Parents' Guide to Katamari Damacy Reroll

This classic puzzle game returns to roll up fun on a new console, introducing more gamers to this world melding entertainment. Katamari Damacy Reroll is a remastered version of 2004's classic puzzle game, Katamari Damacy, where players are tasked with remaking the stars and planets in the sky after they've been accidentally destroyed. But you're not gathering comets or burned out stars; instead, thanks to the Katamari ball that you're always moving, you're gathering an odd mix of items. Initially, you'll pick up small objects like paper clips, thumbtacks and orange slices, bat as you gather more and more, the ball gets much larger, allowing you to pick up bigger items as well. By the end of the game, you'll be rolling up buildings, boats, and even continents. It's very quirky and strange, but that's part of the game's charm, which will keep you playing a stage over and over to make larger stars or improve on your collections.

But this isn't a leisurely gathering of items – you're given a short time limit to grow your Katamari before creating a replacement star or planet. That adds a bit of pressure to each play area, as you try to instantly figure out what you can collect, what is too large for your Katamari, and what possible hazards may propel you in a different direction. This can also be a bit challenging as well, because you're sometimes fighting against the controls to smoothly control the massive ball. The Switch controls here don't really help; the analog sticks are iffy and the motion controls, while unique to the system, aren't any better. In fact, playing with the Pro Controller is the best way to maneuver through the environment. But the control issues aside, the charm of the original game returns. Sure, Katamari Damacy Reroll's not the most graphically intense title, even with remastered visuals, but its true appeal is in its addictive music and gameplay. If you're looking for a fun puzzler, you should consider rolling this game into your collection.