Patapon 2 Review - Beat your tribe

Mike Bantick
Tuesday, 24 March 2009 04:12

Entertainment

Yes rhythm games are all the rage, but Rhythm Platform games?  Patapon 2 picks up much of the original’s charm, expands the options and tests your finger cadence and tactical brain at the same time.

When the original Patapon arrived on my doorstep, my PSP was in the “shop” and as such, got overlooked.  So my first exposure to the Patapon’s was with this sequel.

Patapon 2
	Developer	Pyramid Games
	Publisher	Sony
	Rating	G
PSP

I will have to revisit the original as this game and its cute character driven game-play, simple as it may be on the surface, demands a little fore-knowledge to achieve success.  For the world of the Patapon’s is unlike any others in video game land.  Players of the original can import save games into the sequel, which is a nice touch for the loyal.

So the way it works is thus; you are the Patapon god, and after a disastrous attempt to cross the great sea you must help rebuild the tribe and take your believers to the ‘ends of the earth’. 

But to do so involves communicating with your flock in the only language they understand from a deity, through the rhythm of drums.

There are three types of basic Patapons to command, some are better at defence, others carry melee or ranged weapons, and new to the series are Heropons, robust individuals with special powers including the ability to resurrect and to change Patapon ‘class’ between missions.

The Patapons are represented on screen in a pleasing silhouette fashion, mostly black with just the occasional hint of identifying colour.  Likewise enemies and structures are rendered in intricate black 2D flatness against a swirling colourful  and layered, yet likewise 2D background.

In the foundered Patapon village players have access to the  Evolutionary Tree, a place where Ka-Ching (earned during missions) can be spent to grow new and evolve existing Patapons.  It can get quite complex, with Patapons growing in stature and acquiring new abilities and resistances according to gods wishes (that’s you remember!)

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