This game is probably the best $20 I've spent in a while.
The game at its core is a real-time strategy game with RPG trappings. The object is to lead the tribe of Patapon to the end of the earth, out of exile and to "gaze upon IT" as they say. The journey is broken up into stages of varying types. Sometimes, you'll just be hunting in the wild for food and kaching (the game's currency), while other times you'll be battling huge monsters or the rival Zigaton tribe. The "story battles" you can only play once, but others, by and large, you can go revisit any time you desire. The monster bosses can also be replayed, and they increase in difficulty and reward each time, allowing you to test yourself against your favorites even as the game stretches on. A nice touch.
What makes the game unusual is that this is all carried out with rhythm game style mechanics. In order to give orders to your Patapon army, you must play a four-beat drumline in rhythm with the music. To help you out, most of the game's HUD (including the borders of the screen) pulse with this beat. The more times you successfully give orders, you increase your combo. The higher your combo, the better your Patapon will perform, until you reach FEVER. With a zealous cry, the music will kick into high gear and your force will become truly devastating. The longer you keep the beat, the better... some of the game's bosses can be rather challenging, and keeping tabs with the action without losing the pulse can be tough, especially when you're trying to pay attention to a frantic battle in the midst of hypnotic music and joyous chanting.
In this regard, the game is an artistic achievement. For how gruesome the actual combat might seem, the game has all the trappings of its cute cousin, Loco Roco, with cel-shaded cyclopean warriors and colorful bosses. I find myself enjoying fever mode not only for the enhanced combat ability of my squad, but also for the wonderful sounds and colors. It's a very pretty game, and you'll want to keep playing just to see everything the game has to offer.
In between all the battles, there's a small amount of micromanaging that tactics RPG veterans would be familiar with. You'll be tasked with spawning new warriors and outfitting them with the equipment you've found on your journeys. It doesn't take too much time, though... often I find myself satisfied with what the "optimize" function gives me. You can also play small rhythm minigames in order to net yourself some extra resources, and they are fun, if a little simple and repetitive. After the first few tries, I really only found myself playing them when I needed something, which is ok. The core game is so much more entertaining anyway.
If I could find any fault with this game, its that the kaching rolls in pretty slowly, especially in the beginning. Raising an army is a big drain on your resources. The only way to get more kaching is through battles, and even then it can roll in slowly. In practice, it seems the best way to do this is to go hunting, which are admittedly the least exciting stages of the game, if only because the animals you hunt put up little resistance. It sometimes feels like the game is artificially lengthened in this way. You can only get new equipment from battling other tribes as well... and you can't repeat those stages. In this way, if you feel obsessive enough to have an optimal force right away, the game can turn into a bit of a grind. It's got a fair amount of that RPG repetitiveness to it overall.
Sure, its got elements of a rhythm game, but there's no direct reward for being good at it in the way that you might play DDR or Guitar Hero. It's a strategy RPG style game first and foremost, and fans of rhythm games too might either really get into the system or scoff at its simplicity. It's just implemented in such a unique way, it really brings this absurd cute little tribal tale together. Sometimes you'll forget yourself and feel like your button taps really do drum your army into a frenzy, a cute little eyeball tribe driven by music to escape exile on the edge of the world. It's all so much fun. That being said, be sure to play the game with headphones... the PSP speaker is pretty weak, and you definitely need to hear it both play it and enjoy it. I don't always have the luxury of blasting cute music all through the room when I'm on the go ;-)
Another thing that bugs me about the game is that, with the exception of creating new forces, all micromanaging must be done from the mission preparation screen. If you want to arrange your forces, you must go and choose a mission first. You can always back out after making your changes, but it seems kindof weird. Especially since you must disband units in order field new, upgraded ones. I got used to it, but it still seems somewhat misplaced. A minor gripe, though.
The Verdict
Still, this game probably isn't for everyone. It's somewhat repetitive in practice, even if there is plenty of cool stuff to see. In order to assemble your dream army and prepare for the game's firmest challenges, you'll have to play some of the less interesting levels over again in order to get the resources you need. It's a side-scrolling strategy game before its an action title or a rhythm game, as I see it frequently mis-labeled. Those buying it expecting it to be a portable Rock Band might be underwhelmed by the comparatively simple rhythm-based control scheme.
Also, this game is infectiously cute sometimes... macho gamers might be put off by the bright colors and child-like chanting of the Patapon. One look at the game's cover could have told you that, though.
Patapon is one of the few truly unique PSP games that I can really, whole-heartedly recommend. It's just so stylish, hypnotic, and addicting. There's no portable game in recent memory that even compares, and I even find myself playing it at home, when my attention could be held by my other game systems. The fact its half-priced makes it even easier to recommend.
In the sea of games that are merely ports, spinoffs, remakes, and standing on the shoulders of the greats, Patapon feels like something unique. For hours after I'm finished with the game, I find myself mumbling "PATA PATA PATA PON" to myself as I walk, as if I were crazy. The game isn't this infectious for nothing.
+Merging of rhythm mechanics and strategy RPGs is executed as flawlessly as could be imagined
+The game oozes with visual style and impressive sound design
+It's only $20 retail
+Gathering resources and building your army can be quite addicting
+The infectious chanting and music buildup is strangely absorbing
-The game can be quite repetitive sometimes, especially when you need to hunt to make money
-Rhythm elements might be too simple for hardcore rythym fans
-Game might be too cute for the mature crowd