The Katamari franchise has received a new mini-game from a Bandai and Google partnership. While the series will be getting some attention soon due to the upcoming We Love Katamari remaster, it has been some time since the games have made an appearance in the industry. The last unique title to release was Touch My Katamari, which came out in 2012. However, there was Katamari Damacy Reroll, which was a remake of the original Katamari Damacy and has been available on multiple consoles since 2018.
Many fans have been waiting for a new Katamari experience. Although the upcoming remaster may fill the void that modern players have been waiting for, it's not quite a new experience, as it is mostly the old game in fresh new paint and with modern quality-of-life features. To tide things over until its release, Bandai and Google have teamed up to present a small Easter egg, which is a great callback to the Katamari franchise.
Curious fans can type Katamari in the Google search bar and a small, animated ball will appear on the right side of the screen. Clicking on it will create a small widget that allows users to roll a ball over the current webpage. Words, images, and other on-browser items can be swept up by the ball, allowing it to grow in size. It's not quite a full experience, but there is no limit to the browser Easter egg. Users may roll to their heart's content as long as there are elements to roll over.
Many people think the Katamari line of games has some of the best tank controls to ever exist in the gaming industry. The ingenious idea of using analog sticks to control the ball is akin to controlling an RC car. However, the Google version keeps it simple and opts to use a mouse or just the arrow keys to move the ball. One could theoretically just use the game to pass time while waiting for a different browser tab to load, and it would be as fluid as using the attached mouse, trackpad, or even the touchscreen, for those using their phones.
Meanwhile, Google is no stranger to gaming widgets and partnerships. The company often teams up with different brands to produce unique and entertaining games and widgets in a web browser. Such is the case with several Google Doodles, which provide a unique form of interactivity to help pass time on the internet. While no one expected the Katamari widget release, it doesn't feel out of place. Hopefully, the small partnership between the two companies can come up with other interesting ways to provide a unique experience on the web.