The sounds of childhood can be unforgettable – a mother’s soothing tone or the infectious melody of Oasis’ Wonderwall. But for those who grew up on rhythm-action games, the iconic songs of Patapon hold a special place in their hearts. Now, Bandai Namco is bringing this beloved series to new platforms with Patapon 1+2 Replay, a modern collection that still sparks joy and frustration in equal measure.
In Patapon 1+2, players take on the role of the Lord of the Patapon, commanding an army of one-eyed soldiers through a cacophonous soundtrack. The game’s success lies in its simple yet addictive premise: tap buttons in time with the music to build your army and conquer battles. However, the transition to modern platforms has introduced some significant challenges.
The main issue is input latency, which affects players’ ability to press buttons in sync with the beat. Modern TVs and sound systems introduce varying levels of delay, making calibration a crucial step. Unfortunately, Patapon 1+2 lacks this feature, forcing players to manually adjust timing settings or revert to previous versions of the game.
On the Switch, handheld play is particularly tricky due to differences in input delay between docked and portable modes. Using Bluetooth headphones also poses issues, as there’s no setting to optimize performance in these scenarios. While these technical hiccups may deter some, fans of the series will find that perseverance and a love for music can still lead to unforgettable experiences.
When it works, Patapon 1+2 is an iconic game that combines simplicity with challenging gameplay. The collection offers a steady stream of songs and engaging moments that will cement themselves in your memory. With minor quality-of-life updates and three difficulty settings, this modern revival is worth exploring for fans of rhythm-action games and the series itself.
Despite input latency issues, Patapon 1+2 Replay remains an unforgettable experience, with its unique blend of music, presentation, and addictive gameplay. If you’re willing to put in the effort, this collection will provide hours of joy and frustration – and possibly even inspire a new generation of rhythm-action enthusiasts.
Source: https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2025/07/10/patapon-12-replay-review-rhythm-action-repeat