Pata-Pata-Pata-Pon. This may actually be the most infectious sound in gaming, though LocoRoco would probably say otherwise. Patapon was an innovative title released on the PlayStation Portable last year that caught a lot of people off guard, boasting a highly accommodating pick up and play style and equally attractive retail price.
Taking the front spot as the Hero, Patapon has you building up an army of loyal followers through an on-going rhythm in order to bring glory to your people – it’s a tired and tested formula, but it works perfectly. One year on, and Sony are prepping the sequel for its eagerly anticipated release next month. This time around, however, expect some substantial changes thrown in to the mix.
The biggest change that’s going to draw in people is the multiplayer component. With a ton of customizable options, you’re given the opportunity to modify your own personal Hero character, who will then fight alongside three other Heroes. While this mode is only supported via Ad Hoc, it’s still going to provide a solid experience between you and your buddies. The new game mode throws the four of you into the campaign to take on the enemy one after the other. Unlike in the single-player mode, you won’t be able to utilize your army; however, you are able to find stronger equipment to beef yourself up a tad.
Furthering the innovation aspect is the induction of actual vehicles. No longer do your tiny-circled friends have to rely on their feet to get across a treacherous environment. They’ll just hop into the nearest vehicle and off they go. This is a perfect addition to a title that’s already dong so many things right. If there isn’t a vehicle nearby, make sure you bring your flying Patapon with you to war. These new recruits fly on gigantic birds and let their spears rain down upon the enemy from the skies. Believe us, no Patapon is cooler than this.
In addition to the above, the team has also added a highly user-friendly evolution chain in the Create-a-Patapon area of your home menu. Instead of just randomly evolving your recruits, you’re able to now see what path they take in order to maximize what kind of army you’re trying to build. Furthermore, I’m sure all who’ve played the first game disliked how when you went back into past missions, it was just like a safari hunting trip. That’s all changed. Instead of just being thrown into a valley with the elephants and the birds, the level will consist of everything it did the first time around.
With an expected retail price point of $19.99 USD, you’d be hard pressed to find a reason not pick this up. The development team has added in more than enough new content to make it a worthy addition to your collection. However, if everything above hasn’t sold you yet, make sure to note that Patapon 2 also offers double the missions, double the Patapon and double the items. Just think – if this were an infomercial, you’d already have the phone in your hands.