Patapon 3

Patapon 3 is a rhythm based game with many RPG elements added for lots of customizable game play. The Patapons, friendly little people that you control, must be lead across side-scrolling, two-dimensional levels by pressing the correct button combinations to a continuous four-note beat. If you’ve ever played the previous Patapon titles, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you haven’t had that privilege, then take my word for it: the rhythm takes a little bit of time to get used to, but makes the game much more unique and enjoyable.

The story in Patapon 3 picks up right where Patapon 2 left off. The Patapons were turned to stone by evil entities that they let out of a chest at the end of the second game, and are awakened at the beginning of the third. You play as a spirit attached to the Hero Patapon. The majority of the game is spent tracking down these sources of evil to return things to normal. Story-wise there’s not a whole not going on. The characters are eccentric and a bit funny, but the true appeal of Patapon 3 lies in the game play.

The graphics look great for a side-scrolling game. The art takes a little getting used to, but seems to suit the game very well. The Patapon creatures kind of look like little tribal tattoos until you work out the anatomy. The rich colors emphasize the simple but varied backgrounds, enemies, and equipment. Even as you change the equipment or class of a Patapon, they change their appearance and what they’re wearing. Most of the graphics look the same as the previous titles, but the new Hero Patapon stands out clearly at the front of the march. The Hero has a unique look separate from the other Patapons, which depends on its class. There are no super impressive cut scenes, but that may be a little difficult to pull off with only two dimensions.

Never will you march to war to such an upbeat rhythm as when playing Patapon 3. The background music is actually just a continuous stream of four notes, which the edge of the screen flashes in time with. These notes are what you time your button presses with to input commands. The button presses actually create the majority of the sound. When the sound is flat, you’re off beat and your Patapons perform poorly. When the sound is sharp, you’re in rhythm and your Patapons are ready to kick butt. The sound effects are mostly used to cue you in to when you’ve charged or triggered something. Otherwise, the effects are quiet so you can keep your rhythm going.

There are a variety of commands that you can give your Patapons on the battlefield. Each command is a combination of four or five button presses, and, as previously stated, the closer you are to the rhythm of the game the better your Patapons perform. The combinations are right on the bottom of the screen for quick reference. The commands seem oversimplified at first, but there are combinations and different classes produce different results. Unlike most RPG’s, Patapon 3 requires an active skill along with a combat strategy, which is a welcome challenge.

There is a wide variety of equipment to collect from chests along the way; everything from common, to magical, to rare. There is a Blacksmith to upgrade the equipment that you like, and an Armorer to sell the items that you don’t. As your Patapons level up, new types of equipment become available. If that doesn’t sound like enough customization for you, then consider that each Patapon also has a class. With each class come specific attributes and skills, which must be learned. Also, the class that each Patapon starts out with is just the base of a large tree of classes. With four customizable Patapons including your own Hero, which you choose a class for at the start, you have a great many options to help you develop your strategy.

That’s right, boys and girls. Patapon 3 is not just about getting the best equipment and leveling up the right classes. You also have to know when to attack; when to defend; when to retreat; and when to party! (Play the game. You’ll get it.) Each enemy attacks differently, and your strategy must adapt to suit your play style. You can also play with other people using just your Hero Patapon to complete tough quests in multiplayer. However, be warned that your other Patapons won’t level up with your Hero.

Whether you’re a fan of RPG games, side-scroller games, or someone looking for a different kind of game, give Patapon 3 a try. It’s a great way to spend a few dozen hours. It doesn’t have any difficulty settings, but it lends itself to replay by allowing you to choose a different class for your Hero Patapon right at the start.

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