Ratatan Preview

Do you remember that odd little game on the PlayStation Portable, Patapon, where you commanded a small army of stick figure–esque warriors by playing a percussive instrument? If so, you may be as excited as I was to hear that the beloved series hasn’t quite been forgotten, as a new spiritual successor is on its way in the form of Ratatan by Ratata Arts. We were lucky enough to receive an early copy of the game to test and sink our rhythm-game-loving teeth into.

In the game, the player takes on the role of a Ratatan, a strange animal-like creature, with the goal of travelling to the Everfall and meeting the Goddess who presides there. To accomplish this, they have a special instrument — one that depends on the character chosen — which allows them to command small warriors known as Cobun.

The core mechanics for the game are very much the same as in Patapon: by playing specific notes in sequence with their instrument of choice, the player can give their fighters commands ranging from gathering together to continue walking or attacking enemies to performing special skills unique to the type of Cobun. While simple on the surface, the challenge comes in knowing which command to sing and when, as some enemies have devastating strikes that can only be avoided with swift decisions.

Unlike its predecessor, which had a linear story and stages, Ratatan takes a more roguelike approach. During each run, you and your Cobun will travel through various zones, all with unique enemies and bosses to encounter. Each map is split into small sections, and once you reach the end of one (and at the very beginning), you’ll be given a choice on what prizes the coming stretch will hold, ranging from resources and optional bosses to special upgrades called Ratakaruta.

These powerups, represented by elemental icons in the field and as cards in the inventory, give varying bonuses to the player and their diminutive phalanx depending on the element. A Fire card may allow Cobun to burn enemies on hit, or a Water alternative may give passive healing. By collecting multiple Ratakaruta of one element, an additional benefit can also be gained, such as shards of ice floating near your character, damaging any that come near.

Ratakaruta are lost after each adventure, which allows intrepid musicians to try out new builds and ideas for each attempt!

Between runs, there is a vibrant hub area, where the player can create new weapons for their little army, increase their skills, and use gathered resources to unlock new additions to both fighting forces and the aforementioned craftable items. Once ready, a central portal can be used to begin the next attempt.

A minor problem I had with the game was the repetition. As each Zone is the same, down to the last boss and enemies, going through it can be a bit on the dull side. Sure, the player can see themselves slowly getting stronger as they fight the same enemies, but a bit of variety and maybe a few options to cycle between wouldn’t go amiss.

Ratatan is visually gorgeous, with lots of popping colours and a unique aesthetic. Everything seems to bounce to the beat of the background music and is generally very uplifting and cute. However, I feel a bit anxious about the characters themselves, as it seems everyone has lost an eye at some point. It may be just a fun little quirk of the game and I shouldn’t think too long about it, but I can’t help but wonder...

Accompanying the beautifully colourful scenery is the music, which is the cherry on top of this adorable cake. Constantly happy and upbeat, the music continues the trend set by Patapon, incorporating a choir of soprano voices to chant in glee. You may, however, start to go mildly out of your mind if you dislike repetitious songs; the hub area is a great example of a song being a bit too catchy!

To summarise, Ratatan manages to continue the legacy left by its spiritual ancestors while also carving out a niche all its own. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how the game develops in Early Access and am keen to know if the maps, characters, and mechanics will receive any major changes. If you’re looking for an adorable rhythm-based roguelike to bop along to alone or with friends, this may not be a bad stop.