Image via Bandai Namco
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Remember Japan Studio? Japan Studio was great. You could always rely on the developer for incredible gameplay experiences that were inventive, innovative, and endearing. While many of its gems are sadly starting to fade into obscurity, such as Legend of Dragoon, Gravity Rush, and Siren, one is now back and more widely available. Patapon is back, with SAS and Bandai Namco bringing it to more consoles and PCs. While Patapon 1+2 Replay is more of a barebones remaster when compared to projects like Bravely Default: Flying Fairy on the Switch 2 and Raidou Remastered, it’s still a welcome addition to libraries.
Patapon, at its core, is a musical real-time strategy game. In both the first and second installments, we the players are The Mighty Patapon Kamipon god of the Patapons tribe. The group is fractured, alone, and barely getting by after constant fighting with the Zigotons in the first game. However, with guidance from us, they can rally and accomplish great things. By beating the drum to direct them with commands, they can get through missions that take part in various levels, fight back against their enemies and great monsters, and perhaps even find Earthend and IT while rebuilding their society. The second installment picks up right after the first and continues the quest for IT and Earthend.
I feel two elements of Patapon made the series so memorable and beloved, and both are well preserved in this installment. One is the personality of it all, which pairs the artist Rolito’s designs of charming, vibrant tribes of comical characters and monsters exploring and fighting with incredibly catchy music. While it did start out as a PSP game, both games look great in Patapon 1+2 Replay on the PS5. Everything is perfectly preserved, crisp, and vibrant. It’s a testament to enduring design decisions that transcend platforms and time periods to constantly look fresh.
But what really made Patapon stand out is its gameplay. While it is a real-time strategy game about guiding a troop of warriors through a level, it’s also a rhythm game. We choose which units head into a fight at the outset. The original offered six consisting of three basic and three advanced types. The sequel built on that by including a Hero Patapon and Elite classes of characters. Our parties are limited by size, so we need to pick wisely when selecting a group of warriors to head out on a run. These characters can be equipped and even evolved to increase their power as time passes and we get materials.
Once a mission begins, we dictate orders as their god by hitting one of four drums in a particular order. Said drums are each assigned to one of the buttons on the controller. This means tapping inputs in time with the beat to direct them. Square—square-square-circle is Pata-Pata-Pata-Pon, which sends the group forward with a March of Mobility, while Pon-Pata-Pon-Pata involves hitting circle-square-circle-square to make them retreat out of the enemy’s range. More complex commands can also come up, like Pon-Pon-Chaka-Chaka to make them charge up their next attacks. This means staying abreast of what’s happening on-screen, knowing the commands to react properly, and paying attention to the beat to maintain timing.
To be honest, most of the additions for Patapon 1+2 Replay involve making the game more accessible via adjustments. While yes, you can skip some story segments now and it looks better as all HD remasters tend to, the others seemed geared toward ensuring whoever playing doesn’t experience any issues. You can turn on the display of all the drum commands and have those appear across the screen. I feel like maybe that makes things a bit too easy, since there aren’t too many commands to begin with, but admittedly I’m quite familiar with it and still had some embedded in my brain before returning to this collection. You can adjust input timing, which you might find helpful when getting started. Those intimidated by remembering the inputs and keeping time can also set the difficulty as Easy, Normal, or Hard for each game. On Easy, your Patapons deal more damage than usual and enemies are weaker. Conversely, on Hard your group will be weaker and foes will be stronger.
Patapon 1+2 Replay isn’t the most exciting remaster collection, but it is incredibly enjoyable and accessible to newcomers.. Both games are still strong real-time strategy games that look and play unlike anything else out there. It would have been nice if, for preservation purposes, we could have gotten extra features like an extensive art gallery with concept art or lots of music to listen to on demand. The few additions that are there will probably make it more accessible to newcomers or folks unfamiliar with the genre.
Patapon 1+2 Replay is available on the PS5, Switch, and PC. The original game and sequel are also both on the PSP and PS4.
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Patapon 1+2 Replay
PATAPON is an action adventure where players use the rhythm of 4 Mystical Drums to command cute and mysterious eyeball-like creatures known as Patapons. As the player, you are the God of the Patapons and lead them on a grand adventure to Earthend! PS5 version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purpose.
Patapon 1+2 Replay isn’t the most exciting remaster collection, but it is incredibly enjoyable and accessible to newcomers.
Published: Jul 15, 2025 09:00 am