Gameplay

The player controls a tribe consisting of infantry, ranged troops and cavalry. Initially, the player's forces consist of only a few spearmen named Yaripon but as the game progresses, more units, greater warriors and more powerful weapons can be obtained. The army is commanded by beating rhythm combos on four different talking drums, each mapped to one of the PSP's four control buttons. Different combos tell the player's group of Patapons to do various things such as advance, attack, retreat, and defend. Keeping the rhythm going and not missing a beat puts the army in Fever mode, which increases its combat abilities.

The game and story is unfolded through a number of missions of increasing difficulty. As the player progresses, new opponents are introduced and more drum rhythms are unlocked. Between missions, new troops can be spawned by spending currency, called 'ka-ching', and various resources obtained during the missions to create stronger Patapon troops. Throughout the game a player can also edit troop formations and acquire new weapons.