Patapon

Infobox VG
title = Patapon


developer = Pyramid / Japan Studios cite web|url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2007/12/21/pata-me-pata-you-patapon-news/|title=Pata-me, Pata-you, Patapon news|accessdate=2008-02-29|date=2007-12-21]
publisher = Sony Computer Entertainment
genre = Rhythm game, Real-time tactics, God game
modes = Single-player
released = vgrelease|JP=December 20, 2007|EU=February 22, 2008|NA=February 26, 2008|AUS=February 28, 2008
ratings = vgratings|CERO=A|PEGI=7+|ESRB=Everyone|OFLCA=General
platforms = PlayStation Portable
media = UMD
requirements = 3.71
homepage = [http://www.jp.playstation.com/scej/title/patapon/] nihongo|"Patapon"|パタポン is a video game published for the PlayStation Portable handheld game console combining gameplay features of rhythm games, real-time tactics and God games. The game is presented in a cartoonish, silhouetted two-dimensional environment designed by Rolito, and features the player acting as a deity who commands an army of caricatured miniature tribal creatures by beating traditional talking drums. The game was developed by Pyramid and produced by Japan Studios, the same studio that developed and produced Loco Roco.

Gameplay

The player controls a tribe consisting of infantry, ranged troops and cavalry. Initially, the player's forces consist of only a few spearmen named Yaripon but as the game progresses, more units, greater warriors and more powerful weapons can be obtained. The army is commanded by beating rhythm combos on four different talking drums, each mapped to one of the PSP's four control buttons. Different combos tell the player's group of Patapons to do various things such as advance, attack, retreat, and defend. Keeping the rhythm going and not missing a beat puts the army in Fever mode, which increases its combat abilities.

The game and story is unfolded through a number of missions of increasing difficulty. As the player progresses, new opponents are introduced and more drum rhythms are unlocked. Between missions, new troops can be spawned by spending currency, called 'ka-ching', and various resources obtained during the missions to create stronger Patapon troops. Throughout the game a player can also edit troop formations and acquire new weapons.

tory

The Patapon were a flourishing people until they were defeated by the evil Zigoton tribe. The player takes the role of their god and uses sacred war drums to direct the Patapon tribe to take back their land. As the story progresses, the Patapon also embark on a journey to Earthend to look upon "IT," a sacred object whose appearance and purpose is unknown to the tribe. The enemy of the Patapon tribe is the evil Zigoton Empire, a powerful tribe of circular creatures with red irises (as opposed to the white-irised Patapon) that have oppressed the Patapon since their fall from power. After fighting various battles against the Zigotons, guardian creatures such as dragons, giant worms, golems, and the ultimate evil known as Gorl, the Patapon come to Earthend, the ocean, and see the rising sun, which they assume to be "IT". However, unfulfilled by the anticlimactic end of their journey, they come to the conclusion that "IT" is, in fact, not the sun and to realize their destiny. They must cross the ocean and continue their quest. The final scene shows the Patapon and Zigoton tribes working together to build an ark to cross the ocean.

Units

There are various types of Patapon that can be integrated into the player's army that are unlocked throughout the course of the game. There are six unit types in the game. The player may use a maximum of three units. This makes unit selection and formation a key strategy aspect of the game.

The Zigoton army is a direct parallel to the Patapon army and are named in an identical fashion, e.g. a Zigoton Kibapon is called a Kibaton.

During the 'birthing' phase at the Tree of Life, players can use different combination of ka-ching and raw materials they gathered during individual hunting missions, minigames, and other means. Higher quality or rare ingredients coupled with higher ka-ching costs results in higher quality base units.

Playable demo

On January 25, vgy|2008. a playable demo was announced by the Patapon's associate producer Chris Hinojosa-Miranda via the official PlayStation blog. He revealed that the demo would be available for those who pre-ordered a copy of "Patapon" through GameStop. It has since been released as a downloadable demo for those in Europe and North America through the PlayStation Store. [cite web|url=http://store.playstation.com/store/product.vm?id=UP9000-UCUS98721_00-PATAPONPSNDEMO08|title=Patapon Demo|accessdate=2008-02-23] Progress made in the demo version of "Patapon" (including the acquiring of a special demo-only weapon, The Spear of Protection) is transferable to the full retail release so players can resume progress from where they left off in the demo. [cite web|url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/01/25/patapost-friday-demo-pon-pata-details/|title=Patapost Friday: Demo-pon, Pata-Details|accessdate=2008-02-23|date=2008-01-25]

equel

On July 9, 2008, a sequel [cite web|url=http://store.playstation.com/store/product.vm?id=UP9000-UCUS98721_00-PATAPONPSNDEMO08|title=Patapon Demo|accessdate=2008-02-23] was announced, and is said to be in production. It will be released in the winter of 2008 in Japan, although no North American or European release dates were revealed. It will feature new bosses and new units, a multiplayer mode and the appearance of a new tribe.

Reception

VG Reviews
IGN=9.2
GSpot=9.0
1UP=A
Game Informer=8.75
X-Play=4 out of 5
EDGE=8/10
Metacritic=87%
IGN rated the game 9.2, and considers "Patapon", "not only one of the best rhythm games ever released, it's also one of the best titles for the PSP." [cite web|url=http://psp.ign.com/articles/852/852601p1.html|title=IGN: Patapon|accessdate=2008-02-25|date=2008-02-15] GameSpot gave "Patapon" a 9.0/10 citing its excellent art design and innovative gameplay. [cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/psp/action/patapon/review.html|title=Gamespot: Patapon|accessdate=2008-02-24|date=2008-02-26] 1UP.com gave the game an A, noting its understated strategic depth despite the game's faults. [cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3166685|title=1UP: Review: Patapon|accessdate=2008-02-29|date=2008-02-26] Metacritic shows an overall rating of 87/100. [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psp/patapon?q=patapon|title=Metacritic: Patapon|accessdate=2008-03-14|date=2008-02-26]

See also

*Bust a Groove, 1998 music/fighting game with similar gameplay.
*Kuchi shōga, a Japanese phonetic system for pronouncing the sounds of drums.

References

External links

* [http://www.us.playstation.com/patapon/ "Patapon" US Website]
* [http://www.jp.playstation.com/scej/title/patapon "Patapon" Japanese Website]
* [http://www.patapon-game.com/ Official Flash game to promote the release of Patapon in Europe, New Zealand and Australia]
* [http://www.rolitoland.com/ Site of the main artist Rolito]