Patapon 3

Patapon maniacs will find a lot to keep them interested: this is a long game, especially at $20, and there's a lot to the online if you can deal with its rough edges.

Patapon 3 is an amazing audiovisual game working based on proven principles. In the ever improving competition in mobile gaming Patapon could feel bit obsolete. [Issue#204]

A solid addition to the series that potentially offers plenty of additional scope due to its enhanced multiplayer component. [Issue#109, p.115]

The most fully featured and deepest entry in the Patapon series so far, but definitely not the most fun or accessible.

Patapon 3, unfortunately, isn't the chapter that is finally able to evolve the brand. Recommended only to fans of Patapon or who are intrigued by the saga.

There's nothing wrong with Patapon 3: exciting gameplay, deep story, rhythm and real time strategy, combine each other in a fancy role play game. But, except for a good multiplayer mode, the differences between this third chapter and its ancestors stop here. Though this is not necessarily a bad thing, after 3 chapters without innovation, the same mechanics risk becoming boring.

If you're willing to spend a few hours to teach yourself how the game works, you might just enjoy how the game plays.

Patapon 3's whimsical surface seems inviting and opportunistic, but its heart remains confidently wrapped in its own minutia. With its charm spent on the previous two entries, the third is like the pizza with too many weird toppings. Patapon 3 is not quite a success, but in an age when difficulty and intricacy are often exchanged for accessibility I can certainly appreciate its mission (from afar, anyway).

You have to dig a little deeper, but that Patapon goodness is still overflowing in Patapon 3. It's just too bad its creators are starting to forget what made it so great and special in the first place.

Patapon 3 is, in many ways, a typical third instalment: bigger, prettier, more difficult, and much more complicated. But that often works against it rather than in its favour, diluting that brilliant and unique rhythm-action strategy gameplay.

I have a hard time recommending this to Patapon newcomers. Even experienced players will likely get steamed over the roadblocks. If you think you have what it takes to form a good multiplayer co-op team and you're dedicated enough to overcome the difficulties and coordinate online meet-ups, you have a good time. You'll have to decide for yourself whether this storm cloud's silver lining is worth it.

The jaded mechanics of Patapon 3 are masked behind a stunning piece of art and repetitive gameplay, but it does enough to keep the fans happy.

Though still unique, Patapon's crisp, minimalist art design and central mechanic is no longer a strong enough draw to excuse its repetitiveness and price tag. [May 2011, p.99]

At its best, Patapon 3 can be addicting and make you feel invincible. At its worst, it's frustrating and unnecessarily complicated. Whether this third instalment should be a part of your collection depends solely on your need for another shot of Patapon, because for newcomers, previous iterations are a more suitable choice.

Being bigger and badder can be seen as nice choice for Patapon 3 if you're aiming for an hardcore audience, but its difficulty and its darker universe could also frighten the newcomers. A good but tough game.

Patapon 3 doesn't quite make it all the way, despite the much sought-after multiplayer and the entrancing music. The large amounts of micromanagement and grinding draws focus from the core gameplay, and the end result is a finicky adventure where the outcome depends more on your equipment than your ability to drum up proper instructions.

The once inspired mix of rhythm action and real-time strategy becomes further diluted by obscure rules and needlessly high difficulty.