Latest news with #Patapon
Metro
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Patapon 1+2 Replay review - a PSP classic comes to Nintendo Switch
Sony takes the unusual step of releasing new remasters of PSP titles Patapon and Patapon 2 on Switch, as well as PS5, but are they worth such an effort? Microsoft has been rightly criticised for the lack of clarity around their multiformat plans. To be fair, that appears to be because they're just as unsure about what's going on as everyone else, but now it seems that every major first party Xbox title is going to end up on PlayStation 5 sooner or later. It's impossible to image any major Sony exclusive appearing on Xbox but the same is not necessarily true of the Switch. Earlier this year, Sony announced that both this and Everybody's Golf Hot Shots will be released simultaneously on PlayStation 5, PC, and… Nintendo Switch. Everybody's Golf is out this September, while Patapon becomes the second major Sony exclusive to make its way to Nintendo's format in recent months. The peculiarly misconceived Lego Horizon Adventures was exactly as big a flop as everyone predicted and it was easy to imagine it ending up as a one-off. But that's not what's happened. Although exactly what Sony expects to gain from this new remaster, of a pair of increasingly forgotten PSP titles, is uncertain. Clearly it's a test, but a test for more Patapon, more PlayStation games on Switch, or both? It'd be wrong to imply that the that the circumstances of this release are more interesting than the games themselves, as Patapon and Patapon 2 are both intriguingly strange titles that today would never be published by a major company like Sony. Literally, in the sense that Sony shut down developer Japan Studio several years ago. The two Patapon games were originally released for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) console in the late 2000s. Patapon is often seen as a sister franchise to LocoRoco, also from Japan Studio, but although they share some similarities in terms of art style there's no connection other than they both used to be PSP exclusives. If Patapon depicted its fantasy warriors realistically, instead of as cute little eyeball people, it'd be a fairly grim tale of what's implied to be ancient tribes warring against each other and wrecking the local environment – in terms of wildlife and resources such as stone and timber – to feed their war machine. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. It doesn't help that you're essentially cast as the god of the patapons, not just their leader. Although, as has always been the case, the games are let down by a very literal translation of the original Japanese text, that leads to some very strange phraseology and, more importantly, considerable confusion as to what you're supposed to be doing. Each level is presented as a 2D horizontally-scrolling stage, with your army of patapons marching from left to right. However, they'll only do so if you tap out a rhythm on the face buttons. You start off with a four button beat that means move forward, while another means attack. More are added over time, for different formations and orders, but that is the gist of the game, as you control an increasingly large cohort while attacking monsters, other eyeball-like people, and fixed emplacements. This all works very well and while it's not terribly deep the novelty of it all is more than enough to keep your interest. The problem is that the structure of the game does its level best to put you off with literally everything it does. Rather than just fighting a linear sequence of battles you also have to gather resources, which requires an outing into one of the previously visited stages. These forays can be dangerous, if you come across one of the bigger dragon-like monsters, but they're essentially just level grinding, as you're forced to repeat stages again and again, in order to feed your troops and make sure they're kitted out with decent weapons and armour. Rather than addressing this issue the second game doubles down on it, complicating everything further (Patapon 3, which is not included in this compilation, went even further, to the point where it was almost incomprehensible to anyone other than a series veteran). Patapon 2 is a better game, with more variety, deeper strategy, and better graphics, but at no time during the series' original existence did the developers ever seem to realise its failings. Patapon 1 and 2 have been remastered before, separately, for the PlayStation 4, but surprisingly that's not what this is, as the original remasters had a lot of problems with control lag and latency. Admittedly, we didn't experience any issues the first time round, but apparently it depended on your TV and sound set-up. We did have some minor issues with this Switch version in docked mode but thankfully there's a new latency option that helps address the problem. More Trending There are no museum features but there are some small but very useful quality of life improvements, starting with a help button you can press to remind yourself of what the commands are – something the originals somehow didn't have. Even more welcome is three difficulty modes that you can switch between whenever you want. The originals are viciously difficult, especially for the rhythmically challenged, but now they're much more accessible. The pre-rendered cut scenes are still very grainy (the PSP only had a 4.3 inch screen and a resolution of 480p) but they do look better than the PlayStation 4 version. More importantly, the in-game animation looks fantastic, as if it was made brand new today. Considering Sony could've easily just re-released the PlayStation 4 remasters, there's a welcome amount of effort that's gone into this compilation. We're still not sure what Sony expects to get out of it all, given the originals are cult favourites at best, but almost two decades later, Patapon is still happily marching to the beat of its own drum. In Short: A welcome new remaster of two of the PSP's most iconic exclusives and while they're as flawed as ever this is arguably the definitive version of the games. Pros: The original games are as inventive and enjoyably bizarre as ever, with some very distinctive visuals and sound design. Good quality remaster that adds some important quality of life features. Cons: The level grinding structure of the originals is as frustrating now as it ever was, as is the awkward script. Still some latency issues in docked mode. Score: 7/10 Formats: Nintendo Switch (reviewed), PlayStation 5, and PCPrice: £24.99Publisher: Bandai NamcoDeveloper: sAs (originals: Pyramid and Japan Studio)Release Date: 11th July 2025 Age Rating: 7 Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: I've given up on getting a PS5 and I've already got real concerns about PS6 – Reader's Feature MORE: Competition does not drive innovation in video games, talent does – Reader's Feature MORE: X Factor star Simon Cowell and the Pope are both secret Pokémon fans
Business Wire
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Nintendo Download: Gnarly!
REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This week's Nintendo Download includes the following content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 – Alert the neighborhood watch and grab your skate buddies cause the shred's not dead! Get hyped for the legendary franchise, now revamped with more skaters, new parks, gnarlier tricks, sick tunes, plus a whole lot more. Reunite the crew in new and returning game modes with cross-platform online multiplayer 1 for up to eight skaters. Drop in to new parks or tear it up across classics from both Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, authentically remade in HD resolution. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 shreds onto the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 systems on July 11. The Standard Edition is available to pre-order on Nintendo eShop. Early access is also available now with purchase of the Digital Deluxe Edition on Nintendo eShop. PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY – Remasters of the classic rhythm action games Patapon and Patapon 2 are coming to Nintendo Switch! The mysterious yet endearing creatures known as Patapon are guided on their adventures by the rhythm of four drums. Play these drums to the beat to give different commands to your Patapon army. There are different classes of Patapon, including the shield-wielding Tatepon and the horse-riding Kibapon, allowing for different tactical approaches as you battle a variety of fierce foes! PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY marches onto Nintendo Switch July 11. Nintendo Music: Activities: Nintendo eShop sales on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2: Check out the full list of deals available this week at Also new this week on Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch 2: Arcade Archives AIR COMBAT 22 Also new this week on Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch: For news and updates on all things Nintendo, you can also check out the free Nintendo Today! smart-device app. Whether it's news about games, info about your favorite characters, or videos and comic strips — you'll get personalized fun every day. 1 Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online features. Membership auto-renews after initial term at the then-current price unless canceled. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. 2 Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required. Not available in all countries. Internet and compatible smart-device required to use app. Data charges may apply. Terms apply. 3 Offer valid 7/6/2025 - 7/19/2025, while supplies last. See participating retailer for details. Savings based on manufacturer's suggested retail price. Actual savings may vary. MORE ABOUT… NINTENDO SWITCH ONLINE Nintendo Switch Online is a paid membership service that allows members to team up or face off online in compatible Nintendo Switch games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Splatoon 3, and Nintendo Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World. Members also enjoy a curated library of classic NES, Super NES and Game Boy games, including Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Metroid and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, among many others. Nintendo Switch 2 players can use the GameChat feature to connect with friends through voice, video or screen sharing (terms and requirements apply, visit Those without a Nintendo Switch Online membership can still join the fun during the Open-Access Period, ending March 31, 2026. Additionally, members can access the Nintendo Music smart-device app to stream or download Nintendo soundtracks, create playlists, browse music by different categories and more. To find out more about the benefits that come with Nintendo Switch Online, to view membership options and to learn about a free seven-day trial for new users, visit NINTENDO SWITCH ONLINE + EXPANSION PACK With a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, players get access to even more benefits, including a library of Nintendo 64 games with added online play for up to four players (additional accessories may be required for multiplayer mode; sold separately), a library of select Game Boy Advance games, retro SEGA Genesis games, Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise DLC, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass DLC and Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion DLC (full version of game required to use DLC for that game; sold separately). Nintendo Switch 2 players can also access a library of classic Nintendo GameCube games, enhanced features for compatible Nintendo 64 games and upgrade packs for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (full version of games required to use content for that game; sold separately). NINTENDO eSHOP Nintendo eShop is a digital store that features a wide variety of content, including new and classic games, applications and demos. Users can add money to their account balances by using a credit card or purchasing a Nintendo eShop Card at a retail store and entering the code from the card. All funds from one card must be loaded in Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo Switch family of systems or Nintendo Switch 2. Customers in the U.S. and Canada ages 18 and older can also link a PayPal account to their Nintendo Account to purchase digital games and content for the Nintendo Switch family of systems or Nintendo Switch 2 both on-device and from the Nintendo website. PARENTAL CONTROLS AND MORE Remember that Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 both feature parental controls that let adults manage the content and features their children can access, including GameChat. Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 players who register a Nintendo Account gain access to free-to-start games and free game demos from Nintendo eShop, and also get the latest news and information direct from Nintendo. For more information about parental controls and other features, visit or Note to editors: Nintendo press materials are available at a password-protected site. To obtain a login, please register on the site.
Engadget
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Ratatan demands your attention, rhythmically
Sometimes, you tire of guns, zombies, and sequels; sometimes, you want to lead a bunch of tiny creatures and rhythmically march them into combat, letting the waves of confusion wash over you. That's what Ratatan is here to do. It's the spiritual successor to Japan Studio and Pyramid's beloved Patapon rhythmic action series. However, you don't control Patapons, anymore, but Ratatans – which are completely different. These animal(ish) characters bark button-timing orders to their little squad of Cobun characters, who can launch attacks, assemble around the character you control, evade attacks and more. Inputting command sequences promptly also charges up the "Fever" bar, improving the effectiveness of those actions as well. I haven't played the Patapon series, which stretched to three (!) games on the PSP, in years, and while the mechanics are similar, Ratatan is more elaborate, evolved and customizable. At its core, though, it's the same mechanic that demands you maintain the rhythmic input of commands and avoid attacks. It sounds simple enough, but corralling your Cobuns to follow you into battle and balance special attacks with avoiding damage felt like the gaming equivalent of patting your head and rubbing your stomach. Also, it's 2025, so it's a roguelike flavor of rhythmic action. Of course. You can select between several different animals-with-weapons-and-one-eye, and each comes with a different load-out of Cobun warriors. Some are melee fighters, while others are ranged attackers. You can also buy (or craft) more powerful weapons for each Cobun, adding to the sense of progression. I think that's needed, as Ratatan is a roguelike take on the Patapons that came before it. You'll dive into a portal and battle multiple waves of enemies, often picking up buffs or treasure at the end of each wave. Each run is then typically capped off with a boss fight, either against a smarter, smaller enemy (and its underlings) or a more monstrous threat. During my demo, I was mostly getting beaten by a giant hermit crab, despite having picked up a very useful freezing attack buff during that run. I had to learn that lesson: You can pick up all the buffs you want, but you'll still need to nail the rhythm of attack and defense, while simultaneously keeping an eye on enemy attacks and the placement of both your character and your adorable Cobun fighters. (Ratatan's character designs are inspired by Nelnal, best known for their work on Pokémon and Deltarune .) Further fight dynamics include a jump move and guard move that combines the Ratatan and Cobun movements to avoid game-ending damage. Fortunately, the early parts of the game didn't demand mastery of these. There's an early Ratatan demo still available to play on Steam, but the build available at SGF 2025 seems much closer to a finished release. I was able to explore the game's hub world, filled with shops for upgrades, crafting and organizing your Ratatans' band of Cobun warriors. These parts felt a little confusing when served alongside the starting levels of the game, but should add longevity and interest when folded into the whole game. Ratatan will launch later this year on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Digital Trends
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Ratatan successfully transforms an 18-year-old PSP classic into something new
I don't quite understand why we're in a sudden Patapon revival, but I can't complain about it. The cult rhythm game, in which players control an army of weird little dudes to the beat of music, will return this year with Patapon 1+2 Replay. That would be exciting enough for fans, but the bigger development is that the series is getting a full-on spiritual successor. Ratatan picks up where Patapon left off, bringing back that series' colorful visuals and musical action. Ahead of its early access release on July 25, I went hands-on with the upcoming indie at Summer Game Fest to see how developer Ratata Arts is reimagining a nearly 20-year-old game for modern audiences. Though it took me a few tries to fully understand how it all worked, I walked away charmed by Ratatan's playful spin on the roguelite genre once I found my groove. From a distance, Ratatan is a spitting image for Patapon 4. In it, I control a cute little guy who is a sort of conductor for an army of weapon-wielding critters. Bubbly music plays as we walk through 2D levels fighting enemies, but my crew won't do anything unless I tell them to in song form. As a music bar moves on the bottom of the screen, I need to hit buttons on certain beats to carry out actions. Hitting X three times will get my crew to gather around me and march, while pressing B three times gets them to attack. Recommended Videos As someone who doesn't have much history with Patapon, it takes me a while to fully grasp how it works. Part of the early confusion comes from the fact that I can actually freely move my character around during levels, but my characters won't follow me unless I'm near them. I also need to learn a few extra inputs, skipping the middle beat to set my guys into a defensive stance or to trigger a special attack. There's also a song that launches everyone up in the air, and it takes me a few tries to realize how effective that is as an evasive maneuver in boss fights. All of this becomes second nature to me by the end of my demo as I start tapping out songs from memory. What makes Ratatan very different, though, is the fact that it's a roguelite. My demo has me setting out on runs where I clear a screen full of enemies, get upgrades, and move to the next challenge. Rewards include health boosts, more troops, and passive buffs that alter my actions. I grabbed a bunch of upgrades during my demo, some of which added effects like stun damage to my army's attacks. It's very much cut from the same cloth as games like Hades, which seems to be the studio's intent. I spoke to a developer after my demo, who noted that the team wanted to find a way to modernize Patapon rather than simply doing it again. That's certainly evidenced by the fact that the game is getting an early access release. I only got to try a few runs, eventually besting a big boss in a battle. I was only able to pull that off thanks to several meta progression hooks. By earning candy and donuts during runs, I can go back to a hub and get plenty of permanent upgrades. That includes upping the starting size of my army as well as grabbing perks like resurrection. That layer helps the formula quite a bit, as simply tapping out the same few songs is only so effective after a while. I want to see how much deeper it all gets in the late game. I only had around six songs I could use during play and I'm curious to see if there are a few more hidden in the progression. I don't think it needs them since the roguelite upgrades are what really change a run, but I'd love to commit some more complex actions to memory and really test my rhythm skills. Even if that's not in the cards, I think I'll be happy enough soaking in the joyful visuals and exuberant music of it all. By the end of my demo, I was very much tapping my toe and swaying side to side on beat. That's about all you can ask for from a Patapon successor. Ratatan launches into PC early access on July 25.
Digital Trends
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
I got bullied during my Patapon 1+2 Replay demo and I loved it
During PAX East 2025, I played a whole bunch of games. But Patapon 1+2 Replay is the one that will forever be etched into my brain. Before walking into my appointment, I didn't know a thing about Sony's cult series. The only thing I knew was that I had a hard time pronouncing the name initially, and that it was some kind of rhythm-based game. Before I entered the appointment, a colleague (let's call him John) asked if he could join and watch. I had no problem with that, and Bandai Namco gave the okay. When I had begun talking to the team about Patapon 1+2 Replay, they immediately noticed that I had said the name wrong and engaged in some playful teasing as they corrected my pronunciation. It was foreshadowing of what was to come during a demo that would show me the comedic joy and tension of a classic series that's built for casual, carefree entertainment. Recommended Videos Discovering Patapon The second John and I sat down, we were greeted by Savannah Ho, the marketing lead for Patapon 1+2 Replay. After a short introduction, Ho gave me a simple elevator pitch to get me up to speed: 'Patapon is a rhythm action game that's perfect for people who love … Rhythm and action! This game has an easy entry level but a high skill ceiling. Especially with the Patapon 1+2 Replay bundle, we've added difficulty levels, which are new to the franchise.' The last piece of her pitch would become especially important as my appointment went on. As someone who was born with two left feet, easy mode sounded appealing. After talking with Ho, I was instructed to load into the game and was given a series of commands to press that would allow my adorable little eyeball men to perform various actions. These included tasks as simple as moving forward, attacking, and jumping. The catch was that they needed to be pressed alongside the beat, and if I failed to do so, I would need to start said input all over again. Not only did my little men perform an action when timed correctly, but I was also rewarded with an adorable, catchy bit of music. Ho assured me that the songs used in 1+2 Replay are also the same ones used in the originals. Hitting the combos on the right beat gave me a nice hit of serotonin. The cherry on top is the visual upgrade. It's great to see games built for older handhelds polished up to feel modern once again. For the first level, I was tasked with hunting down a handful of animals before they escaped from my tribe. I thought I was in for a good time because of the game's cheerful tone and the fact that I was playing on easy mode. But my lack of coordination meant that getting past the intro took me much longer than I'd like to admit, so much so that John started to rib me over it. Ho even started to laugh at his jokes and chimed in at first. That may sound like bullying, but it made my demo of an already upbeat game even more enjoyable. It's hard not to smile and laugh whenever you see your little men perform an action or hunt down a creature — or, in my case, messing up. Although there weren't real stakes in the first level, it did hurt to know that I let one creature get away and that it took me nearly ten minutes to complete it. Of course, without skipping a beat, John and Ho were right there to make sure I knew how badly I messed up, which made the situation funnier than it should have been. The stakes only got higher from there. For the second level, Ho informed me that I would be fighting a T-Rex-like creature who would actively fight back. By this point in the demo, I was locked in and ready to prove them wrong — or so I thought. I was feeling the rhythm, and before I knew it, I made it to the T-Rex and was prepared for battle. The second it started, John and Ho began cracking jokes about my lacking skills. It immediately broke my concentration because I started busting up too. The adorable dinosaur made quick work of my frontline troops, which was a feat. Ho made it a point to say that the ones who died are specially designed to withstand damage; the fact that I got them killed was impressive. Even though I had lost good folks in the battle, my eyeball creatures and I ultimately walked away victorious in a deadly fight full of catchy music. As I learned during my demo, when I perform certain actions back to back, I begin to build up an ultimate attack. Every time I was getting close to obtaining it, John or Ho would taunt me with one-liners like 'oh look, he's getting closer!' Like clockwork, that would get me laughing and break my combo. Even though I was the butt of a lot of the jokes while playing Patapon 1+2 Replay, I wouldn't have had it any other way. My playtime perfectly emphasized what Patapon is all about, giving me a crash course in a series that's new to me. It's meant to be carefree and fun, something casual that can be made even more enjoyable while playing with others. That's why Patapon 1+2 Replay is worth checking out. Even if you're someone like me who has no rhythm, that upbeat energy is infectious. And it's only amplified while playing with friends who can bask in that joy with you. It's hard not to smile when playing. Patapon 1+2 Replay launches on July 11 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
