Star Wars Puppets

Patapon 3 Game Review

Since the first title launched in early 2008, the Patapon series has been a quirky standout among the PSP’s many unique titles. That’s partly thanks to its shadow-puppet-like aesthetic from Japanese artist Rolito, and also its fusion of strategy and rhythm games. You will be hard-pressed to find a game like Patapon anywhere else, and after a successful sequel, the franchise returns for another round. Patapon 3 is a sound update that addresses many elements that needed attention.

The core fundamentals are largely unchanged. You take on the role of The Mighty One (and like the previous game, if you’ve got legacy save data, it’ll import your information into this one) who leads armies of Patapon – small cycloptic creatures who are battle-ready. In this case, they are attempting to capture evil spirits that have turned most of their tribe into stone. You lead the armies by tapping different face buttons to represent war drum patterns, prompting your charges to march or attack.

Patapon 3 offers riffs on the familiar formula like the Lego Star Wars games, and they are largely effective. Patapon 2 offered the Heropon, a special character with adaptable abilities and distinctive attacks. In the new game, there is Superhero Patapon, which advance that gameplay concept. With Superheroes, the class you choose will determine your difficulty level and play style. Taterazay is a shield-bearing class that fights up close, so it’s tougher to get your strategies down if you are not intimately familiar with the Patapon formula. On the other end of the spectrum, the spear-throwing Yarida has precise accuracy, but isn’t particularly challenging. The Superhero system allows for a great deal of flexibility in how you customize your warriors for battle, and in the levels of lethality you can dole out. It’s an effective addition.

There are also new gameplay types that build on the Star Wars games online series’ basic ideas. In addition to the default linear mission types, there are stages inspired by tower defense games in which you must go on the offensive to break down opposition before they can encroach on you for points. Also, there are sections that allow you to take your army on a loot quest in multi-tiered dungeons for plenty of goodies, while risking losing them all if you can’t endure. They’re sound additions that effectively utilize Patapon’s traditional mechanics for new experiences. The only drawback is that I wish there were even more varied game types to choose from.

Aesthetically, Patapon 3 evolves the series, all for the better. Rolito’s art has evolved a bit after two games. The silhouette motif is the same, but it seems as though many familiar characters have spikes and wings and the sorts of flourishes that speak of a “heavy metal album cover” influence. It’s a nice flourish that accentuates the changes afoot.

Like the Lego Star Wars online games that have come late in the PSP’s lifecycle, Patapon 3 marks the culmination of sound core mechanics that have been battle-tested over two excellent iterations and fused with real improvements, such as online co-op, customizable hero characters, and new campaign modes. It’s accessible enough for anyone to hop in, even if you’ve missed the first two. If you are a vet who hasn’t tired of banging the war drum, this sequel provides enough variety to keep you enthralled.

About the Author

There’re plenty of reasons for kids to keep playing Star Wars games online free, with a plethora of characters, special Lego Star Wars games online pieces and extra features to unlock. Lego Star Wars games is definitely a match made in marketing heaven.