A shiny pearl of innovation
Let's say it right from the start: this game is AMAZING.
You lead the Patapon tribe in their effort to break free from the evil Zigatons. You play the role of their god and you lead them by rhythmically beating on different drums (mapped to the PSP face buttons) to give them orders.
It starts out like a simple rhythm game but after a few stages, its strategic nature surfaces as you are presented with various choices of units, equipment and divine powers to face the different challenges the game throws at your little ... ehrm ... weapon-carrying-roundish-things.
These challenges can be one of three kinds: hunt stages, where you hunt animals to get money, food and materials to create new units, feed your tribe and live prosperously ... hmm ... delete last one; battle stages pit you against the Zigaton army and by beating the opposing soldiers, you can find new equipment for your Patapons. The last kind of challenge are the boss stages, where you are confronted with a big, nasty monster and your tactics will be heavily tested since a single blow from a boss could wipe half your army if not parried or evaded.
You can replay all hunt stages and boss stages anytime you want and you'll definitely want to, because hunt stages let you harvest food and materials to fortify you army and bosses level up each time you defeat them, so their drop gets better each time you face them.
The game is deep in the choice of which unit type you bring to battle (you can take up to 3 unit types with you, chosen from 6 total), how you equip your units and, ultimately, how you lead them into battle. Being a rhythm game, you have to constantly listen to the beats and synchronize your orders if you want to succeed in the most difficult battles.
The game is really fun and make you want to see what's next or face a boss again and again to try new tactics, equipment or simply have some fun. It's a real pity you can't play online; an army Vs army mode would have been really appreciated. At least they could add a "showcase" mode, in which you could send pictures of you strangely assorted army.
The game has none of this but it still feels like fresh air in the portable gaming scene.
It's a game that still has a place in my "now playing" list and the fun it offers I hardly find in other, more recent, games.
I'd definitely give this game a try if you're unsure you could like it or not. If you hate rhythm games, don't sort this game out from scratch: try the demo and maybe you'll find love =)
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