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Me and My Katamari has finally rolled onto the PSP, albeit in a technically chopped manner. The good news is that despite the limitations of the PSP, the fun gameplay and spirit of Katamari remain, making it a very worthy addition to its PS2 cousins. While it certainly doesn't add anything new to the formula, fans of the series will find themselves right at home.
The scenario goes like this: rolling from one obscenely strange situation to another, it is up to you, the Prince, to restore the ocean's islands for various animals after your father's rowdy vacation (which resulted in a tidal wave). While the themes of these islands may vary superficially, the gameplay is exactly what you'd expect from a Katamari game; you'll spend most of your time rolling up everything in sight, with no regard to strategy. This is exactly the kind of game the PSP needs more of (see Loco Roco), perfect for both short bursts of play and long, involved sessions. The countless unlockables and wireless multiplayer (however basic it may be) should keep you busy for a while once you've finished the main game, although you may get bored fairly quickly with the limited amount of stages.
Ironically enough, the supposedly awkward controls aren't really the main problem; you'll be rolling your katamari around within minutes, just like on the PS2. Where the real issue lays is within the actual hardware of the PSP. Resulting from the its inability to handle epic stages of katamari rolling, the larger levels are broken down into smaller pieces (usually two), with loading in-between, so rather than giving you the satisfaction of rolling up that huge katamari over time, the game merely shafts you with multiple mini-stages combined into one "level." This doesn't make the game bad, by any means, but it does take away from the cool factor of having katamari in your pocket.
Later in the game, however, it becomes apparent that these mini-stages are recycled to a fairly noticeable extent, although it's nothing major. There are a thousand ways you can roll a katamari, so you probably won't be paying too much attention to your surroundings, especially since they look so nice. It's just that a little variety would've been nice.
Luckily, the great gameplay and production values keep it afloat. The in-game dialog is wackier than ever and the music alone will keep you playing for hours on end. Seriously, I have yet to hear a better soundtrack, or at least one of such variety. Needless to say, this is another game for which headphones should be a requirement.
I can give all the praises in the world to Me & My Katamari, but when it comes down to it, all that really matters is whether or not you're willing to spend $40 for the portable version of a $30 (or $20, if you want the original) game. Katamari fiends will undoubtedly dig in regardless of the price, but it just might not be worth it for those of you with empty wallets. This is the last Katamari game we'll see for a long time (possibly forever), so if you want some new rolling action, this will be your last chance.
Now all there is to do is wait for Keita Takahashi's next crazy creation! Just know that it won't be for the Wii.
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