History VideoGame / Patapon

* SuperMode: Zig-zagged. Correctly playing to the beat for long enough will put your army into Fever mode, which greatly increases their cohesion and effectiveness in battle, but you'll quickly realize that staying in Fever is basically required to perform effectively in a level whatsoever, meaning that regular mode is more like an "un-super mode" rather than the other way around. However, from ''Patapon 2'' onward, playing four perfect notes in a measure will activate your hero/Uber Hero's hero ability and can only be sustained by continuing to play perfect measures or the ability will peter out, making it a more straightforward example of this trope.

* SuperMode: '''[[SugarWiki/MostWonderfulSound FEVEEEEER!!!!!!!!!!]]''' in the whole series. A stronger mode is hero mode from ''Patapon 2'' and ''3''.
* SuspiciouslySmallArmy: Patapon army is very small after all.

* HealingPotion: Sometimes these are dropped.

* HyperactiveSprite: Your army in the first two games, everywhere from missions to the obelisk/barracks, except during cutscenes. Applies to the enemy tribes as well; it seems like everyone has some sort of disease that prevents them from stopping. Averted in ''Patapon 3'', though.

* WarHasNeverBeenSoMuchFun:
** Brightly colored backgrounds, absolutely adorable critters as your army and your enemies, defeated units melt into the ground instead of collapsing in pools of gore. The Patapons's ultimate goal is to reach Earthend. Aww, look at the cute little eyeballs with [[BadassAdorable swords and spears]] go at it!
** Then comes the desert level, and the game does a DarkerAndEdgier spiral of madness showing what you're actually doing. MyGodWhatHaveIDone .

** The Dark Heroes' names; Standoffish Sonarchy (bat-like Dark hero of Pride), Miss Covet Hiss (snake-like Dark Hero of Jealousy), Madfang Ragewolf (wolf-like Dark Hero of Rage).

** The Dark Heroes' names; Standoffish Sonarchy (bat-like Dark hero of Pride), Miss Covet Hiss (snake-like Dark Hero of Jealousy), Ragewolf (...[[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment wolf-like Dark Hero of Rage...]]). [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast People, let's just back off... veeeeeery slowly...]]

* CrapsackWorld: ''Patapon 3''. You and your [[FiveManBand Five Patapon Band]], plus Sukopon at the Hideout, are the last surviving members of your species from an apocalypse which you brought upon yourselves. Excluding Silver Hoshipon, everyone else has been turned to stone, is a demon or controlled by one, or is a massive, starving beast trying to devour you. Happy place indeed.
** It is implied the other tribes are suffering/suffered as well. Sonarchy heavily implies once [[spoiler:that the Karmen have gone extinct due to this, and does this while taking shelter in the very same bunker-like building you first saw Ormen Karmen perched/napping upon during ''Patapon 2'' no less.]]
** Minorly, also present during ''Patapon 1'', but that has more to do with the fact Patapon are absolutely helpless at surviving on their own.

* CrueltyIsTheOnlyOption:
** To advance to the end of the level, you're going to have to kill everything in your path. Yes, ''everything.''
** "If you kill the mother without hurting the child, you'll get good quality fleece." - Patapon 2 loading screen tip
** Makoton and Aiton.
** Beetleton surrenders after inflicting enough damage on him. You still have to kill him. Scorpiton also applies, after being left defenseless by Baban's death. You can't spare [[spoiler:Gong]] either.
** Several of the bosses seem quite passive and even docile... right up until you start attacking them.
** In Patapon 1, if you have a complete squadron of pons and you want to replace one with a stronger variant, you need to "retire" that unit. This means killing them, with an appropriately painful sound effect as they drop dead. This trope is averted in both sequels, as patapon can simply be swapped between their variants.

* NoBodyLeftBehind: Patapons and the opposing tribes melt into puddles when killed; however, it seems to be just the way their body works, as defeated Uberheroes melt as well but DO leave their mask behind. Averted with bosses. Played straight with ''Patapon 3''[='=]s mini-bosses such as Treants and Cyclops, which just dissapear into nothingness.

** Averted in ''Patapon 3'', however. The cutscenes do have your hero units in their equipped attire.

** Averted. You, [[AGodIsYou the Almighty Patapon]], are unable to interact with your tribe in any other way that isn't drumming a command to them in time (except Meden, whose job as a priestess is to be able to talk to you) and must be content instead by watching them from the skies. the Uberhero in ''Patapon 3'' plays this straight, since they're the result of a FusionDance between the Almighty and the Hero.

* QuirkyBard: Averted. Megapons are your bard class, but they also double as terrifyingly effective long-range artillery units. Of course, what were you expecting from a game based around the PowerOfRock...?

* MissionPackSequel: Almost all of ''Patapon'' has been recycled into ''Patapon 2'', meaning about a third of ''Patapon 2'' would have the same content, but with additional mechanics and Zigotons swapped out in story mode.

* SpoonyBard: Averted. Megapons are your bard class, but they also double as terrifyingly effective long-range artillery units. Of course, what were you expecting from a game based around the PowerOfRock...?

* BeehiveBarrier: Pingreks, a defensive class in ''Patapon 3'', can create one of these around each ally by defending with certain staffs.

* DramaticWind: The cape from the Patapon 3 heroes always flows behind them. Even if they turn around. [[FridgeLogic Even if there should be no wind at all.]]

* DualWielding: The fighting style of the Myamsar class.

* EasyLogistics: For some reason, Toripons, Yumipons, and Yaripons have infinite ammo. No Patapon of your army ever seems to get tired in the battlefield, even if you never see them eat, and in fact you never see them leave the obelisk.

* HeroAntagonist: The Zigoton species as a whole once you progress enough in the original game, when they switch from fighting you to push you back into their domination, into fighting you to prevent [[spoiler:the freakin' world from being destroyed!]] (Which is what their legends state will happen if you reach IT). But specially General Gong: he cares for his troops (and his troops adore him back), remains loyal to his queen until the death, and sacrifices himself in a last stand to defend his species' honor, [[spoiler:which are about to be all turned into demons so the Patapon are stopped once and for all.]]

* HotterAndSexier: Naughtyfins. She even pole dances in front of the Uberhero when they first meet.

* InformedEquipment: A rare voluntary variation of it. Since most helms don't look quite well on Uberheroes, they don't show on your character by default. However, you can choose to always show them in the options menu.

* MamaBear (or PapaWolf): Pekkora are cute, fluffy, sheep-like creatures that inhabit the snowy levels of ''Patapon 2''. Usually, they have a GentleGiant demeanor; they will refuse to attack their offenders, and will simply try to run away at a slow pace along with their little Pekkorako. But, kill any of their children, even a single one, and they will turn into a terrifying monster with massive maws, in a RoaringRampageOfRevenge... right at your army.

* MegaNeko: The Myamsar share body type with the Tondenga; they look like dekapons from the two prequels. Which makes little to no sense, as Myamsar have a ninja-like combat style, low on HP and dealing little damage but able to strike very quickly, while dekapons are... well...see below.

* SpinToDeflectStuff: The Uberhero Wooyari's Hero mode has him spin his weapon very quickly to make a ring of fire or ice, which can deflect arrows.

* BossBattle: you encounter {{Sand Worm}}s, {{Giant Enemy Crab}}s, and around a dozen other behemoths.

* GrandFinale: ''Patapon 3'' is this, since it's the last game in the series and the stakes have never been higher, in addition to finally concluding the Patapons' quest by the end. [[spoiler:The Dark Heroes and their Archfiends have been defeated, Meden and the other Patapons have been un-petrified, and at the ''very least'' Ton, Chin and Kan make it to Earthend, where Silver Hoshipon is revealed to be IT and transports them to an {{Arcadia}}-like Heaven]]. The story still ends with a very minor SequelHook[[note]]sounds of boats launching can be heard over a black screen after the end credits, implying the Patapons are still out questing[[/note]], but with the closure of Creator/SIEJapanStudio and the announcement of ''{{VideoGame/Ratatan}}'', ''Patapon 3'' seems to be the definitive conclusion to the ''Patapon'' story.

* MacGuffin: IT is the main motivation of the Patapons on their journey to Earthend. What IT is, though, is unknown to anyone.

* EccentricMentor: Silver Hoshipon.

Part RhythmGame, part tactical war game, part ear worm, pure fun, ''Patapon'' is a game by Creator/SonyComputerEntertainment for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable, designed in collaboration between Hiroyuki Kotani and French artist Rolito, using characters from his ''[=RolitoLand=]'' flash animation series, with music by Kemmei Adachi and lyrics by Kotani.

It spawned two sequels, featuring more units, a Hero Unit, a multiplayer option, more minigames, and new enemies to conquer. ''Patapons 1'' and ''2'' received remasters for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 in 2017 and early 2020, respectively. Only time will tell if ''Patapon 3'' will be remastered for the UsefulNotes/Playstation5.

* ChargedAttack: the Pon Pon Chaka Chaka Song activates this. Also, some bosses telegraph their attacks this way.

* VisibleSilence: In ''Patapon 3'', these happen a lot and often with more than three "."s.
* VideogameCaringPotential:
** "Come on... all make it out to the exit... no! NO FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T EAT THAT ONE!"
** Many a troper attempted feats such as sparing Beetleton [[spoiler:(when he stops and tells you to finish him off near the end of ''Patapon 1'')]], or trying to save the Zigotons from the flames through the Rain juju in ''Patapon 2''.
* VideogameCrueltyPotential:
** Surprisingly averted; you are going to need all your army to beat this game.
** The dying noise of the Karmen is pretty amusing... ''"kaaaAAAAAArmeen..."''
** Bring fire weapons to the rescue mission. Put your mind on Dirty Mode. Now listen to Meden's dialogue again while she's burnt to a crisp. [[HilarityEnsues Enjoy.]]
** They do this in all three of the games actually, [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} mostly directed at Meden.]]

* SmashingSurvival: A gimmick of the Fenrir in ''Patapon 3''. They will crouch down, and after a command's worth of time, will lunge at your Patapons. Get caught, and you will be prompted to [[ButtonMashing Button Mash]] to escape their fangs. If you fail to do so, insta-kill.* SocializationBonus: There are only two Djinns that can be unlocked by playing ''Patapon 3'''s singleplayer mode. The rest can only be acquired by leveling up your Uberhero's online Team with friends or strangers in CoOpMultiplayer.

** The series is notable for averting this, as you, [[AGodIsYou the Almighty Patapon]], are unable to interact with your tribe in any other way that isn't drumming a command to them in time (except Meden, whose job as a priestess is to be able to talk to you) and must be content instead by watching them from the skies. However, there's the Uberhero in ''Patapon 3''... Though he's actually a hybrid of you and your ''P2'' hero, so he's more like a demigod.
** One of the missions in ''Patapon 2'' has you save [[spoiler:the Zigotons' massive, anthrophomorphic, priest-robed PhysicalGod, which the Akumapons (demons) are keeping captured and chained up inside its home above the clouds. Even ''General Gong the Hawkeye'', of all people, shows up to help.]]

** An enemy in ''Patapon 3'' holds a chest and will fly away if you don't kill him fast enough to get it, he'll laugh and taunt you while trying to get said chest. (He'll even show you what's inside it just to piss you off even more when he flies off with it!)

On the 16th of July, 2023, Ratata Arts, a team composed of some of the developers of ''Patapon'', announced a CreatorDrivenSuccessor called ''VideoGame/{{Ratatan}}''. A Kickstarter campaign to fund this project will commence on the 31st of July, 2023.

* SmashingSurvival: A gimmick of the Fenrir in ''Patapon 3''. They will crouch down, and after a command's worth of time, will lunge at your Patapons. Get caught, and you will be prompted to [[ButtonMashing Button Mash]] to escape their fangs. If you fail to do so, insta-kill.
* SmashMook: Dekapons (and its analogues). Cyclopes in ''Patapon 3''.
* SocializationBonus: There are only two Djinns that can be unlocked by playing ''Patapon 3'''s singleplayer mode. The rest can only be acquired by leveling up your Uberhero's online Team with friends or strangers in CoOpMultiplayer.

** Silver Hoshipon likes to end sentences with "Shzamm".

** Bonedeth seem to repeat their species's name a little too much as well.

* TheWormThatWalks: Arch Pandara seems to be made of bats in that:
** They come flying out of the open vessel along with Arch Pandara.
** When you stagger him/her/it in skeleton form, bats come flying out of its back and then fly back in.
** After it finishes summoning a giant worm, bats can be seen flying from the worm and into Arch Pandara's arm.
** When it shapeshifts between its two main forms, it first morphs into a giant red eye with bats flying around it, which then comes together.
** When you kill it, it morphs back into its shapeshifting form, but the bats that usually fly around it die and fall to the ground.

The main gameplay of ''Patapon'' is a unique blend of rhythm and strategy that the developers gave the unique label of "Command Carnival"; it has you issuing orders to your army of 'Pons via the four Sacred Drums, each corresponding to a button on the joypad/[=PlayStation=] controller. There are plenty of commands, each with preset drum sequences, that you have to input in time with the rhythm to successfully issue an order (Advance, Attack, Defend, and Run Away, among others). When you successfully enter your orders in time with the rhythm, your army can then enter into a "[[SuperMode Fever mode]]", greatly increasing their effectiveness in battle.

Part RhythmGame, part tactical war game, part ear worm, pure fun, ''Patapon'' is a game by Creator/SonyComputerEntertainment for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable, designed in collaboration between Hiroyuki Kotani and French artist Rolito, using characters from his ''Rolitoland'' flash animation series, with music by Kemmei Adachi and lyrics by Kotani.

On the 16th of July, 2023, Ratata Arts, a team composed of some of the developers of ''Patapon'', announced a SpiritualSuccessor called ''VideoGame/{{Ratatan}}''. A Kickstarter campaign to fund this project will commence on the 31st of July, 2023.

[[AGodIsYou You are the deity of a tribe of eyeball villagers]], the titular Patapons, waging war in their quest to [[TheQuest reach Earthend and gaze upon IT]], even if they don't know what or where IT is. Along the way you will have to hunt great beasts, slay foul monsters, raze enemy encampments and [[WarHasNeverBeenSoMuchFun put thousands to the fire and the sword all through the medium of minimalistic and colorful 2D animation]].

On the 16th of July, 2023, Ratata Arts, a team composed of some of the developers of ''Patapon'', announced a SpiritualSuccessor called ''Ratatan''. A Kickstarter campaign to fund this project will commence on the 31st of July, 2023.

On the 16th of July, 2023, Ratata Arts, a team composed by some of the developers of ''Patapon'', announced a SpiritualSuccessor called ''Ratatan''. A Kickstarter campaign to fund this project will commence on the 31st of July, 2023.

* AnnoyingArrows: Yumipons arrows don't do a lot of damage on their own; they're made for for spreading status effects around the battlefield. It works in reverse, too; it's not uncommon for just two or three enemy Yumitons/mens/deths with fire or sleep bows to rain a nightmare on the squad from on top of a building until it's toppled. They are also still useful against bosses since the bosses pretty much take up half the battlefield, so almost all the arrows will hit them.