Patapon preview

Regardless of the endless and often unjustified stick Sony get for killing originality, homogenising the games industry and getting the PS2 to sit on the Dreamcast like a fat bully, their internal development teams are among the most talented in the industry, none more so than Interlink. Patapon, their first release since the two superbly twee Loco Roco games, sees them team up with cult artist Rolito to make a bizarre 2D god-game/strategy/rhythm action hybrid that's nothing less than gorgeous to look at.

Words by Colin Whiteside , playing on a Sony PSP.

Already receiving much press for its instantly recognisable visual style, Patapon's gameplay is every bit as idiosyncratic, relying on a pattern of call-and-response drum-beats to command rows of googly-eyed soldiers. With only two drums available in a recent demo, it's hard to determine how deep and complex the finished version will be, but merely keeping time to the hideously infectious music is a pleasure in itself, the player's Patapon bumble back and forth to the rhythm with giddy aplomb. With some pre-battle weapon-picking and formation-setting bulking things up, there could be a thoroughly entertaining mix of depth and immediacy in the finished product.Granted, there are still problems. If a stubborn enemy should happen to wipe out the player's only swordsmen, it's unlikely that the arrow-throwing goons left will stand a chance of killing him, for instance, and the sudden announcement that your precision tub-thumping has given the Patapons Fever Power usually throws the rhythm off so much that the combo bonus is instantly lost. Still, other games have survived worse issues, and on present form Patapon should make for another oddball PSP release with a big heart and plenty of soul.