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Video games are in the midst of an era of hybridization – a time when more and more game designers cherry pick their favorite elements from established genres and combine them in new and interesting ways. Last year we saw a handful of shooters, such as Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and BioShock, borrow heavily from the role-playing game. What kind of innovation can the RPG glean from this approach? Tons, it turns out. By mixing elements of rhythm-action games with old-school grinding, crafting and item-collecting Patapon turns battlefield tactics on its ears. With a stylized, side-scrolling art style and toe-tapping tunes Patapon is a one-of-a-kind game that breathes new life into a struggling genre.

God Mode

Patapon transforms players into a deity. An entire tribe of adorable eyeballs are at your command. Though these worshipers may look cute, they're damn deadly. Armed with axes, bows, and spears they'll kill at your command. Patapon may have a quirky, Katamari Damacy vibe, but make no mistake; murder and mayhem are the primary goal of this game. Players assemble a squad, hand-picking the kinds of soldiers they need for the task. You’ll then take them to the field where they'll clash swords and bloody the earth. The kinds of brawls are quite varied. The world of Patapon is rife with lumbering monsters to defeat, enemy armies to conquer, and wild game to hunt.

Hack! Slash! It's All In The Mind

Battles have an ebb and flow, a sort of rhythm. Patapon takes this idea to its furthest conclusion by tasking the player with beating the war drums that goad troops into the fray. The game uses the same kind of call and response technique that Parappa the Rapper rocked. Rather than trying to match the music, players call the tune. There's no note chart to follow, just a background tempo. Players tap out drum beats using the PSP buttons. The right combination will send the army into action. Nailing these orders over and over will work your army into a lather, boosting their attacks and making it possible to summon miracles, like rain or a strong tailwind that extends the range of arrows. The music in Patapon is insanely catchy and the marching orders feel empowering. Most music games force players to respond to the tune, but here players call the shots and it feels great.

Beats, Drops

Loco Roco, the last PSP game from the makers of Patapon, was casual in comparison. Controls were simple and play was about as deep as a puddle on a Tucson sidewalk. Patapon's lightweight look and sound are deceiving. Battles require a great deal of strategy – the right soldiers, equipment, and commands can make or break a maneuver. Crafting allows players to summon new, stronger soldiers and cook up meals that will grant buffs on the battlefield. Here's where a common RPG flaw rears its ugly head.

Sometimes Patapon feels like a grind. You need cash to create more warriors and the only way to earn this dough is to go out and kill. There are, also, musical mini-games that help you gather goods, farm for food, and cook up meals. The songs are fun to play at first, but they start to wear thin after the thirtieth run through. Three songs is a lot of hoops to jump through for one pot of stew.

Sound Strategy

Patapon is manna from heaven for PSP owners. There's been a dearth of great games for Sony's portable lately. This is the innovative, exclusive game that many of the devoted have been waiting for. Unlike Loco Roco, the game is tailor made for the hardcore gamer. The only folks who go unnerved are those who balk at a game that looks or sounds too cute. While the superficial furrow their eyebrows because Patapon doesn't seem grown-up enough, the adventurous will enjoy one of the most interesting and infectious role-playing games in ages.

Review by: Gus Mastrapa