[PSP] Patapon 2 Review

[TrackZero]

Patapon 2 Review

Title: Patapon 2
Platform: PSP
Developer: Pyramid, Inc.
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc.
ESRB: Everyone
MSRP: $19.99 (PSP)
Editor: Andrew 'TrackZero' Hodder

What's Hot: Beautiful graphics, great music, rhythmic action and a solid RPG system hidden underneath a stylish veneer. With tons of content to discover and units to upgrade, there's a wealth of replayability available.

What's Not: As with most RPGs, there's definitely a degree of grinding required at various points during the story to strengthen your units and progress. Due to this being in part a rhythm game, you'll require headphones or a location to play with the volume turned up

Only a little over a year since the first Patapon was released (thanks to very high sales numbers), we've been offered a sequel to this innovative title. Just in case you somehow missed the first, I'll get the basics out of the way. Essentially you're controlling a little army of cute soldiers composed of different professions (archers, shield soldiers, etc.). You command this army by drumming out orders to an ever present tempo. As an example, to order an attack is circle-circle-square-circle (PON-PON-PATA-PON). Between each command is an equal amount of time or breather room to watch the effects of your command in the battle for cues of what your next move should be. Tactics change based around the situation. Sometimes you're fighting an opposing army, tearing down buildings and fortifications blocking your way, fighting a boss monster or a myriad of other situations.

The story of Patapon 2 continues from the first, with your tribe setting ashore in a strange new land. They find themselves running into indigenous tribes, a variety of wildlife and even demons. As surprising as it may be to first time players, story elements do come into effect often as you make your way through various areas. With set narrative points delivering conversation between characters, as well as discussion back at your tribes camp.

When not out exploring new lands and hunting, your Patapon tribes camp is where you'll spend plenty of time upgrading your units and unlocking materials to do so. At the tree of life, you'll combine your combat spoils to grow your army and decide how to evolve them. Working essentially as a rather large talent tree, you can spec out your units to best work in an upcoming battle (for example, evolving fire resistant abilities). As you progress through the various stages, you also unlock many new mini-games back at camp, which allow you to earn material for upgrading your patapons outside of combat (as well as converting that loot back into money if you need it).

The world map allows you to return to previous areas or push forward to unlock new ones. You will find yourself going back quite often though, either to hunt for upgrade materials or to get better armor and weapons from rival tribes. However, to mix things up the developers have random weather changes across the various areas, as well as boss monsters who become more powerful over time. The weather can play a significant effect on some battles, so allowing you to see them on the map before you choose where to go gives you time to plan ahead. For example, when you know you're going to hunt animals in one field and there's lightning storms present, you can bring along your snow juju (magic). The animals may be struck by lightning and run (costing you easy kills), but you can quickly build up and cast your snow spell, causing the lightning to disappear and animals to become frozen in place, as well as possibly having new animals appear that only come out in the snow. Planning is key before going into any stage, not just for weather but for the task at hand. For example, hunting animals requires range, so you'll want your army to consist of archers and spear throwers.

New to Patapon 2 is the hero unit. He accompanies your army and often plays just as large a role as the rest of your units combined. You see, the hero unit can be changed into any class of unit before heading out to an area. His special ability is also linked to what that class may be. For example, if you set him to the cavalry class and get him worked up to use his special ability in combat, he'll infinitely be charging forward doing massive damage to any ground units in his way (and will continue to do so, as long as you stay in tempo with the beat and don't retreat). The damage the hero units can inflict or absorb can and will turn the tide of battle if you use it properly. As well, the hero unit will often resurrect a short time after death (assuming they're not eaten). I had a number of times where I reached the end of a stage with only my banner waver and hero units left alive.

Combat varies between simple walk and attack to in-depth strategy. Combat while hunting or fighting other unit troops often comes down to simple attack/defense/move forward commands and is more dependent upon the composition of units you've chosen for your army more than any other factor. That said, all of the boss encounters require you to watch the stance and position of the boss for clues as to their next move. Oftentimes you'll need to make your Patapons retreat, go on defense or jump in the air to dodge a devastating attack. The bosses (and there are many) are where the real fun of Patapon 2 is found, which is probably why there's far more of them added since the first title.

Graphically there's little that needs to be said. The artwork style works well, all the important details in combat are easy to keep track of and there's plenty of fun nuanced details found in the world if you keep your eyes open. The stages themselves always pop with flavour and set a nice tone, especially when combined with the background musical scores. Regarding the acoustics, the background music merges seamlessly with your Patapons own singing and talking alongside your drum beats giving the commands. Just as with the first game, you'll often find yourself still hearing "PATA-PATA-PATA-PON" being called out in your head, hours later.

Patapon 2's weaknesses are also its strengths. Being a game requiring rhythm to be a key component of the gameplay, you need to hear this title to catch all the cues. While the screen is surrounded by a pulsing border to help keep you in sync, trying to do so without audio is not a fun affair. So you'll need to either be able to make some noise or be prepared to play with headphones on. The other issue is all the content because there's so much of it! With a massive number of talent tree evolution points to skill up across a variety of classes, each requiring increasing numbers of rare drop components, it'll take some amount of grinding to see it all. Mind you, that's not required to enjoy or beat the game, but you can expect some degree of grinding to gear/level up your troops at various points during the game. To be fair, that's par for the course with most RPGs, however due to Patapon 2's presentation, many people won't be aware of the depth of background number crunching going on. Though in many respects, having the large amount of things to do may be an asset rather than a detriment. Just be sure to approach this game knowing that it's a long, fun haul, but it meant to be broken up through many gameplay sessions over time.

Beyond just the main game itself, Patapon 2 comes with a 4-player local ad hoc game mode. This mode allows players to take the eggs which drop off boss monsters and carry them into battle with friends. Upon completing the stage, the egg will hatch awarding rare loot. While it's a shame that this mode cannot be played online, we are presented with two other good factors. First, this multiplayer mode can be performed solo, with CPU units taking over for the other players. Alternatively, if none of your friends have the game for their PSP, that's not an issue, as the game will send the client to them and anyone can play multiplayer for free. Also of note, fans of the first game will be delighted to find all the content you unlocked in the first carries over into the sequel (who says all that hard work was for nothing?). As well, whatever you earn in the Patapon 2 demo also carries over into the full game.

Be aware that Patapon 2 is, for North America, a digital download from the PSN store. No UMD disc (unless you want to import from Europe). If you buy it off the store shelf, you're just getting a case with a download code inside. But hey, some people like their cases. Just be aware the game will require 361MB space on your memory stick.

All in all, Patapon 2 delivers. With it's own unique mix of style, rhythm action combat, tons of stuff to discover and a strong backbone of RPG statistics and loot, it's a ride you won't soon forget. Adding in the co-op multiplayer questing and the fact that this game can always be available from your memory stick, it's game that also provides a fun time with friends. Just keep in mind that like candy, you don't want to have too much Patapon at once, it needs to be delivered in doses. That said, any PSP owner would be remiss not to have this one in their library.

As an extra with this review, I'll be giving away a free copy of the game (PSN download code) randomly in this thread. Please post and tell me your favourite Patapon 2 drum beat (example: PON-PATA-PON-PATA)!

Score: 4.5 out of 5 CoGs


Drew says, "Patapon 2 is a great game and works extremely well on the PSP for its format. All the best elements of design come together in this, as a portable title it fits well with the platform and gives content that will last the owner for a number of months to come. If you're an RPG or a rhythm action fan, this is a must own title."

[frederec]

Your MSRP seems out of whack (it's $20, not $60, last I checked). I wanted to get this when it came out, but my budget shrank right around that time. So for consideration, my favorite beat might be Chaka-Chaka-Pata-Pon.

[Gorvi]

I still need to finish the first game, but I loved what I played of the demo with the improvements they made. I'll import the European UMD eventually.

[Suave Peanut]

I bought the first one some months ago. I definitely ought to put some more time into it.

PON-PON-PATA-PON!

[frederec]

Originally Posted by Gorvi

I still need to finish the first game, but I loved what I played of the demo with the improvements they made. I'll import the European UMD eventually.

Huh. I thought I heard the Euro's weren't getting a UMD. Amazon doesn't seem to indicate that it's an empty box, so maybe I'll have to import it eventually too.

[Gorvi]

Originally Posted by frederec

Huh. I thought I heard the Euro's weren't getting a UMD. Amazon doesn't seem to indicate that it's an empty box, so maybe I'll have to import it eventually too.

Yeah, it came out in Europe as a UMD release. I was kinda second guessing myself since you mentioned that, but Wiki backs me up on that for what it's worth.

[Gerbs]

I'm only a few hours in but so far I like it. I miss the rhythm more often than I would like, perhaps using headphones will help with this.

Also I totally read this review.

Edit: Hey Canadians, you can get this game for 9.99 from June 30th - July 2nd.

[Scull]

random post to win is random.

Joseph Stalin squeezes the pickled CD-ROM.

Also I read the review and it sounds as fun as the first game.

[TrackZero]

Originally Posted by Scull

random post to win is random.

Joseph Stalin squeezes the pickled CD-ROM.

Also I read the review and it sounds as fun as the first game.

But yet you didn't read the need for a drum beat.....

[Zagrash]

It almost certainly has to be Chaka-Chaka-Pata-Pon, because all of the cooks at my fiance's work use "ChakaChaka" as a euphemism for sex...makes playing the game that much more exciting

otherwise it would probably be the standard Pata-Pata-Pata-Pon!

[Panthera]

I need to finish playing through the first. I'm a sucker for rhythm games. Pon Pon Pata Pon!

[danhoo]

Nice review.

I'd have to go with the gold standard: PATA-PATA-PATA-PON!

[cawblen]

PON PON PATA PON!!!!!! i honestly never thought i'd like the game despite my interest...someone bought the first one for me and i fell in love.

(i just can't play it in public places because i look extremely silly trying to keep up with the rhythm)

[Southpaw]

My PSP should be delivered today, and this sounds like it could be a fun way to break it in.

I'll throw out a PATA-PATA-PATA-PON, a dash of PON PON PATA PON, and a smattering of Chaka-Chaka-Pata-Pon, but I'm not sure what they even mean, let alone which is my favorite.

[Rogue_hunter]

I still need to finish the first game, gotta keep grinding so I can better armor my guys. PON-PON-PATA-PON is my most commonly used drum beat, gotta keep those attacks up!

[Mr.Green]

I will win this game because I DESPISE it!

[Smoof]

I don't have a favorite drum beat...mostly because I never played Patapon and because I want to, even if it's the second one.

[Ravenlock]

PON PON PATA PON. Can't go wrong with the classics.

[RandoM51]

Originally Posted by Gerbs

I miss the rhythm more often than I would like, perhaps using headphones will help with this.

Headphones make a big difference in Patapon, I would expect the same to hold true with Patapon 2.

[Spigot]

I'm still trying to decide if it's worth slogging through the latter part of Patapon 1 before digging into Patapon 2 or not. I know some stuff carries over and part of me wants to see how Patapon 1 ends, but it's just so mind-numbingly frustrating at times. Sadly, I've had Patapon 2 sitting on my memory stick since the day it went live or else I'd actually try to win this contest.