Patapon 1+2 Replay Reviews
Fans of the originals will certainly want to pick up Patapon 1+2 Replay if they’re like me and sold their PSP eons ago. However, the PS Store’s PS4 version of the titles doesn’t stray too far from this release, and are effectively the same price (and even less during sales). Nevertheless, newcomers will likely get the best Patapon experience picking up Patapon 1+2 Replay, as the latency sync is such a benefactor that it can warrant the purchase.
I’m super grateful for the remaster, allowing me to replay a classic that I’ve always been curious about. I certainly don’t regret spending my time with Patapon 1+2 Replay, but I’m also glad that I was able to leave it behind me and drop the compulsion to complete it, or I would have been chanting Pata-Pata-Pata-Pon into my casket.
Patapon 1+2 Replay will charm you with both its visual style and music, while also teaching you how to keep the rhythm correctly. However, it is a pity that you can hardly tell the individual games apart.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
For those willing to embrace both games, Patapon 1 + 2 Replay delivers its gameplay and plethora of content, with each title offering dozens of hours to explore. As a straightforward re-release, it performs its role well, preserving the original experience, even if it lacks some more useful changes that can make the gameplay loop and defeat feel more like an annoyance.
Patapon 1+2 Replay fixes the old problems—no lag, clean textures, and tighter rhythm control. That polish goes a long way, especially when the beat hits and everything falls into place.
For the first time in history, both titles have been released outside of PlayStation platforms, which may attract many new players. However, it’s hard to deny that the simple gameplay structure can become tiresome in the long run. The remaster, while introducing the convenience of difficulty levels, still forces players into hours of grinding, which gradually becomes more and more frustrating. I encourage you to give it a try, especially for its brilliant rhythm-based fun and wonderful soundtrack. It’s just a shame that the third game wasn’t included in the package…
Review in Polish | Read full review
PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY allows you to relive the emotions of yesteryear, the rigorous mechanics, and the unique universe of this cult series. However, I regret that nothing has been done to improve the experience or bring it up to date. Admittedly, there are now a few accessibility options, but nothing that would modernize the franchise. Nevertheless, I hope that it will be a success so that we can perhaps look forward to a new episode in the future.
Review in French | Read full review
Patapon 1+2 Replay doesn't reinvent a thing, but it does remind us why this charming oddity became such a beloved cult classic in the first place. The whimsy is as timeless as ever, even if the rest isn't.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
These remastered versions of Patapon are more than an exersice in nostalgia. They're a glimpse into a different era when genres now considered "casual" demanded a lot of dedication from their players. Some of their elements—like the need to grind—may seem dated, but that's the kind of games they are. Even if they're frustrating, their charisma and devilishly catchy rhythms keep us glued to the screen. It's a shame they didn't include Patapon 3.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Patapon 1+2 Replay is a faithful remaster of the rhythm/action games from the PSP era. While simple in its conceived gameplay loop, it rewards skillful play by providing significant bonuses through systems like Fever and good decision making through telegraphed enemy actions. By paying close attention to stage gimmicks and behavior patterns, you can guide your cute anthropomorphic eyeball tribe to success as they journey to the promised land of Earthend. Because it is a faithful remaster of the original games, Patapon 1+2 Replay retains the same problems and inconveniences that their predecessors had in both its repetitive gameplay, random loot system, and sometimes weirdly timed introduction of progression items. As a series that encourages the player to grind, the lack of variation in its minigames and non-repeatable story stages make for a less than stellar post-game experience. The novelty of the game within the rhythm slash strategy genre, however, makes it a memorable pickup back then and even until now. For a respectable $30 US price point, Patapon 1+2 Replay delivers with incredible quality for remastered games’ standards that seamlessly runs on modern machines. With quirky, fun backgrounds and creature designs that’ll have your heart hurting with their cuteness, Bandai Namco’s rerelease of this beloved classic is one both new and veteran players can appreciate. Just take note of the possible input delay in some features of the game; it can make or break your overall experience if you get fixated on it.
Patapon 1 + 2 Replay recalls and rescues a forgotten PSP classic, and even though it maintains the idea without many tweaks, it is still a worthwhile package due to the originality, fluidity and fun of the games, which have certainly stood the test of time very well.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Patapon 1 + 2 Replay may be throwbacks to another time, but their gameplay is pretty timeless, and whether you played them the first time around or not, it’s a good time to go back (or go for the first time) and lose yourself in the rhythm.
PATAPON 1+2 Replay establishes itself as an excellent return, capable of winning the hearts of gamers thanks to a skilful balance between modernity and respect for the original work, making the experience accessible and enjoyable for anyone who wants to approach it. Despite the sometimes challenging grinding and rather basic narrative, the development team's work in preserving the artistic identity and improving the technical and gameplay aspects is evident and appreciable. If you are ready to beat the pace and lead the Patapon to Fineterra, this is undoubtedly the perfect opportunity to do so.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Patapon 1+2 Replay is a collection with a clear goal: introducing the games to new audiences, especially on the Switch and PC, where they are debuting for the first time. While this is great for attracting fresh players, it feels like a missed opportunity to introduce more improvements that could have appealed to long-time fans, offering a more enhanced experience. The focus on preserving the original experience even led to the absence of a pause option, just like the original PSP versions. Nevertheless, the collection delivers what it promises, bringing nearly two-decade-old games to modern platforms and potentially sparking interest in a new generation of players to explore the journey to Earthend.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Patapon 1 + 2 Replay is a game that shows the best of an era, where playing was for fun and we enjoyed it regardless of achievements, times and grades.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY is a duo that enchants with its theme and addictive gameplay. Even with the somewhat exhausting need to repeat tasks to get better items, the dancing creatures offer many hours of rhythmic challenges that greatly justify their original success on the PSP.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Not much has been added to Patapon 1+2 Replay, but these two rhythm game oddities are as fun to play as they were eighteen years ago.
PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY lovingly modernizes two highly original PlayStation Portable classics, preserving their soul while polishing the experience with technical improvements and accessibility. While it lacks extra content and the full multiplayer mode of Patapon 2, it's still a highly recommended collection for learning about or remembering this beloved franchise.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY isn’t trying to reinvent the series. It doesn’t need to. These two games stand tall as some of the most original titles ever made for a handheld, and they work just as well now with a controller in hand and the volume up. It’s a love letter to fans and a gateway drug for newcomers. The drums are calling. The tribe is waiting. And the beat goes on.
Patapon 1+2 Replay is highly recommended, especially for those who enjoy games that are different from the norm or those who played the original years ago. It's still full of charm, and the sounds and music will stay stuck in your head for days. But it's a shame that Patapon 3 wasn't included.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review