I really liked the idea behind Patapon, but for some reason I lost interest quickly after the final game finally landed in my Playstation Portable. I suspect it was because it was just too hard for me to maintain concentration for the duration of the battles. I'm skittish like that. This time around the developers have worked to make that element of the game a bit easier. They've also added multiplayer functionality. But will it be enough? They seem to think so.

In Patapon you controlled an assortment of highly stylized characters by tapping out music on the four face buttons of the Playstation Portable. I was a big fan of the game, but found over time that unless I gave it 100 percent of my attention I would often lose the beat.

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Busy day Tuesday. Ash and Mike headed out to meet with the developers behind Ninja Blade and Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts while Luke and I headed out to meet with the developers behind LocoRoco 2 and Patapon 2.

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Who wants to hear about Patapon 2? And, specifically, about it's biggest new addition, multiplayer? Oh, you? Great, take a seat. We spoke with Patapon creator Hiroyuki Kotani today, and got a good look at the sequel's new multiplayer aspect, which lets up to four players (ad-hoc) take part in a two-stage affair. First stage, it's standard Patapon stuff, with players taking control of customisable heroes (with masks!) as you kill animals. Second stage you take the animal's egg, and play what amounts to a Parappa/Bemani section, where you hit buttons as symbols pass a marker. Hit them well enough and the egg breaks, and you get...yes, a mask!

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Sony's Bend studio is currently working on Resistance: Retribution, coming to PSP in Spring 2009. After showing that title, a third-person shooter faithful to the first game, Sony's Jack Tretton casually dropped a few more:

LocoRoco 2, Patapon 2, NBA 09: Inside, Super Stardust Portable, Buzz! Master Quiz, Valkyria Chronicles and Midnight Club: Los Angeles Remix.

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People liked Patapon so much that Sony Computer Entertainment Japan went and decided to put out another. That's right, this summer Japan will see Patapon 2. While the previous title was single player, the sequel will feature four player multi-player mode as well as new characters. PON-PON-PATA-PON!

Hit the jump for another look at Patapon 2.

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