July 14th 2025.
Have you heard about the latest release from Sony? They've taken an interesting step in releasing new remasters of PSP titles Patapon and Patapon 2, not only on PS5 but also on the Nintendo Switch. This has raised some questions about Sony's plans and the motives behind it all.
We all know that Microsoft has received criticism for their lack of clarity when it comes to their multiformat plans. It seems like even they are unsure about what's going on. But now, it seems that every major first-party Xbox title will eventually make its way onto the PlayStation 5. It's hard to imagine any major Sony exclusive appearing on Xbox, but the same cannot be said for the Switch.
Earlier this year, Sony announced that both Patapon and Everybody's Golf Hot Shots would be released simultaneously on PS5, PC, and... Nintendo Switch. While Everybody's Golf is set to be released this September, Patapon becomes the second major Sony exclusive to make its way to Nintendo's console in recent months.
But what about the games themselves? Are they worth all this effort from Sony? It's hard to say. The peculiarly misconceived Lego Horizon Adventures was a huge flop and it's easy to imagine it being a one-off. But now, Sony has surprised us again with this new remaster of two increasingly forgotten PSP titles. It's uncertain what exactly Sony expects to gain from this, but it's clear that it's a test for something - more Patapon, more PlayStation games on Switch, or both?
But let's not forget about the games themselves. Patapon and Patapon 2 are both intriguingly strange titles that, in today's gaming world, would never be published by a major company like Sony. But that's exactly what makes them so unique and interesting. It's worth mentioning that Sony shut down the developer, Japan Studio, several years ago.
The two Patapon games were originally released for the PlayStation Portable console in the late 2000s. Some may see Patapon as a sister franchise to LocoRoco, also from Japan Studio, but the only thing they have in common is their art style. In terms of gameplay, they are completely different.
If Patapon depicted its fantasy warriors realistically, instead of as cute little eyeball people, it would be a fairly grim tale of ancient tribes warring against each other and destroying the environment for resources. But that's not the case. You are cast as the god of the patapons, their leader. However, the game's literal translation from Japanese can lead to some confusion about what exactly 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. But they will only move if you tap out a rhythm on the face buttons. As the game progresses, more buttons and commands are added, making for a more complex gameplay experience. However, the game's structure can be a bit off-putting, as you not only have to fight battles but also gather resources by repeating previously visited stages.
The second game, Patapon 2, is a better version with more variety and deeper strategy, but it still has its flaws. It seems that the developers never realized the game's failings during its original release. Patapon 1 and 2 have been remastered before for the PlayStation 4, but this new remaster is the definitive version, fixing previous issues with control lag and adding some quality of life improvements.
There are no museum features, but the remaster includes a help button to remind players of the commands, something the originals lacked. Additionally, there are three difficulty modes that can be switched at any time, making the game more accessible. The pre-rendered cut scenes are still grainy, but the in-game animations look fantastic and as if they were made today.
Considering Sony could've just re-released the PlayStation 4 remasters, it's clear that a lot of effort went into this compilation. It's still unclear what Sony's motives are, given that the originals have a cult following at best. But almost two decades later, Patapon is still happily marching to the beat of its own drum.
So, is there a chance for a Patapon 4? Who knows. But for now, we can enjoy this new remaster of two iconic PSP titles.
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