Patapon is one of those PlayStation franchises I never got around to playing. It wasn’t because the series was on PlayStation Portable. I played the heck out of that system. No, the main reason I didn’t play Patapon until this review was due to it being a rhythm game. I have nothing against the genre, mind you. I’ve just never found it particularly compelling. Plus, I kind of suck at them. After sinking several hours into Patapon 2 Remastered I can’t say I’ve changed my mind on rhythm games. However, I can at least appreciate why this series is so beloved by its fanbase.
Though a rhythm game, Patapon 2 has a story. Taking place shortly after the events of the first title, Patapon 2 sees the titular Patapons stranded at sea while on a journey to a land called “Earthend.” Finding themselves on a mysterious island, the strange-looking creatures must band together and use the resources available to them in order to survive. During their journey, the Patapons will encounter deadly monsters and rival tribes. They’ll also unlock the island’s secrets.
In order to march, attack, defend, power up, retreat, and use magic, you’ll have to tap the four face buttons in time with the music. The four corners of the TV blink in time with the music, giving rhythmically challenged players a bit of help. Things start simple enough when it comes to the number of commands at your disposal. Before long, you’ll have six different commands to utilize. Though it can become overwhelming at first, memorizing specific rhythms eventually becomes second nature.
The trick to playing Patapon 2 effectively is performing specific actions (like attacking and defending) while keeping in time with the music. Mastering the controls early is essential. If you manage to keep pace, you’ll enter “Fever” mode. This makes your Patapon troops stronger, faster, and more resilient. Being in this state makes certain encounters much easier. Given the game’s increasing difficulty, being in Fever mode is crucial.
Patapon 2 has some light RPG elements. In-between missions, you’ll find yourself in Patapolis. While at your home base, you can upgrade troops by using materials found during missions. You can upgrade individual troops’ levels and even unlock new units. Upgrading is a straightforward affair. If you have the right amount of materials, you’re good to go. You can even instantly equip troops with the best equipment available by pressing “optimize” in the menu. You’ll need to line up troops in specific configurations depending on the kind of mission you’re embarking on. All of this happens at base camp.
Like an RPG you’ll hit a point where you’ll have to grind. Some encounters are simply too difficult from the outset. When you hit one of these walls, you’ll need stronger troops with better equipment to press forward. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I appreciate how grinding lets you enjoy more of the game and allows you to further perfect your rhythms. On the flip side, grinding becomes a chore when you want to progress the story. Considering how grinding is a core component of Patapon 2, it’s something you’ll just have to deal with.
Patapon 2 Remastered’s stylized graphics look stunning. If you have a PS4 Pro, you can enjoy the game in 4K resolution. Every single second of the game is worthy of being a screenshot. The only drawback is with cutscenes, which retain the blurry quality they did on PSP. Thankfully, these cinematics are few and far between. But when they pop up they mar what is an otherwise crisp and clean looking game.
The biggest point of contention with this remaster is its lack of a calibration option to offset input lag. This is something Patapon Remastered suffered from as well. While you can remedy this by playing with headphones, it’s strange that a rhythm game wouldn’t have a calibration option.
If you liked the original on PSP, you’re going to dig Patapon 2 Remastered. It retains its whimsical charm but comes with the added bonus of crystal clear HD graphics. If you’ve never played a Patapon game I’d say this is a good introduction to the series. I can now see and appreciate why people like it so much. It is certainly a unique and silly experience. Considering how glib things are these days, this is a perfect title to unwind with.
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