Patapon 2

Developer(s)	Pyramid, Japan Studio
Publisher(s)	Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform(s)	PlayStation Portable
Genre(s)	Rhythm game, god game
Mode(s)	Single-player (1 player) Wifi Multiplayer (1-4 players)

Patapon 2 is a video game by Sony. It is a sequel to Patapon. It hosts a four player (adhoc/gamesharing) multiplayer mode. Patapon designer Hiroyuki Kotani has revealed that the multiplayer mode stems from the single player mode, the former of which will involve giant eggs. These eggs contain Masks for the Hero Patapon to wear, or new CPU Kumopons. To hatch the eggs, four players must defend the egg on an enemy-laden multiplayer battleground, while moving it to a special egg-hatching altar. At this altar, all players must perform a hatching ceremony, which involves playing their rhythms in synchronization to crack the egg.

A bundle has been released. It includes a silver PSP-3000 along with a 32MB MemoryStick, and the UMD version of Patapon 2. It was released in stores November 27 in Japan.

Plot

The story continues from the previous Patapon game wherein the boat the Patapon have constructed has been completed and they have set sail for new lands. On their way there, they are attacked by a kraken who easily defeats them and sends the Patapon into the ocean to be washed ashore in a strange new land where they come up against another tribe called the Karmen. Now it is a battle to defeat the Karmen and find out who is their true enemy. Early in the game, the Patapons discover a mysterious "hero" character, who wears a mask which boosts his abilities. He has lost his memory, and his true identity is hidden. Later, the Patapons fight against demons, who were summoned by the Karmen, and the "Dark One", who gave his soul to the demons for power. Gong the Hawkeye and his fellow Zigotons appear once more, to assist the Patapons against the Karmen. During the course of a game, the player learns of a legend, that the world was broken and the Patapons ruined because a Wakapon broke the "World Egg". At the second to last stage, the player finds out that the Hero character was actually the wakapon who broke the egg, and that the Karmen tribe was the Patapon's ancestral enemy. The Patapon Princess was trapped inside an egg by the leader of the Karmens, who plans to make the princess his queen. After defeating the final demon the Karmens summon, the Patapons journey to the end of a bridge, and find and break an egg. Dazzled by the light that emerges from the egg, the Patapons assume they have found Earthend. However, the Patapon Princess emerges from the egg, compliments them on their job well done, and tells the Hero that he has a new task- to restore the world and find the true Earthend. At the end of the game, the Patapons are seen working with the Karmen and Zigotons to build a bridge.

Characters

Rob Smith writes that new "characters such as the bird-riding Toripon, the Robopon with huge fists, and the magic-using Mahopon provide fresh attack types and original personalities for your almighty ruler to manage." In an interview attached to the same article, Hiroyuki Kotani adds that all "the new characters ended up...attractive from a fundamental gameplay standpoint, so I picked the ones I liked the most." When asked, "From all the characters...is any one of them your personal favorite?" Kotani answered,"I love Gong, the leader of the Zigotons. In fact, I love him so much you can probably expect to see him in Patapon 2." Gong is seen in the Patapon 2 demo, with a new helmet and his Zigotons not far behind him.

The new antagonists are the Karmen and the Akumapon, the former being the natives of the continent while the Akumapon is an evil tribe led by the dark hoshipon, a shadow star that commands the legion with 3 generals. The Zigotons acts as a temporary foe against the Patapon when Gong wants revenge for their defeat earlier but chose to help the Patapons to defeat the Akumapon.

Units

A notable change is the inclusion of 3 new units for each group and another way to access new patapon classes. The first new unit is the Toripon (originally meant for the first game) which is a flying, bird riding unit which throws spears from higher ground and can add more firepower to the Patapon ranged units as well as health but is vulnerable to anti air weapons. The Robopon is a brawler unit which takes advantage of the Charge Song which gives it a rock throwing attack with devastating results and can wield two fists. The third and final new unit is the Mahopon while, like the Megapon which is generally ineffective at first, has different staffs which offer different blessings to the group with the godly stave allowing a devastating chain lightning attack on the opponent, however they have low HP and the most basic of them can't wear helms. The other six units are Yaripons spear wielding Patapons, Tatepons the basic sword and shield warriors, Yumipon Patapons with bows and arrows, Dekapons: giant Patapons with large club like weapons, Kibapons: horse riding Patapons with lances diffrent horses & spears, and the final unit is Megapon instrument bearing Patapons that are key at higher levels.

Another change is the evolutionary tree. To access different Patapon classes, they need to reach certain points in the tree, some not available until later parts of the game. Also Rarepon can be made without sacrificing Patapon to make space for newer ones. To maintain incentive for collecting items, there is an abundant amount of classes of Patapon to rely upon, some Patapon such as the "Pyokoran" Rarepon being nimble in battle as well as being immune to freezing but are vulnerable to fire damage. Another change is that a Patapon can level up by using more material with effects amplifying at every 5 level to maximum of 10.

The most notable change is the Heropon, a hero unit which can adopt the persona of any class of their choice with a powerful special attack to deliver to unsuspecting foes. They also can be revived but takes longer to revive with each death. In addition, if Hatapon is alone while the Heropon is reviving, the mission ends. Each "Hero" also has a special move that can only be activated in fever mode and must have perfect beat. This special ability shows a spirit above him and allows him to have a special damage effect on opponents.

Release and reception

Patapon 2

Review scores

Publication	Score
GamePro
IGN

To test the market for digital distribution of games, Sony Computer Entertainment America released Patapon 2 as a "test case" digital download through the PlayStation Store for North America only, leaving the Latin American market out of their strategy. A voucher for the game is available for retail purchase. All other regions have received the game on UMD. The game is 362 MB on the PlayStation Store.

GamePro's Heather Bartron called the game a "must-have title for PSP owners," rating it a 4.5 out of 5 stars and praising it as an improved sequel to the already enjoyable and addictive Patapon. Bartron wrote that both titles have great visual style though Patapon 2 has limited multiplayer modes and "needs more songs." Hyper's Tracey Lien commends the game for being "exactly the same as the first Patapon, which is good because the original was really rad" but it being exactly the same as the original. Patapon 2 won Giantbomb.com's Best PSP game of 2009 award.

=Homebrew

The Patapon 2 DEMO realized an exploit running user code, it was developed by wololo and m0skit0, if you download the source and compile it you can load an EBOOT.PBP file which is a PSP executable ELF file. Unfortunately it only loads a very small EBOOT file (of about 800mb or lower) and still has very low support. The Patapon exploit was the second exploit publicly released for the PSP go system, and the first to run under 6.20, since its a demo game it can be downloaded without having to get it off the PlayStation Store, which in the past sony could just tear the game down.

External links

• Patapon 2 Official European Website
• Patapon 2 Official Japanese Website
• Patapon at Mobygames
• Patapon 2 Screenshots
• Interview with Patapon designer Hiroyuki Kotani on Patapon 2
• Japanese Patapon 2 Trailer
• Patapon 2 community site