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Karmen
Karmen3
Shape Circle
Colors Black, Red, Orange
Name suffix -men
Leader(s) Ormen Karmen
Appearances Patapon 2
Patapon 3
Allies Dark Ones
Enemies Patapons
Zigotons

The Karmen Tribe, or simply the Karmen, are one of the two main antagonist tribes (along with the Dark Ones) of Patapon 2.

Identified by their ornate orange masks, the Karmen Tribe is a rivaling tribe who once drove out the Patapons from Pata-Pole in the past. With the Almighty's return, the Patapons face the Karmen once more to reclaim their homeland.

History[]

Karmen can use various equipment - the same weapons as the Patapons - but their generals are equipped with Heaven Equipment, which rival the Patapon Hero. Their eye color and shape can only be seen in fog or sand storms, as their tribal masks that cover their faces turn lightly transparent. They prove to be more challenging opponents for the Patapons when compared to the Zigoton Empire. The Karmen were a major enemy of ancient Patapons.

Karmen Versus the Patapon Ancients[]

The Karmen kidnapped the Patapon Princess and kept her hostage. Upon hearing of this, a single Wakapon (under the direction of Ormen Karmen) shattered the World Egg, hoping to free the Princess. Unfortunately, shattering the Egg caused untold destruction to the world, and unleashed a horde of demons from the Underworld, leading the Patapons to defeat.

The Patapons Defeat the Karmen[]

At the end of Patapon 2, after the death of Ormen Karmen and defeat of Dettankarmen, the Patapons became allies with the Karmen, who helped build the bridge to the new land. In Patapon 3, in a scene before a mission in Tahi-Tahi Forest, the Dark Heroes are shown residing in the bunker-structure Ormen Karmen was shown perched on in Masked Country and Three Generals. Ravenous refers to the construct as "a Rare Item built by the slaves of an ancient dynasty", implying that the Karmen used to be slaves of the Ah-ooh civilization.

Classes, Rankings, and Equipment[]

Karmen have varying equipment depending on their class. Typically, higher-ranked Karmen hold stronger weapons.

Equipment[]

Karmen wear masks over their faces. The masks have distinct markings, becoming more elaborate with rank. The masks may function as a substitute for Helms.

Normal Karmen masks are somewhere between an oval and a diamond in shape. The mask has red and yellow triangles all across it, creating the appearance of a toothy mouth and two eyes (with smaller triangles making eyebrows). There are black stripes bisecting the mask vertically and horizontally down the middle.

Karmen equip stronger weapons as their rank increases. However, they do not equip Ancient, Heaven, or Giant weapons unless they are Generals or Elite Karmen.

Classes[]

Basic Karmen

Official render of a Basic Karmen warrior.

Karmen classes are identical to Patapon units, but they simply instead have a "-men" suffix. They are as follows:

Unlike Patapons, however, Karmen do not have Rarepon versions. Instead, they have rankings.

Karmen Rankings[]

Like the Zigotons, there are several different rankings among the Karmen. Higher-ranked Karmen are more powerful fighters, wielding better equipment and sporting more elaborate masks. They may be the Karmen equivalent of Rarepons, or just stronger Karmens fitted with better masks and equipment.

The Karmen warrior ranks include:

3421641199 7bc462f590 o

Elite Dekamen (Left) and General Hukmen (Right)

Basic: These Karmen wear normal masks and use low-damage equipment like wood, iron or steel. Rarely, they sometimes equip elemental or special Equipments.

Experienced: The mask now features a large black crest with an orange diamond in the middle (resembling an eye). These Karmen usually equip the same weapons as basic Karmen, but do more damage and are shown with elemental weapons more frequently.

Professional: A black crescent with a tiny red triangle in its middle rests atop the crest. These Karmen can equip strong, special and Great elemental weapons.

Advanced: A short, broad horn protrudes from either side of the crest. The horns widen at the top and end in a red stripe. With the orange diamond on the crest, they seem to form a "W" on the Karmen's mask. These Karmen usually hold the same equipment as their previous rank. Sometimes, however, they will use rare equipment.

Elite: Two long, pointed horns flank the upper point of the crest. These horns go straight up, come to a point, and feature red stripes across their length. These soldiers usually come equipped with Ancient or Giant equipment.

Generals[]

Karmens

Karmen Generals & Ormen Karmen.

There are three Karmen Generals, the most powerful warriors of any of them. They all wield Heaven weapons and armor and are their own special class of Karmen with distinct markings. Each General has an especially elaborate crest on their mask, whose horizontal black stripes all taper to points.

Nomen The Shieldbearer[]

A very skilled Tatemen who has rivaled with the Patapon Hero, Ban the Tatepon. As opposed to Ban, he wears a Heaven Shield and is armed with a Heaven Sword. He is faced on the Bryun Snowfield after retrieving the catapult to take out Sokshi Gate.

Kimen The Spearbearer[]

A very skilled Yarimen who is on par with the Patapon Heroes [[Don the Yumipon and Gan the Yaripon. As opposed to them, he is armed with a Heaven Spear. A calculating warrior as described in his mission's summary, he is faced on the fiery Moakan Desert after Nomen's defeat.

Hukmen The Staffbearer[]

A very skilled Mahomen. He is equipped with Heaven Boots and is armed with a Heaven Staff. He is very cruel, as he is said to have set fire to a forest solely to kill the Patapons living there. He is faced after the death of Kimen, battling the Patapons in the jungle where the player first sees Ormen Karmen. He is, apparently, the oldest of the Generals and sees himself as the true successor to Ormen Karmen. He appears to be actually pleased with the deaths of the other two generals, likely because he believes that now he has no competition as the successor of Ormen Karmen. Unfortunately for him, he is killed in the engagement with the Almighty's forces.

Building Style[]

P2 irwall

Karmen's Iron Wall

Karmens build iron structures that are typically covered in spikes. They all have similar color designs to Zigotons, black with red and orange colored shapes. Those constructions are very solid with evident reinforcing that are harder to destroy than Zigoton forts.

Some buildings have no more than ~300 HP, but constructions like the Robomen Tower and Sokshi Gate are very powerful emplacements with special abilites (such as the ability to create headwind). Many buildings spawn Karmen soldiers. Their advanced buildings are generally extremely strong, also counting the Zugagang tank, as it can move and protect itself.

Trivia[]

  • The Karmen tribe's name is derived from the Japanese word 仮面 (kamen), meaning "mask".
  • The Karmen tribe, as aforementioned, are known for being great builders. Even in Patapon 3, their building skills are referenced by the Dark Heroes.
  • If you look at Karmen closely while the weather is foggy or when there is a sandstorm in the desert, you can see past their masks revealing circular bodies with a single eye, much like Patapons. It is easiest noticed on Dekamen.
  • Karmen often call the Patapons out on having only one eye, even though they themselves have only one eye beneath their mask.
  • Before the end of Patapon 2, the Karmen were also enemies with the Zigotons because of their alliance with the Patapons.
  • The Karmen also have versions of Makoton and Aiton, instead named Makomen and Aimen. They are faced in the Bryun Snowfields, but both of them die.
  • The early concept for a Karmen was a long body with four red triangles on the top, a long, orange nose and two spikes on the head. The early concept Karmen also had what appeared to be Hatamen, seen in the right side of the picture below.
    Pix 081007 patapon b07

    The early concept art of Karmen.

  • The Karmen appeared only in decorations, and a DLC mission in Patapon 3 (However, only one appears there; Ormen Karmen).
  • The Karmen Tribe's main color is most likely orange, as Kibamen and Torimen saddles are orange. As with the Patapons and Zigotons, the saddles of Kiba and Tori-class units change accordingly to the color of what kind of Rarepon or Tribe they are affilitated with.
  • After the credits of Patapon 2, they are shown building the Rainbow Bridge with the Patapons and Zigotons, so they may have ended hostilities with Patapons after Ormen Karmen's death.
  • The Karmen tribe seem to be affiliated with Dettankarmen and Zuttankarmen, as their tribe's name is in the name of the demon. Additionally, the Karmen may be worshippers of Zuttankarmen, or summon power from him, as Karmen will occasionally yell "Zutta! Zuttatan! Karmen!" before attacking.
  • At the end of some of the Patapon 2 trailers ("Hero" and "Army"), there is a Dekamen variant completely absent from the final game, seen below.
    Unused Dekamen

    As seen in trailers. A basic Dekamen with horns.

  • The Karmen, along with the Bonedeth, are the only tribes who wear masks.
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