Developer Interlink has assembled a cult following among PSP owners that purchased a copy of LocoRoco two years ago. Since then, many of us have wondered what new wacky game the studio would have in store for us. Patapon is that game, and after spending an extensive amount of time with it, we strongly believe that Sony has got yet another spectacular third party developer under its sleeves. Patapon is arguably this generation’s Parappa the Rapper, a game that will be remembered for years to come, and go down as the most innovative take the rhythm genre has seen, thus far.
Patapon follows a rather basic formula, albeit one that seems confusing when being explained, but I’ll try anyways. The Patapon are an ancient tribe of eye-ball creatures, and believe it or not, they’re rather cute. Their simplicity makes up for their cuteness, as Patapons are made up of an eye with legs and arms. Just take a look at the screenshots, and you’ll see what I mean. Controlling the Patapons is done unconventionally, as you’ll have to enter timed drum beats, all of which feature their own command. So for instance, if you want your Patapon army to move forward, you enter a specific rhythmic command; if you want to attack, you enter another command; if you want to move back, there’s a command for that too, and so on.
As you move through the missions, you’ll pick up spoils of war, such as weapons, shields, materials, and key items. Equipping your Patapon army with the latest hardware will be a necessity, and the game has an optimize option handy for immediacy. You’ll be able to equip your hardware before each mission, as well as set up your Army formation and their position. To diversify the game, different Patapons have different skills, some are archers (long-distance), some throw and jab with spears (mid-range), while others wield axes (close-combat), and so on. Furthermore, throughout your campaign, you’ll run into a host of legendary warriors that’ll lend a hand to you. These Patapons are long gone, but their spirits have returned to help you. After fighting alongside one of these Patapons, you’ll be able to revive them by visiting the game’s Tree of Life.
Patapon doesn’t really fit into any specific genre, so it’s hard to pick one for it. The game is wonderful mix of rhythm, action, and even role playing. The story of Patapon revolves around the group of warriors, as they struggle to regain their honor and continue to lead lives without violent interference from enemy warriors. The Patapon army has grown weak, and they’re losing their morale. That is where you come in, the All Mighty Patapon Kami and your war drum, and lead the Patapon army to victory. Think of it this way, your role in Patapon is the role of the Patapon God.
It’s a little tough to describe Patapon’s gameplay, but it’s extremely easy to say that this is an absolutely fantastic game. You’ll move through 30 missions, all the while putting together a Patapon army, and collect over 100 weapons and items to use. Patapon is the type of game that’ll make even the worst day imaginable feel much brighter. It’s a very uplifting title that puts a smile on your face every time you play it, largely thanks to its charming characters, and rhythmic gameplay.
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