Patapon is one of those games that lives and breathes on the cult following it created. Whilst not immediately received enormously positively, its word of mouth spread like wildfire, and was regarded as something of a classic way back when we all had PSP’s. 

If you’re new to the weirdest genre of video games, Patapon was a rhythm action game which gave you the power to create attacks and defense on the beat of the music. Your characters? Basically eyeballs with legs, taking down their foes one synchronised beat at a time. Visually, the game was a standout with its unique 2D plains full of colour and life. Its spiritual follow-up, Ratatan, created by Patapon’s original creator Hiroyuki Kotani, follows in that mould, and brings the joy of Patapon back to life with a deserving retread. 

I say a retread, it’s not really that. Ratatan is essentially Patapon 1.5, a side quest in the Patapon universe, sharing its visual aesthetic and its core gameplay. Whilst we look to games such as Crypt of the Necrodancer for our rhythm combat kicks these days, it’s a hell of a lot of fun to return to where it pretty much all began. And is a solid reminder that I was a much better gamer back then, too.

And it’s here you learn that Patapon, Ratatan, even LocoRoco (also created by Mr. Kotani) birthed very similar concepts. Not just in the likes of Necrodancer but even Pikmin came to mind when playing through Ratatan. As you play as the titular character commanding a selection of great big eyes (otherwise known as Cobun). You’re ordering them around as you hit the buttons to the beat in order to follow, attack, jump, shield or use magic

And well, let’s be honest, it’s not easy. Messing up what you want to do will be far easier than getting it right, and the Cobun take great pleasure in letting you know when you’ve properly screwed it by hollering at you in a language that doesn’t make a lick of sense, forcing you to try again before giving up fully and throwing your controller through the nearest window. 

Of course, you can learn the techniques to any given command if you’re using it often enough (Triangle..Triangle…drop….Triangle), but the sequences are not particularly simple to remember with the odd Circle Circle drop Square and the like enforcing the need to thoroughly pay attention to what command requires what sequence of buttons. The tension racks up as you’re continuously attacked whilst your Cobun awaits your choice. The tactical need to defend whilst also attacking and being unable to do both at the same time really ratchets up the tension, particularly in later levels. 

And naturally if you’re also chasing the highest scores whilst defending and attacking to a beat, Ratatan will reward you highest when your taps are just off-beat, boosting the Fever meter to increase your efficiency in the battles. The lag is purposeful, seemingly to accommodate all kinds of television, but it’s very strange to get your head around when you’re so wired into doing things on time. Just hitting the beat that split second off in order to compensate for the intentional lag seems at odds with what is trying to be accomplished here. One more thing to worry about, as if you needed another. 

What makes Ratatan stand on its own though, away from Patapon, is the roguelite mechanics. Ratatan is not a linear experience, and instead throws you right back at the beginning when you’re defeated as you work through randomly generated rooms before taking on the boss of each area. There is apparently a narrative that ties all of this together in some form or another, but I couldn’t tell you a single moment from it that stood out to me. You’re a better person than I if you can keep it all in your head in a single playthrough. Absolute nonsense.

Fortunately to add to the roguelite elements there is a little hub world which allows you to mess with your loadout, i.e. changing troops and adding perks, crafting weapons (melee and ranged). Being able to strengthen your weaponry early on is a huge boon, as it will make everything you have to juggle all at once just that little bit easier.

What stands out though in Ratatan of course, are the visuals and the audio, both of which are superb .The very unique look of these games are instantly recognisable to anyone who has lost themselves in the likes of Patapon and LocoRoco and Ratatan is no different. The visuals are full of colour, life and adds so much to the overall experience. I’ve been playing the game on a PS5 and it looks as crisp as you can imagine, and a friend – who was also in the review period – had been checking it out on Switch 2 and proclaimed it to be one of the best looking games for the handheld screen. No small feat. 

The all-important audio side though is where the game truly shines. The songs are memorable, catchy as all hell and will be stuck in your head, so long as you’re not infuriated by the off beat mechanics by then.

And it’s not Patapon. The fact of the matter is Ratatan has plenty to offer but it’s a convoluted, overly exhaustive version of the PSP classic, which even at around five hours to finish, outstays its welcome somewhat. It’s a good bit of fun, but the amount of fun you’ll stretch from Ratatan will be very much dependent on your patience for some of its choices.

Ratatan is available now on Nintendo Switch 2, PS5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X|S and Steam

Developer: Ratata Arts, PH Studio inc
Publisher: Game Source Entertainment

Disclaimer: In order to complete this review, we were provided with a promotional copy of the game. For our full review policy, please go here.

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