Is Patapon fun? What's it about?
Yes, it is fun. Recently I have found myself allowing my wife to watch Lifetime, TLC, Food, whatever on the TV while I sit on the sofa next to her playing Patapon with headphones for two or three hours straight.
Patapon is a combination rhythm, strategy, resource management, RPG game.
You are the mighty god of the Patapon race. You must command them into battle using drum beats. The Patapon prophecy tells of the Patapons reaching Earthend where they will see "IT" Unfortunately the Patapons have been enslaved by the Zigotons, so you must free your followers and lead them to Earthend.
That is quoted from a thread I started a couple of days ago here:
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=103961
After this thread went off-topic to mostly Patapon discussion after post 60.
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=100434&page=3
And how oldster-friendly is it?
Gameplay-wise it is simple but can get complex with its resource management aspect. But if you can keep beat with a 4/4 rhythm you can play the game.
I find that the typical PS2-style games are a bit hard to see on the PSP screen.
Well, this is an actual size image of gameplay. Judge for yourself.
I have glasses that are in bad need of replacing and don't find myself squinting. Besides, if you can hook up your PSP with component cables (Must be component, not composite, for native PSP games) you can always play it on a TV.
Edit: And there is a demo on the PC version of the Playstation Store. So you can try it out. The demo is actually just the first few levels and the save file picks up in the full game. If you do get it I suggest playing the beginning through the demo because at the end you are given a demo-only weapon.