17. Katamari Damacy (PS2)
Probably drug inspired. Definitely the best thing ever to come out of the so-so company that is Namco-Bandai. In Katamari Damacy you play as the diminutive Prince whose father, the King of All Cosmos, got hammered and erased all the stars. So he sends you to Earth to roll everything up with a sticky ball so that he can put them in outer space and set them on fire to replace said stars, or something. It's hard to say what's most memorable this game: the insane premise, the addictive as all fuck gameplay, the maddeningly happy music, or the art style that's simply oozing with charm. I'm actually going to go with none of the above. The thing about this game that really sticks with me is the massive amounts of emotional abuse the Prince has to endure. The King of All Cosmos is possessed of a cold, detached demeanor and has a hell of a mouth on him, and he just loves to heap scorn on his son. There's literally nothing that the Prince can do to win his father's approval (at least not with my rather meager Katamari skills guiding him). The King = my mom confirmed?
