PSP 25-in-25: Patapon

Pon Pon Pata Pata! No, this is not the ramblings of a prattling baby, this is how you play Patapon, perhaps the best game on the Playstation Portable system. The games slick presentation and hybrid rhythm/RTS style has practically won the hearts and minds of many players around the world, once again proving the age old-adage that “less is more” in some cases for video games.

Patapon was developed by Japan Studio, the same group that has co-developed games such as LocoRoco, Ape Escape, and Demons Souls for Sony. Patapon is essentially a mix between Taiko Drum Master and Swords and Soldiers. Controlling a tribe of black and white creatures known as Patapon, you, as their deity, march them to overthrow the oppressive Zigoton Empire the only way you know how; by drumming their way to victory.

It is hard to really translate how the drumming mechanic works in Patapon. Essentially every action your tribe of Patapons take is controlled by the beat. So you get a sequence of four beats you need to drum in order for them to attack, defend, or move forward on the linear battlefield. If you miss a beat, your Patapon get confused and disoriented, leading to them being killed by an onslaught of enemies. You also get a bonus for entering rhythms in sequence. After successfully hitting the right notes in sequence, your combo meter grows to the point of being in a “fever” state, giving your Patapons bonuses to attack and defense.

Pata Pata Pon Pon!

Patapon is rich in its sound design. The tempo created by the drumming is often accented by the war cries of the Patapon themselves, chanting to the beat of the drum and exclaiming their intentions in speech bubbles when fighting enemies on the field. At first it comes off as slightly unusual and annoying, but over time it becomes a powerful tool to help players match their beats of the drum to the rhythm of the battle. It is really a very intuitive design; one that becomes addictive as time goes by.

Visually the game borrows stylistic cues from LocoRoco; featuring a stylish, alien world with quirky characters you control. This time around we see an emphasis on monochromatic colors in the foreground, black, white, and sometimes red and blue, along vibrant orange and purple backdrops. It gives the game another strong visual style that is both eye-catching and different from what we typically see on the PSP.

For me, Patapon is the best game on the PSP. Its simple design leads to one thing that many games on the system don’t have; it is fun to actually play. Sometimes a deep and engrossing RPG can be fun, sometimes a hardcore action title, but for me, the rhythm/RTS hybrid that Patapon and its two PSP sequels create showcase that finding fun on a handheld can be something you never expect. And that is the mark of a good game, if you ask me.