People may brush off Patapon as a niche title but this is a game everyone should experience and for only $20 you have no reason to let this game slip by you.

 

    Every once in awhile a game comes out that is so unique in it's gameplay and style that it is bound to develop a cult following and stand out in your gaming memory for years to come, games like Katamari Damacy or Rez and now, Patapon. If you wanted to put Patapon into a specific genre you would have a hard time doing it. Patapon has elements of an RPG and a RTS game with some rhythm added in and presented as a side-scroller. All these parts a blended together perfectly to make one of the most unique and entertaining games ever made.

 

    The Patapons were once a great and powerful tribe of warriors. At the start of the game we find the Patapons defeated by the Zigoton army. With no hope left, the Patapons pray to their god for help. That's where you come in. You play as the mighty Patapon god who communicates to your worshippers through battle drums. With a restored sense of hope the Patapons set out on their journey to travel to Earthend where they hope to gaze upon "IT", but the evil Zigoton army stands in the way.

 

    Patapon has the most unique gameplay seen in a long time. Each of the four face buttons corresponds to a different drum. Square is Pata and circle is Pon. The drums are used to issue different commands. PATA-PATA-PATA-PON marches your army forward and PON-PON-PATA-PON signals them to attack. You get more drums and other commands such as defend or retreat later on in the game. Hitting the drums in time with the rhythm builds your combo meter. Once the meter reaches ten you go into "fever mode" where your speed increases and your attack doubles. Once in "fever mode" you can summon magic which is done through a short mini-game. Sticking to the rhythm and gaining fever mode is the key to success in Patapon.

 

    But Patapon isn't senselessly banging on drums. The strategy involved in Patapon is surprisingly deep. Knowing what commands and when to issue them is the key to surviving, especially during one of Patapons many awesome boss fights. Other things like weather also affect your attacks. If the wind is blowing the opposite way your arrows won't travel as far or if it's raining enemy senses are dulled. Combat is paced very well. When you input a command the Patapons chant it back giving you a moment to plan your next move. The combat works so well that you often find yourself in a zen like state even in the midst of a heated battle. Defeated enemies drop weapons or materials that can be used to make new Patapons.

 

    Patapons gameplay goes even further once you have the ability to make your own Patapons. There are six classes of Patapons, each with their own weapons, such as Yaripons, who throw spears or Kibapons which ride on horseback. The strength of the Patapon you create depends on the quality of materials you use. You can get materials from fallen enemies or you can play one of the five minigames. Higher quality materials yield higher quality Patapons. All together there are 42 different Patapons to be made but you can only take three of the six classes onto the battlefield. Before you ship your army out you can equip them with weapons and armor that you've collected or you can press triangle and the game will automatically equip your army with your best weapons.

 

    The visuals are as unique as it's gameplay. Anyone who has played Locoroco will immediately recognize the style. The enemies look great and the Patapons look so cute as they viciously throttle their enemies. An important factor in a rhythm game is music. Patapon is filled with a variety of music, each mission has it's own track, so you won't get tired of hearing the same stale beat. The battle drums blend in seamlessly with the background music and the Patapons singing is adorable. Without a doubt the music in Patapon is infectious and it's beats and rhythms will be tattooed into your brain for years, and that's a good thing.

 

    An important feature for any hand held game is it's pick up and play ability. Most of Patapon's 33 missions are five to ten minutes long  so you don't have to dedicate much time to feel like you accomplished something. Don't have five minutes? Play one of the five minigames for instant gratification or go out on a quick hunt. I took me about 16 hours to get to the ending of Patapon, which was very satisfying because it leaves room for a sequel.  The only replay value in the game is going back and fighting old bosses and building up your army but the bosses are still fun even the fifth or the sixth time around. No matter how much time you have to spare you'll have something to do in Patapon.

 

    Patapon does miss the beat in a few areas though. For one you can't pause during a mission which is annoying but the missions are usually short enough that it doesn't ruin the experience. Playing the minigames and hunting for materials s fun at first but later on it starts to feel like a chore. Getting good weapons and materials depends entirely too much luck and often you feel at mercy to the luck of the draw. The game has no multiplayer which is unfortunate because it would be great if you could take your army online, maybe in the sequel. But these are minor things and hardly ruin what is a truly great game.

 

    A completely unique and original game that blends together different genres into an unforgettable experience. The game's visuals and music are truly one of a kind and will be remembered forever. There are some minor hitches that don't ruin the game but are noticeable, they can easily be hammered out in the sequel. If you have a PSP and $20 dollars you must play this game.

 

 

OVERALL: 9.5/10