The Katamari series is known for its quirky yet fun tank control. But I've always had issue with two particular actions which I find are awkward to pull off consistently: dash, and to a lesser extent, quick turn.

I have made a custom controller configuration for the first entry in the series, Katamari Damacy Reroll, to mitigate the discomfort 5 years ago. I'm doing same with its sequel We Love Katamari Reroll+ (WLKR+) now.

Apply either of two configurations from the community layouts section, according to your preferred in-game control scheme: "usual stuff" or "simple." (You may need to select "Show All Layouts" if they don't show in the list.) Don't forget to reset in-game key/button mapping to default if you have modified it. Done!

Read on if you don't have any idea what I'm talking about. We are going to 1) enable Steam client's controller support if necessary then 2) import the controller configuration.

There are myriad ways to enable Steam Input, Valve's answer to game controller issues. For brevity I will present one quick and easy way which will only affect WLKR+.

(You can refer to Valve's own documentation when in doubt.)

1a. Open Properties window via context menu.



1b. Check the Controller tab. A blip indicates that particular type of controller (like Xbox controller in the picture) is detected by the client.



If the status text next to it says "Enabled, general setting" like this, you don't have to do anything as Steam Input is already active via global client setting. Go to step 1d.



1c. If it's blank like this on the other hand,



Change the override option to "Enable Steam Input."



It will enable Steam Input for every kind of controller.



This override setting affects only WLKR+, leaving other games in your library alone.

1d. Close the window. Done!

Unfortunately the GUI route is rather deeply buried within needlessly obfuscated layers of panels. Again I will present a simpler way, via external browser.

Paste either one of the following URL (without quotes) into your favorite browser, according to your in-game control preference:

For "Usual Stuff" control:

"steam://controllerconfig/1730700/3231194097"

For "Simple" control:

"steam://controllerconfig/1730700/3231186196"

A Steam configurator window with an image of gamepad should pop up on the desktop.



Choose "Apply Layout."



Done!

Once in-game, don't forget to reset keybinds to default via options menu if you have changed it. This config assumes default keybinds.

Left Trigger: Quick Turn
Right Trigger (Hold): Dash

Triggers may do some weird stuff outside of actual gameplay (e.g. Prince/Royal Look) as there is no way to tell the in-game context from the gamepad side. Fortunately they don't seem to get in the way too much.

WLKR+ may randomly activate and assign keyboard control to the second player which unfortunately breaks this config (which requires keyboard control for P1.)

To check, press the right trigger in the stage select screen. It's fine when the player 1 character started to do pseudo-headbang.

If RT affects the player *2* character OTOH, you know the game has taken away the keyboard for P2. If that happens, you can retake control by swapping the controller order (via Steam overlay -> Controller settings -> Reorder controllers.) Or you can simply disconnect and reconnect your preferred controller*.

(*) By Windows' twisted logic a controller connected last is the one deemed "first." Go figure.

Big thumb up to Bandai/Namco for rolling out another Katamari to PC. Please keep the good times roll!

Maybe except a daft way of packaging. Was it really necessary to tack cosmetic DLCs to the special edition or to the soundtrack DLC, and not sell them separately?