By Mike Rougeau
Patapon (for PSP)
Gamers longing for a new experience in a market filled with remakes and sequels need look no further than “Patapon” for Sony’s PlayStation Portable (PSP).
Released in February by Sony, “Patapon” combines several genres, including action, real-time strategy and rhythm, to create an unparalleled experience. Its quirky visual and aural presentation liken “Patapon” to another popular PSP title, “LocoRoco,” a Japanese game in which the player maneuvers jelly-like characters through levels.
In “Patapon,” the player assumes the role of “The Almighty,” a deity worshiped by a tribe of eyeball-like beings called Patapons. The Patapons are ever at war with a rival tribe of similar creatures, the Zigotons, who will stop at nothing to prevent the Patapons from fulfilling an ancient Patapon prophecy.
Before each battle, the player chooses three squads of Patapons to deploy, selecting from several classes, including archers, warriors, spearmen and horsemen. Once each squad’s equipment is optimized, the battle begins.
The player gives the Patapons orders by tapping different rhythms on the PSP’s buttons. For example, tapping “square, square, square, circle” tells the Patapons to march forward. Other orders include attack, defend and even a few situational “miracles,” like rain or wind.
Each command is issued through four beats, followed by four beats of music, which is mostly the chanting of the Patapons. If the player keeps a steady rhythm, the Patapons will enter fever mode, during which their offensive capabilities are greatly enhanced.
Battles take on several forms, like hunting excursions and assaults on Zigoton fortresses, each requiring a different strategy. Between battles, the player returns to the village of Patapolis to create new Patapons, play item-earning mini games and speak with the Patapons’ high priest.
The game’s visuals are very stylish, consisting of mostly black shapes against a starkly colorful background. Geometric trees and castles fill the landscape. This style is matched by the whimsical chanting of the Patapons and the clattering music that endlessly crescendos as consecutive rhythmic combos increase.
Unfortunately, a few flaws mar what would otherwise be a near- perfect experience. The game becomes too hard too early and the players will often be forced to return to earlier stages to earn money to upgrade the Patapons. Grinding levels like this can become tedious, as money is quite scarce, and creating powerful troops can be expensive.
Still, “Patapon” ultimately succeeds as a rhythm game, as well as a surprisingly deep strategy game. Factor in the charming presentation and the budget price (it runs around $20), and there is no reason to miss out on this game.
God of War: Chains of Olympus (for PSP)
“God of War,” a franchise that began in 2005 on Sony’s PlayStation 2 has finally arrived on the PSP. “God of War: Chains of Olympus,” released last Tuesday by Sony, is the third such game released in the last three years.
The series follows the story of Kratos, a warrior in a mythical ancient Greece who battles with gods, Titans and all manners of creatures.
Think of “Chains of Olympus” like a CG-filled, R-rated, fantasy action movie. It’s made up of gratuitous violence and sexuality and plot twists that do little more than give Kratos more reasons to be pissed off.
Fortunately, this formula translates very well to video games. “Chains of Olympus” actually takes place before the events of the first game in the series. This is somewhat disappointing to those eager to see what happens after the spectacular ending of 2007’s “God of War 2.”
However, the plot remains as engaging as ever, as Kratos must seek out the fallen sun god Helios before the world is consumed by the darkness of the god of dreams. Kratos’s signature “I would rather kill you than talk to you” attitude remains the driving force of the game.
His main weapons in “Chains of Olympus” are the Blades of Olympus, two curved, deadly blades permanently attached to his arms by lengthy chains. Kratos wields them deftly, often swinging them around in circles or using them to drag enemies close for a personal kill.
In addition to the Blades, Kratos wields a variety of magic attacks and an all-new weapon called the Gauntlet of Zeus. Anyone who’s played a “God of War” game before will feel comfortable running, fighting, climbing and swimming in “Chains of Olympus.” Dodging enemy attacks is handled by holding the L and R shoulder buttons in the absence of the Playstation 2 controller’s second analog stick.
Although none of these game mechanics are actually new, the experience of “God of War” has been expertly translated to the PSP. “Chains of Olympus” feels like its big brothers on the PlayStation 2, which is impressive considering the relatively limited power of the portable system.
The graphics of this game are also the best of any game on the PSP. The cut scenes often look like they are straight out of a PlayStation 2 game, and the audio matches this quality as well. The production values overall are easily worthy of the title “God of War.”
Be warned, the game largely follows the tried and true pattern of puzzle, battle, puzzle, battle, puzzle, boss, rinse, repeat, etc., so if this formula is getting old, it may only warrant a rental. Otherwise, “Chains of Olympus” is a must-have title for PSP owners.
