Punish or protect your Patapon on PSP

With its catchy music, super-straightforward gameplay, and cutesy character design, you may think that the Patapon series would be more at home on Nintendo's collection of handheld systems rather than on Sony's PlayStation Portable. However, once you see how beautifully the game runs on the PSP's lovely widescreen display, you'll realize that the inhabitants of these games are doing just fine right where they are. 

A mighty mini fighting force
Patapon (pictured left) was originally released in early 2008 and brought with it the story of the struggle between the Patapon tribe and the Zigoton empire. The Zigoton warriors defeated and humiliated the once-great Patapon tribe in a bloody war that left the Patapons in disarray. With just a handful of able-bodied Patapon soldiers still standing, it seemed like the Zigoton would rule the land forever.

But the Patapons, being the proud, confrontational creatures that they are, decided that it was up to you, their god, to lead them back to prosperity through a series of strategic battles. These battles play out on the screen in flat, two-dimensional splendor that puts you right in the middle of the action. You control the attack by using the PSP's buttons like war drums, beating them in rhythm to give your troops orders. These drum beats are the only direct communications you have with your forces, so calling the right shots is critical. If you mess up a beat or mistime a button press, your entire army will remain exposed for a short amount of time. 

At the beginning of each battle, you'll be asked to decide what combination of troops you'd like to use. These decisions are also very meaningful, as certain troops are specialized for different types and ranges of attack. As you further the story and progress through the game world, you'll unlock new units, new rhythm commands, and even go hunting for supplies to make sure your army is well stocked. Every once in a while, you'll need to deal with a boss enemy. These guys tend to be quite large and very hard to take down, but they will eventually call it quits if you relentlessly assault them. 

Some of the game's missions can be repetitive, and you may find yourself hunting down wildlife more often than you like. Still, there is a method to the game's madness, and the deep level of micromanagement pays off in battles where it takes every last resource to emerge victorious. 

New land, more war!
A year after Patapon's release, Sony saw fit to grace the PSP with Patapon 2, a download-only sequel that looks nearly identical in style and scope but still hides a few surprises. The visuals and basic style of the gameplay remained the same, but with the inclusion of "Hero" Patapon — a soldier who can shape-shift into any Patapon in the game — the battles tend to be even more intense. 

Patapon 2 (pictured right) takes the ending events from the first game, adds a little twist, and manages to squeeze out an even larger adventure for your once-again-depleated Patapon army to embark on. With the first game clocking in at anywhere between 15 and 30 hours to exhaust, Patapon 2 begs for upwards of 40 hours to complete. That's a heck of a long time to be holding a portable game system.

Perhaps the best part about these two fantastic PSP titles is that they are now dirt cheap to purchase. This isn't a reflection on their quality, however, as these are still two of the best portable experiences you can have. Oh, and you'll want to make sure you get around to playing them before March 2011, as that is when Patapon 3 will be making its case for your hard-earned cash.

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