King of All Cosmos Request
Roll up the universe, one object at a time.
Katamari Damacy is a 2004 action puzzle video game developed and published by Namco for the PlayStation 2. The game's plot concerns a diminutive prince on a mission to rebuild stars, constellations, and the Moon, which were inadvertently destroyed by his father, the King of All Cosmos. This is achieved by rolling a magical, highly adhesive ball called a katamari around various locations, collecting increasingly larger objects, ranging from thumbtacks to human beings to mountains, until the ball has grown large enough to become a star.
Quick Facts
- Character
- King of All Cosmos
- Role
- Quest-Giver; Non-Playable Character
- Affiliation
- Royal Family of the Universe
- Species
- Alien Royalty
- Status
- Active
- First appears
- Katamari Damacy (2004)
Lore & Background
In a drunken stupor, the King of All Cosmos destroys all the stars, Earth's Moon and other celestial bodies in the universe, except for Earth itself. He charges his five-centimeter-tall son, the Prince, to go to Earth with a katamari and collect enough material to recreate the stars and the Moon. A side-story follows the Hoshino family: the father, an astronaut, is unable to go to the Moon after it is wiped out, and the daughter, Michiru, senses the Prince's work. Ultimately, the family, along with their house and town, are rolled up in the katamari used to remake the Moon.
Reader's Guide
The player controls the Prince as he rolls the katamari around houses, gardens, and towns to meet parameters set by the King. The player uses the two analog sticks on the DualShock controller to control direction. Objects smaller than the katamari stick to it; larger objects are hurdles. Colliding at high speed may cause objects to fall off.
The game uses size, weight, and surface area to determine if an object sticks. Animals such as cats will chase the katamari, knocking things from it, but once the katamari is large enough, it scares them away. The typical mission is 'Make a Star,' where the player must grow the katamari to a specific size within a time limit. Other missions have specific collecting rules.
A score attack mode and eternal mode (unlocked by creating an exceptionally large katamari) are available. Each level features two secret items: a royal present containing a wearable object, and one gift includes a camera for in-game screenshots. In two-player mode, players compete in a small arena to collect the most objects within three minutes; they can ram each other to knock items off.
Did You Know?
- Designer Keita Takahashi struggled to pitch the game to Namco's superiors, eventually seeking student aid from the Namco Digital Hollywood Game Laboratory to develop the project for less than 1 million.
- Katamari Damacy received critical acclaim, becoming a surprise hit and winning several awards. Its success led to the creation of the greater Katamari franchise.
- A high-definition remaster was released by Bandai Namco Entertainment for Windows and Nintendo Switch in December 2018, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in November 2020, and Google Stadia in September 2021.
- The game's story, settings, and characters are highly stylized and surreal, often both celebrating and satirizing facets of Japanese culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the character leading the King of All Cosmos campaign?
This refers to the tiny alien royal who serves as the main protagonist and player character throughout the franchise. He belongs to the Royal Family of the Universe and first appeared in the 2004 original game.
What are the King's powers or abilities during gameplay?
His primary ability is commanding a sticky ball known as a katamari to roll up objects of increasing size. This rolling action allows him to construct new stars and restore cosmic structures for his people.
How does the story begin in the original Katamari Damacy?
The plot kicks off when his father accidentally shatters all the stars while attempting to fix a lightbulb. This catastrophic accident forces the King to take action by rebuilding the night sky from scratch.
What happens if the King fails his mission to rebuild the stars?
If he does not meet the size requirements, the universe remains broken without a functional night sky for inhabitants. The campaign relies on him succeeding in each level to progress the narrative forward.
More in The Prince's Quest & Campaigns
Elsewhere in Katamari Damacy
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