Two years ago, Sony tried to shake up the retail world when it released Patapon 2, the sequel to one of the PSP's top-selling disc-based games, exclusively over the PlayStation Network. However, after finally buckling down and releasing it on UMD, Sony has decided to bring out Patapon 3 on UMD and digital download at the onset.
While the PSP almost never shows up on the top game sales charts anymore, the system remains a critical part of Sony's overall strategy and continues to receive scattered high-profile titles. Patapon 3 may not be uber epic, but where else are you going to find, as Sony puts it, "mono-ocular warriors engaged in an all-out blitz offensive?"
Patapon 3 tries to push the PSP forward, offering a large online multiplayer mode. At the heart of the game, though, is the ubiquitous rhythm-matching gameplay mechanic that some players just can't get enough of. In the third Patapon entry, players begin as the only heroic creature left on a battlefield, where they begin their journey to become the UltraHero Patapon.
Some have been lured into the Patapon universe by its unique art style, and some by the original rhythm-based controls. Perhaps Patapon 3 will attract more players with its wide-scale online element, which lets players engage with others around the world, from anywhere in the world via Wi-Fi.
Patapon 3 goes on sale April 12 for $20, simultaneously as a packaged UMD game in retail locations and as a digital download on the PlayStation Store.
[Source: PlayStation Blog]
Feb 24, 2011
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