Patapon Pwns! (Page 2 of 2)

Combos are the key to victory: keep up the rhythm to maximize your troops' effectiveness

Combos are the key to victory: keep up the rhythm to maximize your troops' effectiveness

Hidden Depths

It's easy to get the impression from its early levels that Patapon is a simple game, but there's considerable complexity lurking beneath the minimalism of the controls. What keeps the endless tapping of patterns from devolving into a mind-numbingly repetitive chore isn't just the overwhelming charm of the presentation, but the variety of obstacles and enemies that fill the world. This is where all that amazing art direction reveals a surprisingly practical purpose.

The strands of wind that spin the air in the background? Pay attention to those to get a better idea how close you should get to a monster before launching your initial fusillade of projectiles. Screen bright with the desert sun? Might be a good time to unleash a rain-triggering miracle to cool the sands, lest the scorching heat dissolve your herd. Studying the graphics for subtle markers and hidden objects becomes vital not just to your success in battle, but to finding the tools you need to open new scenarios and solve tricky puzzles. Even the mightiest foe can be toppled if you take the time to study his movements and timing, and insurmountable obstacles become a breeze if you can just find the right approach.

Tools of the Trade

There's a lot to sink your teeth into from a management perspective, as well. First there's the variety of unit types that come under your command over the course of the game, from melee experts who do damage up close or adopt a shielding stance to spear-throwers, long-range bowmen, cavalry, and more. Then you have to decide which of these types are best suited to the particular mission you're tackling. For instance, melee goons are great for combat, but they'll keep you from getting close enough to your quarry on hunting excursions.

You won't just go up against monsters: you'll fight rival patapons too

You won't just go up against monsters: you'll fight rival patapons too

What's more, not all soldiers of a particular stripe are created equal. Conjuring reinforcements out of the Tree of Life requires not only currency, but raw materials of varying rarity, and the quality of your buried offering drastically affects the quality and appearance of the new recruit. On top of all that, each and every individual member of your army can be outfitted with over a hundred pieces of stat-improving equipment you'll occasionally grab off fallen enemies, from halberds and axes to helmets and shields, though an instant "optimize" function can handle such wardrobe supervision in a pinch.

The Upgrade Grind

Of course, what gives Patapon much of its depth also adds another layer of repetition, because building a well-equipped army of the caliber required to conquer all thirty or so missions demands, for example, constantly farming the same material-dropping dance of the Patapons' sacred tree again and again, and triggering that means visiting hunting levels over and over for the requisite food. This pattern is enforced by some powerful foes that you won't otherwise be able to defeat without superhuman timing and beat control, which can throw the pace of progress off enough to let frustration take root, however temporarily.

Because making it through all 30 missionsmany of them more than oncerests largely in your ability to enter an almost hypnotic state where finger-tap timing and flat-land tactics blend together, not everyone will be taken in by Patapon's unique blend of rhythm-based combat and RPG loot lust. But those who are willing to buy into the game's inherent charms will be rewarded with a memorable gaming experience that will stay with them for a long time to come. Just try and get the catchy "pata-pata-pata-PON!" chant out of your head once you've given this game a try. You won't be able to do it.

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