Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Me & My Katamari stays true to the series’ core conceit: you guide the tiny Prince as he rolls up a sticky ball, the Katamari, across imaginative landscapes. Using the PSP’s analog nub and face buttons, you’ll collect anything smaller than your current mass—pebbles, pencils, pets, even small buildings—watching your Katamari swell to absurd proportions. The responsive controls make it easy to weave through tight spaces or take sweeping arcs around open fields.

While the basic roll-and-grow mechanic will be familiar to Katamari veterans, this installment spices things up with mission objectives tailored to the island animals’ requests. Some critters ask you to roll up “as much age” as possible, rewarding you for snagging living things. Others demand fuel to send rockets skyward, pressing you to scoop up cans, barrels, and even engines. These varied goals keep each stage feeling fresh, rewarding both speed and strategy.

Adding a new layer of replayability, Me & My Katamari supports four-player wireless battles. Compete to amass the largest Katamari in a timed match, or ram your rivals once you’ve grown large enough—turning multiplayer sessions into chaotic free-for-alls. The camaraderie and competition breathe fresh life into classic levels, making the PSP title a portable party must-have.

Occasionally, the PSP’s hardware limitations show when the screen is packed with hundreds of objects, leading to minor slowdowns. However, the design cleverly mitigates frustration by offering forgiving camera angles and generous time extensions for clearing key objectives. For fans seeking bite-sized challenges or a quick pickup game, the flow of objectives and time limits strikes a satisfying balance.

Graphics

True to the Katamari aesthetic, Me & My Katamari boasts a vibrant, almost surreal palette. The cel-shaded visuals pop on the PSP’s screen, with bold colors and whimsical textures that transform mundane items—like coffee mugs and rubber ducks—into eye-catching collectibles. Environments range from tidy living rooms to sprawling parks, each brimming with tiny details and hidden surprises.

Despite being a portable title, the game maintains surprisingly steady frame rates during most stages. In monster-sized rollouts when hundreds of objects cling to your Katamari, minor dips can occur, but they rarely hamper your momentum. The polished presentation ensures that every new item you absorb is crisply rendered, preserving the tactile joy of watching your ball of stuff grow.

Character models—particularly the Prince, his cousins, and the King of All Cosmos—retain their charming blocky geometry, complete with expressive animations. Short cutscenes showcase the royals in their trademark flamboyance, while environmental flourishes like twinkling water droplets or drifting leaves add life to each level. Overall, the graphical fidelity punches above its weight for a handheld device.

Story

Me & My Katamari opens on a delightfully absurd note: the King, Queen, and Prince plan a seaside holiday, only to have a rogue tidal wave wash away the homes of the island’s animal inhabitants. In true Katamari fashion, the King responds by ordering the Prince and his cousins to roll up the world and reassemble new floating isles for their distressed friends. It’s an over-the-top premise that fits the series’ nonsensical charm.

The narrative unfolds through brief, tongue-in-cheek interludes rather than lengthy cutscenes, keeping the focus squarely on gameplay. Still, each rescued animal and completed task feels meaningful within the game’s whimsical logic, as you watch new landmasses materialize from the growing Katamari. The tone is lighthearted, offering plenty of goofy humor—especially when the King proclaims his admiration for your handiwork.

While the story doesn’t venture into deep emotional territory, it provides a delightful framework that ties together disparate stages and objectives. Fans of the series will appreciate callbacks to past games and the recurring cosmic royalty, while newcomers can simply revel in the sheer absurdity of rolling up entire worlds to play island architect.

Overall Experience

Me & My Katamari delivers the series’ trademark addictive gameplay in a compact, portable package. Whether you’re aiming for a personal best in single-player missions or sparring with friends via wireless multiplayer, there’s a constant thrill in watching your Katamari balloon to ridiculous sizes. The varied objectives and time limits ensure a steady stream of “just one more try” moments.

The eclectic soundtrack—featuring beloved tracks from Katamari Damacy and We Love Katamari—adds another layer of charm, with jaunty rhythms that perfectly complement the on-screen chaos. Sound effects are equally playful, from the clink of rolling silverware to the exultant cheers when you clear a mission’s top requirement.

Minor drawbacks, such as occasional frame hiccups or cramped camera angles in tight spaces, do little to dampen the overall joy. For portable gamers seeking a whimsical, fast-paced experience, Me & My Katamari stands out as one of the PSP’s most inventive and fun party titles. It’s an island-building extravaganza that proves rolling is truly a universal language.

Retro Replay Score

7/10