The Patapon collection on the unique PSP helped outline the quirky and easygoing nature of the much-loved handheld. As one of many first of what you may name a Rhythm-Strategy sport, Patapon was all about guiding a plucky following of worshipers towards a mounting collection of battles – all to the beat of their chief’s track. The franchise has been dormant for a while, however that hasn’t stopped the unique builders from creating their successor, which provides a intelligent roguelite twist.
Throughout Summer season Recreation Fest 2025, I had the particular alternative to see the newest construct of Ratatan, which forged me as a new chief guiding my decided flock by means of some difficult skirmishes. It took me a few runs to seek out my groove within the face of ruthless opposition, however I might nonetheless see that Ratatan has a lot extra in thoughts than simply deciding on being a revival of a PSP basic.
Ratatan takes place within the land of Redo, the place music guides the fates of the tiny Cobun. After going through a fierce battle with invaders, the Cobun crew up with a crew of musical guardians referred to as the Ratatan, who information the Cobun on a marketing campaign to defend their lands to allow them to attain fabled lands of the Everafter. By choosing considered one of a number of Ratatan armed with particular devices, you’ll information varied Cobun items and infantry to battle enemies, retake settlements, and rating sufficient power-ups to take down every of the massive bosses.
Ratatan channels the circulate and pacing of the unique Patapon video games however ups the sense of scale to the motion in a huge approach. I cherished seeing the whimsical and extra vibrant artwork fashion come to life as soon as the motion received going. You management the chief of the pack, however not the items that observe alongside. To get them in movement, you will have to execute a command that is in tune with the beat of the Ratatan’s circulate. These instructions embody motion, leaping, defensive abilities, and, in fact, the nice ol’ offensive strikes. The massive trick with Ratatan, very similar to the Patapon collection, is managing to maintain your tempo whereas within the warmth of battle.
Chatting with sport producer Saisu Sakijiri, Kazuto mentioned the variations in gameplay types between Ratatan and Patapon, which lean extra towards the in-the-moment motion of gameplay than the unique video games.
“Wanting again at Patapon, these video games had an RPG fashion of affect to it, however with Ratatan, we go for a extra action-focused tackle that gameplay, and naturally, with the added roguelite components going together with it,” stated the producer. “I used to be impressed by video games like Hole Knight, which I am a huge fan of, and I needed to present such a rhythm motion gameplay.”
Discovering your rhythm is important, and I will admit it definitely took me a while to seek out mine. I stored asking myself if I used to be dashing or dragging when it got here to touchdown the beat for instructions, however I additionally needed to remember that I wanted to anticipate and react to enemy assaults. In a single occasion, I led a march ahead with my items, however they virtually instantly walked proper into a devastating counterattack from the enemy. Dealing with these setbacks felt discombobulating, however as soon as I received my groove again, issues lastly got here collectively, and I used to be chaining assaults and dodging enemy laser blasts and different hazards with larger ease.
The important thing departure from the fashion of gameplay set by the Patapon collection is the transfer to a roguelite expertise. Every run may have you select from a roster of Ratatan armed with trumpets, drums, tubas, and guitars, who all have their particular modifiers and perks to use in battle. As soon as the stage was completed, I used to be capable of choose up totally different modifiers that utilized assault and ability bonuses to the items and Ratatan.
It is a very acquainted roguelite loop, however throughout the context of a rhythm-action sport, it feels particularly thrilling and attention-grabbing. Very similar to Hades and different roguelites that will let you take within the setting, you may as well go to a hub base of types that may have characters to speak up. These characters will assist the Ratatan by supplying you with the chance to purchase persistent upgrades for the squad, permitting them to be extra ready when heading out into a contemporary run.
In accordance with the producer of Ratatan, suggestions from longtime followers has been coming in for the sport following its fast success on Kickstarter in 2023, which led to the stronger distinction between Ratatan and its concentrate on a distinctive expertise.
“We’re very completely satisfied that followers of the Patapon collection have preferred what we’ve with the sport up to now, however I do really feel that Ratatan may be very a lot a successor to Patapon and is doing its personal factor,” stated the producer. “It has been a little bit of a problem to make issues extra modernized with the roguelite components, but in addition understand that it’s a problem for gamers as properly. There’s undoubtedly a studying curve for the sport, however we’re completely satisfied to see the suggestions that we’ve been getting from gamers.”
From my hands-on with the newest construct of Ratatan, it is so far a enjoyable however really difficult rhythm sport. But I could not assist however be drawn in by its infectiously charming world and circulate. It is a sort of revival that captures the unique, quirky tone and gameplay, and hopefully, its bigger construction will come collectively to probably surpass its forebears.