http://gamevideos.com/video/id/13132
...what the hell is this? All I know it's a new game for the PSP and I'm curious about it.
Patapon--an odd PSP game
-
Ngangbius
- Posts: 2061
- Joined: Wed May 26, 2004 2:06 am
- Location: Cleveland, OH
-
DackAttac
- Posts: 886
- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:37 am
- Location: Albany, NY / Boston, MA
- Contact:
-
Majestic Joey
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:30 pm
-
Ngangbius
- Posts: 2061
- Joined: Wed May 26, 2004 2:06 am
- Location: Cleveland, OH
Re: Patapon--an odd PSP game
Pardon the several months old bump, but this game had a lot of good buzz around it sense it's Japanese release last December, and the PAL and NA demos(which are different from each other) are available on PSN to download and in UMD format when you preorder the game at Gamestop. I picked up the demo at GS since I was planning on picking up the game anyway and I wanted to get the demo-exclusive Spear of Protection. Here's a more recent JP commercial of the game in action.
And my impressions of the demo, C&P from another place I go to:
--First off, you control a band of creatures called Patapons who worship you as a god. Your job is to build up your army units by using the loot you gather in levels and mini-games to create and equip new soldiers, and so they can journey to their Nirvana, the Endland(something like that). The game itself is a cross between a RTS and Rythym game.
--The main controls of this game are the face buttons. Each button is a different note and hitting a certain combination of button to the timing of the background drums. For example Pata(Square), Pata(Square) Pata(Square), Pon(Circle) allows your unit to advance forward. Pon(Circle), Pon(Circle), Pata(Square), Pon(Circle) allows your unit to attack. You get combos for every successful imput of the command and continuous combos allow your unit to go into fever mode where their attacks become more powerful and I'm assuming better loot and money. As a nice bonus, the music changes to something more complex the longer you can keep up with the combos. Press and incorrect sequence of buttons and you have to start your combo chain all over again with the addition of making your Patapons succeptable to the enemies' counterattack.
--You can create different kinds of Patapon in their encampment by using the materials you find by hunting or killing enemies. You can gain new weapons and armor the same way to equip your Patapon soldiers. There are various Patapon warriors with each of their own stats, modes of attack, strengths and weakness. Spearmen, the Patapon you start with, throw spears and they are best used for hunting and mid distance attacking. Warriors are more powerful and are best used for close-ranged attacks, but are poor choices if you want to hunt. Archers are less powerful than spearmen and have a weakness against fire, but they become significantly more powerful during Fever Mode and are excellent for far-range attacks. You can assemble and equip your army, a max of 18 Patapons before each level to assure your success.
--There were around 6-7 levels in the demo. The first was a basic tutorial on how to move while the second taught you how to hunt for food. The rest you attack enemy Patapons with the last level being a boss fight against a large fire-breathing dino(it's also the fight where you get the demo-exclusive weapon, Spear of Protection).
--The only mini-game that's in the demo is where you sing along with a sentient tree by blowing your horn to the same notes as the tree. The tree gives you materials, depending on how good was your performance.
--The Graphics are pretty dang nice. As mentioned, the simplicity is remincant of Loco Roco, and the Patapons themselves have a little personality which are conveyed by their speech bubbles and eye. The music is catchy, really catchy--mainly dominated by tribal beats.
--One downside, is that you can't pause during the level by the usual means of pressing 'Start'(it takes you back to camp without gaining any prizes, I'm assuming). So you need to use the PSP's sleep mode or take a breather between levels in the Patapon camp though the levels I've played so far were fairly short so the lack of a proper "Pause" button wasn't much of a bother.
--The game is only $20! A Bargin! I reconmend it!
And my impressions of the demo, C&P from another place I go to:
--First off, you control a band of creatures called Patapons who worship you as a god. Your job is to build up your army units by using the loot you gather in levels and mini-games to create and equip new soldiers, and so they can journey to their Nirvana, the Endland(something like that). The game itself is a cross between a RTS and Rythym game.
--The main controls of this game are the face buttons. Each button is a different note and hitting a certain combination of button to the timing of the background drums. For example Pata(Square), Pata(Square) Pata(Square), Pon(Circle) allows your unit to advance forward. Pon(Circle), Pon(Circle), Pata(Square), Pon(Circle) allows your unit to attack. You get combos for every successful imput of the command and continuous combos allow your unit to go into fever mode where their attacks become more powerful and I'm assuming better loot and money. As a nice bonus, the music changes to something more complex the longer you can keep up with the combos. Press and incorrect sequence of buttons and you have to start your combo chain all over again with the addition of making your Patapons succeptable to the enemies' counterattack.
--You can create different kinds of Patapon in their encampment by using the materials you find by hunting or killing enemies. You can gain new weapons and armor the same way to equip your Patapon soldiers. There are various Patapon warriors with each of their own stats, modes of attack, strengths and weakness. Spearmen, the Patapon you start with, throw spears and they are best used for hunting and mid distance attacking. Warriors are more powerful and are best used for close-ranged attacks, but are poor choices if you want to hunt. Archers are less powerful than spearmen and have a weakness against fire, but they become significantly more powerful during Fever Mode and are excellent for far-range attacks. You can assemble and equip your army, a max of 18 Patapons before each level to assure your success.
--There were around 6-7 levels in the demo. The first was a basic tutorial on how to move while the second taught you how to hunt for food. The rest you attack enemy Patapons with the last level being a boss fight against a large fire-breathing dino(it's also the fight where you get the demo-exclusive weapon, Spear of Protection).
--The only mini-game that's in the demo is where you sing along with a sentient tree by blowing your horn to the same notes as the tree. The tree gives you materials, depending on how good was your performance.
--The Graphics are pretty dang nice. As mentioned, the simplicity is remincant of Loco Roco, and the Patapons themselves have a little personality which are conveyed by their speech bubbles and eye. The music is catchy, really catchy--mainly dominated by tribal beats.
--One downside, is that you can't pause during the level by the usual means of pressing 'Start'(it takes you back to camp without gaining any prizes, I'm assuming). So you need to use the PSP's sleep mode or take a breather between levels in the Patapon camp though the levels I've played so far were fairly short so the lack of a proper "Pause" button wasn't much of a bother.
--The game is only $20! A Bargin! I reconmend it!
-
Senbei
- Posts: 800
- Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2005 6:45 pm
- Location: Art school!
- Contact:
-
Ngangbius
- Posts: 2061
- Joined: Wed May 26, 2004 2:06 am
- Location: Cleveland, OH
Re: Patapon--an odd PSP game
It is man, it is. Which is why the wait for the full game on the 27th seems so looooong. :-(
I've been experimenting with the demo and I found that combining different materials give you a stronger version of the type of soldier you want. For example your basic spear patapon is made by combining a plain stone and tree branch. A stronger green version of the spearman is made by combing a plain stone and cherry tree branch. He has better stats than the regualar solders, but he can't equip any helmet that I know of that allows him to increase his HP.
I've been experimenting with the demo and I found that combining different materials give you a stronger version of the type of soldier you want. For example your basic spear patapon is made by combining a plain stone and tree branch. A stronger green version of the spearman is made by combing a plain stone and cherry tree branch. He has better stats than the regualar solders, but he can't equip any helmet that I know of that allows him to increase his HP.