PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY

About

Remastered bundle of the original critically-acclaimed Patapon and Patapon 2 which were released in 2007 and 2008.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 228 reviews

music9 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Patapon 1 and 2 are nostalgic classics that have been beautifully remastered for modern platforms, maintaining their charm and addictive gameplay.
The graphics have been updated to high resolution, and the gameplay runs smoothly on PC and Steam Deck, providing a satisfying experience for both new players and veterans.
Despite some minor issues, the core rhythm and strategy mechanics remain intact, making it a fun and engaging game for fans of the genre.

There are significant input lag issues, particularly with Patapon 1, making it difficult to achieve perfect timing, which is crucial for gameplay.
The removal of multiplayer features from Patapon 2 is a major disappointment for fans who enjoyed cooperative play in the original version.
The remaster lacks modern quality-of-life features such as auto-saving and flexible menu options, which detracts from the overall experience.

music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
45%
14%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and memorable tribal chants, which many players find unforgettable and integral to the experience. However, there are complaints about the lack of remastered audio and audio mixing options, with some users noting that the sound effects and music remain compressed from the original PSP versions. Despite these issues, the overall sentiment is that the soundtrack enhances the gameplay, making it enjoyable and addictive.
- “Well, grab your sacred drums, because Patapon 1 + 2 replay is here to invade your brain with music you’ll be humming in the shower for the rest of your life.”
- “Soundtrack: possibly the greatest collection of tribal chants in video game history.”
- “You just pick up the drums and try again—because the music is too good to quit, and those little eyeballs are counting on you to guide them to zigoton-crushing glory.”
- “The uncompressed versions of every song are literally up on YouTube; how have they not been updated for this very expensive port?”
- “Its just the PSP games but sharper looking; the one thing I was looking forward to was maybe remastered audio, since sound effects and songs were compressed to fit on the PSP. Sadly, the sound has not been upgraded.”
- “Music not remastered; you can hear the compression.”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
67%
14%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its addictive rhythm mechanics and strategic elements, reminiscent of the original PSP experience. While some players celebrate the charm and challenge of the gameplay, others have noted issues such as input lag and a lack of polish in the remastered versions, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game remains engaging and enjoyable, appealing to both new and returning players despite some technical flaws.
- “The good news is that Patapon 2 largely solves this problem by giving the player way more information in moment-to-moment gameplay, with better audio/visual sync overall, allowing perfect beats a wider input window, and more audio cues for accuracy, including a cymbal crash for perfect beats and a skull warning indicator for when you're about to fall out of fever, helping you mentally check your rhythm before you screw up.”
- “The charm, the creativity, the addictive rhythm mechanics—it’s all here, lovingly preserved and updated for a new generation of players.”
- “Patapon mixes rhythm gameplay with real-time strategy and RPG elements.”
- “All of the core mechanics, gameplay, and balance are still the exact same as the old games.”
- “Tl;dr major problem affects core gameplay; wait till it's patched if it ever will be.”
- “The gameplay is fairly simple and can feel a bit slow at times—especially when you have to repeat the same movement commands just to reach the level exit.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
50%
15%
The graphics of the remastered Patapon 1 and 2 have received mixed reviews, with many praising the crisp and clean visuals that enhance the original art style while maintaining its charm. Some users noted that the updates resulted in smoother animations and improved performance, though others criticized the remaster for lacking significant enhancements beyond graphical upgrades. Overall, while the visuals are considered gorgeous and well-executed, there are calls for more substantial improvements to the gameplay experience.
- “Such a good game, and they made the graphics great and the playstyle feels so much smoother/faster.”
- “The remastered visuals look crisp and clean, but still stay true to the original art style.”
- “They've done a fantastic job adapting the graphics to high resolutions, the art really pops.”
- “Now, Patapon through a modern lens is quite archaic and obtuse: menuing can feel janky, some information is not explained well, the online features from the original are still not implemented, the very predatory license agreement is insane, and the fact that the only real touch-up in both audio and visuals from the PS4 remake is replacing the PS buttons with arrow keys.”
- “Honestly, just play on PSP or emulate through PPSSPP; this is just nostalgia bait and a waste of time and money unless you want the graphical uplift.”
- “It's the old games but just brought up in details and FPS, which is really nice to see. I feel like the devs worked well on this in the sense of graphical revamp, but the fact that it's just the exact same game when they could've done so much more with the IP.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant input lag and sound issues, while others report smooth performance and impressive graphics on modern hardware. Users have noted that those not meeting the recommended specs may face stuttering and lag, indicating a lack of comprehensive optimization for all systems. Overall, while the game retains its charm, it appears to lack some modern optimizations that could enhance the experience for a broader audience.
- “The graphics are amazing, not gonna lie, the optimization in this game seems good too!”
- “Both keep their original charm, just with sharper visuals and smooth performance on modern hardware.”
- “However, I could not follow up with playing the game, as the input lag and sound optimization for this Steam version is simply terrible, and hinders my experience.”
- “Some friends I know have been having issues with stuttering and lag, so if you're not meeting the recommended specs then you might not have as good of a time with this one.”
- “The games are as fun as ever, but they clearly lack modern optimizations.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
42%
29%
The game's story is described as engaging and visually appealing, with memorable characters, though some players feel it lacks depth and is presented too briefly. While the narrative flows seamlessly between game segments, the overall story content is considered light, leaving players wanting more. Additionally, the absence of co-op on PC is noted, but the inclusion of the first game offers further narrative exploration for fans.
- “Continue the story right after p1 into p2 seamlessly without having to change games altogether.”
- “The games are a little light on story, but what is there is fun to read, and there are very memorable characters.”
- “Some story-related text is shown way too short to read it.”
- “Every battlefield looks like a living storybook—and yes, that makes it even more humiliating when you lose to a giant flying shrimp.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game experiences some bugs and glitches at launch, including occasional freezes and visual issues, but overall runs well, particularly on the Steam Deck. While players report a bit of screen tearing due to the lack of a built-in vsync option, this can be addressed through GPU driver settings.
- “The game runs great on the Steam Deck in handheld mode, delivering a very similar experience to the classic PSP.”
- “Runs great; there is a bit of screen tearing with no built-in VSync option to my knowledge, but it can easily be remedied with your GPU driver settings.”
- “On launch day, there are still a few bugs, glitches, and errors, but it's still the classic game.”
- “I go through the tutorial, and then the game freezes.”
- “I noticed a few visual glitches; during the dance in the hub menu, one of the characters loses a leg for a second.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be both enjoyable and tedious; while the gameplay is generally well-received, the material grinding can become repetitive, similar to experiences in Monster Hunter. Some users prefer easy mode for its ability to reduce grinding, making it a more favorable option despite the lack of significant differences in difficulty settings. Overall, the grind is seen as a mixed bag, contributing to the game's charm but also leading to potential frustration.
- “The material grinding can also get tedious, in a way that’s reminiscent of Monster Hunter.”
- “It doesn't seem like easy and hard mode do much other than mess with the enemy HP and how much damage they deal, which ironically makes easy mode my current favorite way to play Patapon 1 because all it does to me is reduce the grinding.”
- “Game itself works fine aside from these issues and it's kinda better than I remember, it's just so good, grindy, tight, good music (though no audio mixing settings).”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the remaster has been criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing disappointment over its perceived lack of effort and reliance on nostalgia. Many feel it fails to justify its price, especially given the original game's free availability on the PSP.
- “I feel disappointment, and this remaster feels like a cash grab :(”
- “Outside of that, the game seems to just be Patapon for PC, and a nostalgia-driven cash grab for people like me who started their PSP adventure with Patapon as a free game in the box.”
- “Lazy, embarrassing, malfunctioning cash grab.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotions, describing it as a heartfelt and wholesome experience that takes them on a meaningful emotional journey.
- “The emotional journey in this game is truly captivating.”
- “This game delivers a wholesome experience that resonates deeply.”
- “The characters' stories evoke a range of emotions that stay with you long after playing.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the reviews highlights a sense of irony and amusement regarding the lack of multiplayer in Patapon 2, suggesting that it detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, there's a humorous observation about Patapon 3's recent release on PS5, which seemingly addressed few issues beyond graphical upgrades, prompting laughter at the game's minimal improvements.
- “It's pretty funny that Patapon 3 released recently on the PS5 and shared many of the same issues; they just upscaled the ROM's textures, made the games 60 fps, and did nothing else, lol.”
- “The humor in the game is spot on, with clever writing and hilarious situations that keep you entertained throughout.”
- “I love how the game uses humor to lighten the mood, making even the toughest challenges feel more enjoyable.”