Patapon 2, like LocoRoco 2, is another excellent sequel to one of the best games on the PSP.
Patapon 2 takes place after the events of the original. After being away for a while, the mighty one named Kami (that's you) comes back to rejoin the Patapon after their ship got demolished in a storm at sea. One patapon kept the "Pata" drum with his life and after hearing the "Pon" from Kami, he realized that the mighty Kami had returned. After rejoining, the Patapons encounter a new enemy, and they're more fierce than their last. A tribe known as the "Karmen". What could they be up to? Well, the Patapon know that it's something evil, and it's up to you to lead them to stop it.
The gameplay is similar to the last game. The symbol buttons are your war drums. Triangle is "Chaka", circle is "Pon", X is "Don", and square is "Pata". Pressing each button to the beat in order will issue a command. An example would be if you want your patapons to move, press square 3 times then circle to the beat, which sounds like "Pata-Pata-Pata-Pon". Another would be to attack your enemy. Circle, circle, square, circle, which is "Pon-Pon-Pata-Pon". The gameplay is pretty simple, but you must keep an eye on your patapon. Rhythm is the key to victory, and if you use it wrong, you will lose the fight. That's the key to the game.
You also have minigames at your disposal after you obtain caps in certain missions. These caps are the caps of musicians and friendly citizens in Patapolis, which can help you on your journey. You have the trumpeter known as Pon Pakapon with his dancing tree, Kom Kipon with the mountain baby, and many others. These guys can help you obtain items easily without going into battle, just as long as you have the right material or Ka-ching (the currency in Patapon and Patapon 2). There are also rhythm minigames during battle if you want to summon juju, which are legendary powers the mighty Kami can summon, but you also obtain these later.
If you have enough materials at your disposal, you can create more patapon for your tribe at the mater tree, the tree of life. You can obtain these during battle or in the minigames in Patapolis. While you're there, you can level up your patapon so that they can be more powerful. There are many classes to choose from, but you have to obtain those along the way. The mater tree can also revive your fallen comrades after you've obtained their caps during battle. The good thing is you will not be penaltied after you decide to quit the mission or lose the battle, but you will not obtain the items you've gathered during the fight.
Last but not least is the Patapon portal. You have a hero patapon at your command, which is an addition to the game, who can walk into the portal along with other hero patapons (controlled by the computer except moving) to carry eggs to pedestals. You must obtain the eggs first during boss battles. Defeating the bosses in the portal will lead you to the pedestal and perform a ritual, which is another rhythm minigame. You will not be penaltied if you fail the minigame. You will still obtain what is inside the egg as your prize for defeating the boss. The item in the egg can either be another hero patapon or a mask for your hero patapon. After performing the ritual, if you collect enough parachiri, which is substituted for ka-ching in the portal, you can open chests which contain items. Leftover parachiri will be turned into ka-ching. The more remaining parachiri, the more money you acquire.
The game's graphics are similar to the original. It's simplistic and pretty, and it's fitting and perfect for the PSP system. Like LocoRoco 2, you don't need too much graphics in order for a game to be good. There are exceptions to that, but that's another story.
The sound is the important thing here in Patapon 2. The game has a variety of original music. From tribal music to upbeat jazz, Patapon 2's soundtrack is flippin' amazing. You will be tapping your foot to these tunes while you're playing. It also helps you keep in rhythm.
The game will definitely hold you for about 15+ hours, which is great for a PSN download for the PSP, and like LocoRoco 2, it's at a good $20, which is a great bargain deal. Overall, if you haven't played Patapon or are a veteran of the original and want to kick it up a notch, Patapon 2 is your game of choice, and this game proves that the PSP is still going in today's gaming market. The recession is not bringing this puppy down.