TGS hands-on: Patapon
by Jem Alexander 
{ Sep 26th 2007 at 5:30PM }
Stepping into the Patapon enclosure a Sony booth attendee talked us through the gist of the game. We couldn't understand some of the Japanese, though we did enjoy it whenever she sang instructions to us. "Pon pon pata pon ... pata pata pata pon." Lovely.
Your tribe of one-eyed worshippers are required to go from one end of the level to the other (with two levels in the demo on the show floor). The only method of getting them there is to command them to act by performing different beats with the circle and square buttons, which correspond to the sounds "pata" and "pon", respectively. By stringing combinations of these two sounds together your minions will perform different actions.
For the demo two combinations are available. "Pon pon pata pon" will make your tribesmen attack anything that is in front of you whilst "pata pata pata pon" moves them further through the level. The buttons must be pressed in rhythm and, when linked together without error, add to your combo meter.
The demo suggests that the game gets much deeper, with more commands to enter, interactions with the environment and characters to join your tribe. Our team of three spear throwers was expanded with the addition of a sword-wielding cyclops which proved much stronger in battle. Additions such as these can potentially add so much to the tactical nature of the game.
We still have many questions about Patapon with regards to its expandability and feature list. Currently there's a danger of the game becoming a bit repetitive. Despite that, we're intrigued to see more and look forward to doing so in the near future.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pspboi @ Sep 26th 2007 5:50PM
just talked to target and they said they had the black psp slim o.O anybody else get a black slim from target? I live in california by the way.
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TheGuy @ Sep 26th 2007 6:36PM
*Awaits ban-hammer to be dropped on Sophie*
As for the game, it sounds very promising. Implementation is key though, so I guess we'll have to wait and see on how this game turns-out.
ryan @ Sep 26th 2007 8:19PM
@pspboi
My Target (Columbus, OH) has black slims as well. I thought they were street dated for Oct. 5th?
Compyadmin @ Sep 27th 2007 9:53AM
The PSP library is looking very promising for the last quarter of 07. Here's another!!
Hashbrown_Hunter @ Sep 26th 2007 8:51PM
Now THIS looks like the next LocoRoco.
daniel @ Sep 26th 2007 8:56PM
holy crap!!!! i live in southern texas, i gotta go check my target pronto!!!! (pray that there is some:))
LoyalistRevolt @ Sep 27th 2007 12:15AM
As expected going to be great!
BlindElf @ Sep 27th 2007 2:32AM
@ ryan: dammit, I'm within quick driving range of Columbus, you might have just made me call off work tomorrow.
I want the new PSP (black) with a hurtin'
Also, this game looks wonderful...I think the real strength of the PSP (versus DS) is it can do casual/innovative games like Loco Roco, Patapon & the Q? games (Lumines, Gunpey, Every Extend Extra) plus it can do full-on console-style games at PS2 quality...I think if Sony marketed this thing better and dropped the price to $150 it would (still) become what we know it IS to a wider audience...
ryan @ Sep 27th 2007 9:00AM
@BlindElf
If you decide to go to Columbus tomorrow, it's the Lennox Target by the OSU campus.
Jay Lee @ Sep 27th 2007 12:31PM
LOL! BIG GIANT CRAP ATTACK!
I can't wait for this. It looks cool. :) I like these sorts of games.
Alien @ Sep 27th 2007 1:14PM
Man I want this game so badly ... it actually inetersts me at this point so much that I can call this somwhere around my 5th most wanted PSP game ( up from around 30 :P ) .
LoyalistRevolt @ Sep 27th 2007 7:11PM
I thought this was going to take a more pikmin game play.
Lee @ Sep 28th 2007 6:45AM
I'm going to be importing my PSP Slim, I want to get the Japanese purple PSP, so for me its going to be a long wait. I have to save up all the shipping fees and Canada customs duty. :( But its cool that they are out now. :) I saw the Daxter pack today in the store in the mall and I was amused. I originally wanted the Daxter pack, but I saw the purple PSP and fell in love. Must Have. O_o