The PlayStation.Blog team have, as part of a contest they're running, posted five charming little Patapon masks for you to print out, cut out and use to play with your kids/rob your local convenience store.

You may want to improvise your own eyeholes, though. Three visible eyes might ruin the whole "cyclops" thing.

[Patapon Masks]

The official PlayStation blog lays it out for potential Patapon 2 customers, displaying the contents—box, instruction manual and download voucher—and clearly warning "No disc included. Memory Stick and access to PlayStation Network required."

The UMD-free release is a "one time test case" according to the company. Frankly, I hope it's a success, but that Sony drops the excess of shipping thousands of mostly empty plastic cases.

In a statement from Patrick Seybold, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at SCEA, the company's plans to go download-only on the Patapon sequel are confirmed, noting that the PlayStation Portable game will be available at retail and via the PlayStation Store.

"We're considering a digital only format for the Patapon 2 release as a one time test case as we continue to explore consumer preferences for digital content," reads the statement. "The downloadable game will be available on May 5th at both retail and via the PlayStation Store. We remain focused on providing superior games and entertainment experiences in both the UMD and digital formats and are working closely with our partners to deliver the best PSP line up in our history."

According to Ars Technica's unnamed sources, Sony will release the Patapon sequel via the PlayStation Store as downloadable goods, bypassing a UMD release for the boxed version in North America. What will ship with the box is a voucher for the game, according to Ars' report, which can then be downloaded to the PSP.

A recently updated GameFly listing may confirm that rumor.

The online rental outlet's Patapon 2 page now lists the game as "Not Rentable," a very recent change. GameFly typically lists a title as "not rentable" due to peripheral restrictions, as in the case of Eye of Judgment or Time Crisis 4, which require bundled accessories to play.

While the shipping of what is essentially an empty box may sound unusual, it may simply be a model that Sony is testing at retail, if rumors of the UMD-free PSP-4000 are accurate. Doing so with a budget priced PSP game, one that's already likely to appeal to an established fan base, would be a generally safe bet.

The game has already shipped on UMD in other regions of release, with the U.S. release scheduled for May 5th.

And the sale of vouchers for downloadable games is not unprecedented. Rockstar Games apparently saw some success with the release of Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost & Damned by selling branded Microsoft Point cards at retail.

We've contacted Sony Computer Entertainment reps seeking comment, but have not heard back yet. We'd consider this an interesting rumor for now and will obviously update when we hear more.

New Sony PSP trend? Retail Patapon 2 rumored to be UMD-free [Ars Technica]

Which was a shame! After all, it was simple, it was cute, it was a first-party game, it was everything the PSP needed to get people remembering they could still play games on it. But, for whatever reason, it never caught on.

Which brings us today to the game's sequel, Patapon 2. Can the addition of some new units and an ad-hoc multiplayer mode help push the series into the PSP limelight, alongside its spiritual sibling LocoRoco?

Loved
It's More Patapon – This game is a rehash. We'll get to the downside of that later. But on the upside, it's more Patapon! More missions, more rhythm-based combat. It's nice to see the little guys again.

I Need A Hero – Perhaps the biggest single addition to this sequel is the introduction of a "hero" Patapon, a single character who acts as a sort of "avatar" for your army. Like normal Patapon you can level him up, but since he's nigh on indestructible, he'll not only see you through most missions, but you'll grow awfully attached to the little guy. I named mine Bill.

The More The Merrier - The other big change for Patapon 2 is the addition of an ad-hoc multiplayer mode. It doesn't really add much, just a simple two-stage multiplayer mode, but if you can somehow find one or more other people who own the game, it's a good laugh hearing other people chanting "pata pata" as strangely as you do.

Hated
Patapon 1.5 – I'll pull up short of calling Patapon 2 lazy, but boy, is it similar to the first game. Too similar. Same interface, mostly the same Patapon (a few new ones are added later), same bad guys, same challenges. You'll quickly get the impression this could have been released as extra content for the first game, not spun out into a whole new product.

Experience Required, Apply Within – Patapon 2 features an all-new leveling system, based on an "Evolution Tree", which lets you redeem cash and items in exchange for fine-tuning your Patapon improvements. Problem is, the tree – along with other things, like the game's new "fever" (ie combo bonus) system and how to actually use things like the Hero Patapon – aren't ever really explained. Patapon veterans will get a handle on things, but if you're new to the series, it'll all seem a bit overwhelming.

Patapon 2 is, sadly, a bit of a disappointment. With Sony's renewed push on the PSP, and with the critical (if not commercial) success of the first game, this should have been one of the shining lights of 2009 for Sony's handheld.

Instead, it's a glorified expansion pack. Which will please existing fans of the series no end, but really, the original game - and the PSP itself - deserved something a little more approachable and a little more of an improvement.

Patapon 2 was developed by Japan Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. To be released on May 5 in the United States, will retail for $20. Played single player campaign to completion, played 3 games of ad-hoc multiplayer.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

But that's exactly what's happening! Sony Computer Entertainment America are releasing a demo for the game "exclusively" to those who preorder the game from GameStop or Amazon. As in, the people so keen for the game they'll put money down to reserve a copy. As in, the last people on earth who need a demo. Curious about the game but unsure whether you want to actually reserve one or not? Tough!

As with the Killzone 2 demo, though, there's a way around this digital/iron curtain. Just create, or login to your European PSN account, as a Patapon 2 demo has been available there since last week, no strings attached.

Pata-post Friday Presents: Patapon 2 Demo [PlayStation]

See? They're marching, relentlessly, on their way across his shoulders to hunt, then kill, his face. Cute, but for the first few mornings looking in the mirror, probably also a little terrifying.

Patapon Tattoo [Milano by Beer, via Wonderland]

We just got an email from Sony Australia, letting us know that the game will be released down here in "Early 2009". And if it's coming out here in early 2009, it'll be coming out in Europe in 2009. So even if it doesn't then come out in the US (hey, you never know, see: LocoRoco 2), you can import it.

There was also a bit of news shaking loose before the show officially kicked off. Here's the run down:

Microsoft Has Over 140 Demo Kiosks, Buddies With Square Enix
Patapon 2 Helps You Keep Your Groove
Xbox Japan Booth Babes Adore New Booth Babe Outfit
Sorry, But Ninja Blade Is *Not* Otogi 3
Banjo Kazooie's Japan Inspired Backpack
LocoRoco 2: Afros, Home, Luft Balloons and Water
Loads Of LocoRoco 2 Screenshots
LocoRoco 2's Number One Fan
Let's Patapon 2 Multiplayer

Confused? The video above should make things clear. One interesting thing Kotani divulged was that the multiplayer games aren't intended to be battles in the strictest sense. Yes, you fight, but with players having to work together to maintain the rhythm, it's as much about the music as it is the combat.

Sounds like I wasn't the only one.

Sony Computer Entertainment designer Hiroyuki Kotani told us that Patapon 2 will include a couple of features that will make keeping the game-playing rhythm alive easier. Now once you hit a few stanzas of the rhythm and hop into Fever mode it's much harder to drop the ball and get kicked backed out.

The first misstep you make brings a little skull badge up on your Fever mode banner. Then the game emphasizes the rhythm with audio cues, and if you still screw it up you revert to normal mode.

"The rhythm is made much easier this time," Kotani said. "We wanted to expand the number of users, that's also why we added multiplayer."

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

"We've always felt that the PSP was one of the keys to Sony owning the living room," Tretton said.

Hit the jump for another look at Patapon 2.

Patapon 2 in Famitsu [2chan]