Patapon

Patapon (パタポン) is a video game published for the PlayStation Portable handheld game console combining gameplay features of a rhythm game and a god game. The title is created from two Japanese onomatopoeia, pata (marching) and pon (drumming). The game is presented in a cartoonish, silhouetted two-dimensional environment, 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.

Gameplay

Patapon is a video game that the player controls in a manner similar to rhythm games. The player is put in direct control of a tribe of Patapon warriors; to command the warriors, the player inputs specific sequences using the face buttons on the PSP, each representing a "talking drum", in time to a drum rhythm. These sequences order the tribe to move forward on the linear battlefield, attack, defend, and other actions. If the player inputs an unknown sequence or enters them off the main rhythm, the tribe will become confused and stop whatever they are doing. However, repeatedly entering a proper sequence in sync with the rhythm will lead the tribe into a "Fever" increasing their attack and defensive bonuses. The tribe will stop doing anything after performing the last entered command if the player does not enter any more commands. For example, some commands are square, square, square, circle (Pata, Pata, Pata, Pon.), which has them march forward and circle, circle, square, circle (Pon, Pon, Pata, Pon.), which makes them attack.

Patapon (series)

Patapon (パタポン) is a video game published originally for the PlayStation Portable handheld game console combining gameplay features of a rhythm game and a god game. The title is created from two Japanese onomatopoeia, pata (marching) and pon (drumming). The game is presented in a cartoonish, silhouetted two-dimensional environment, 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.

On July 9, 2008, a sequel was announced. The game was released on UMD on November 27, 2008 in Japan and on February 13, 2009 in Europe. The North American version was released May 5, 2009 as a digital format download from the PlayStation Store. People who reserved a copy of the game at a retail store were given a voucher to download it off the PlayStation Store. The game features new bosses and new units, a multiplayer mode and the appearance of a new tribe.

Patapon 3

Patapon 3 (パタポン 3) is a rhythm game for the PlayStation Portable and sequel to Patapon 2. It was developed by Pyramid and Japan Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. Gameplay is mostly unchanged from previous titles, but has a greater focus on multiplayer than Patapon 2. Like its predecessors, Patapon 3 is presented in a cartoonish, silhouetted two-dimensional environment designed by Rolito, now with more detailed backgrounds.

The game was first revealed during the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010 as one of the 70 PlayStation Portable games released "between now and December." It was released on April 12, 2011 in North America, April 15, 2011 in Europe and on April 28, 2011 in Japan.

Plot

Patapon 3 begins directly where the previous game ended. The Patapons finish the Rainbow Bridge and have crossed the river to a new land, where they find a large mysterious box. Despite Meden's warnings, the Patapons opened the box, then the Seven Evil Archfiends came out and petrified everyone, except the flag carrier, Hatapon. A new tribe, the Bonedeth Brigade, are determined to defeat the Patapons. Even the Akumapons from the previous game are encountered later in the game. However, hope is far from lost, for inside the box was not just the Seven Archfiends, but also Silver Hoshipon, which found the Almighty and offered to help restore some of the Patapons back to life. The first Patapon Silver Hoshipon restored was the Hero, fusing him with the Almighty and thus transforming him into the Uberhero (essentially, a stronger version of Hero), augmenting his powers.