PonPon Pata Pata Pon

PonPon Pata Pata Pon begins directly where the previous game ended.

The Pata finish the Rainbow Bridge and have crossed the river to a new land, where they find a large mysterious box.

Despite Meden's warnings, the Patapons opened the box, then the Seven Evil Archfiends came out and petrified everyone, except the flag carrier,

Hatapon. A new tribe, the Bonedeth Brigade, are determined to defeat the Patapons.

Even the Akumapons from the previous game are encountered later in the game.

However, hope is far from lost, for inside the box was not just the Seven Archfiends, but also Silver Hoshipon,

which found the Almighty and offered to help restore some of the Patapons back to life.

The first pon Silver Hoshipon restored was the Hero,

fusing him with the Almighty and thus transforming him into the Uberhero (essentially, a stronger version of Hero), augmenting his powers.

Together, they found Hatapon and, after using the Pon drum along with Hatapon, the Uberhero learns how to use them.

They also restored three other Patapons, Ton Yarida, Chin Taterazay and Kan Yumiyacha,

forming the Trifecta and brought the petrified Meden along with them to their new Hideout,

where they (and the player) are then introduced to the new shops, barracks, the Herogate, and the rest of the new features.

The Uberhero and the Trifecta traverse the lairs of the Seven Archfiends, namely, Valor, Purity, Justice, Earnestness, Restraint, Adamance and Tolerance,

with bosses Accursed Dodonga, Gaeen, Kanogias, Shookle, Cioking, Dettankarmen and Arch Pandara.

After defeating Arch Pandara, the Trifecta with Hatapon march through Earthend, while Uberhero sleeps soundly.

All in all, the Patapons, at last, finally, have found Earthend, and gazed at IT.

These missions even have descriptions that let you know whether they're particularly well suited for leveling or for collecting currency and crafting materials for use at the gear-upgrading blacksmith.

Playing through most levels you also collect treasure chests that are dropped or even thrown at you by large enemies.

You get to open treasure chests only upon completion of a level, but their coloring and a numeric value at least give you some indication of how good your loot is going to be when you pick them up.

That's good to know when you're fighting your way through one of the new three- or five-floor dungeons,

because at the end of each floor you have the option to either retreat to your hideout with your loot and start the dungeon over or proceed and risk losing it.