.[20] 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.[21] In a hands-on preview, 1Up.com's Jeremy Parish had similar comments, saying that the series now "continues to miss the point".[22]

References

  1. ^ The title is a play on the word 'Nobi', meaning 'stretchy'.
  2. ^ Egan Loo (2011-11-22). "Touch My Katamari PS Vita Game's English Trailer Posted". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  3. ^ Crystalyn Hodgkins (2011-11-17). "Katamari Damacy No-Vita to Roll into Otaku's Room". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  4. ^ a b "Touch My Katamari". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on 2024-04-24. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  5. ^ John Teti (2012-02-20). "PlayStation Vita Launch Games". The A.V. Club. G/O Media. Archived from the original on 2023-01-20. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  6. ^ Dale North (2012-02-14). "Review: Touch My Katamari". Destructoid. Gamurs. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  7. ^ Andrew Fitch (2012-02-22). "EGM Review: Touch My Katamari". EGMNow. EGM Media LLC. Archived from the original on 2014-12-20. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  8. ^ Tom Bramwell (2012-01-11). "Touch My Katamari Review [JP Import]". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2014-02-26. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  9. ^ a b "塊魂 ノ・ビ〜タ". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  10. ^ Jeff Cork (2012-02-14). "Touch My Katamari". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  11. ^ Jason Venter (2012-02-17). "Touch My Katamari Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on 2021-05-16. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  12. ^ "Touch My Katamari". GameTrailers. Defy Media. 2012-02-17. Archived from the original on 2014-10-26. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  13. ^ Alex Navarro (2012-02-21). "Touch My Katamari Review". Giant Bomb. Fandom. Archived from the original on 2020-06-03. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  14. ^ Tristan Ogilvie (2012-02-14). "Touch My Katamari Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2023-01-18. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  15. ^ Alan Purvis (2012-01-31). "Touch My Katamari (Import)". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  16. ^ Griffin McElroy (2012-03-08). "Touch My Katamari review: Slow your roll". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  17. ^ "Review: Touch My Katamari". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. No. 57. Future plc. April 2012. p. 58.
  18. ^ Mike Mason (2012-03-16). "Touch My Katamari Review". Push Square. Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  19. ^ James Harvey (2012-03-20). "Touch My Katamari [author mislabeled as "Andrew Phillips"]". The Digital Fix. Poisonous Monkey Ltd. Archived from the original on 2016-04-29. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  20. ^ Anoop Gantayat (2011-12-29). "PlayStation Vita Lives in the Media Create Top 50". Andriasang. Archived from the original on 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  21. ^ Heath Hindman (2012-01-09). "PS Vita Review – Touch My Katamari". PlayStation LifeStyle. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 2018-03-20. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  22. ^ Jeremy Parish (2011-12-30). "Katamari's Vita Debut Continues to Miss the Point". 1Up.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2024-08-03.