Rhythm games don’t usually come with war drums and cats in capes—but Ratatan is far from your average genre entry. The spiritual successor to cult PSP classic Patapon, Ratatan mixes musical mayhem with roguelike structure and a co-op focus that could make it a genre shake-up worth chanting about.
A New Beat from a Familiar Legacy
We sat down with Producer Saisu Sakijiri Kazuto of TVT Co. Ltd to learn more about the vibrant new title, and he was quick to point out how different Ratatan is from its predecessors.
“One of the most obvious differences is the color and style,” said Kazuto. “Ratatan is much more vibrant and animated than Patapon, but even more than that, you now have direct control over your character. It’s more action-focused this time.”
That added control plays a key role in Ratatan’s combat. While fans of Patapon will remember chaining rhythmic commands to move and attack, Ratatan gives players the reins with more freedom of movement and strategy. The game blends real-time action with rhythm-based skill execution, letting you stomp into battle in style—assuming you can keep the beat.
Crowd-Fueled Design and Community Feedback
Starting as a Kickstarter project, Ratatan quickly exceeded its funding goals, but the developers didn’t stop there. According to Kazuto, fan feedback has played a major part in shaping the game’s systems.
“We’ve already done alpha and closed beta testing,” he explained. “The feedback has helped us tweak things like rhythm timing and command feel. Of course, some parameters are fixed—but we’ve adjusted what we can.”
Rhythm Meets Roguelike in Multiplayer Madness
One of the game’s standout features is its support for up to four-player co-op, complete with cross-platform functionality. That’s no accident.
“Multiplayer was a key part of our design from the beginning,” Kazuto told us. “We wanted people to team up, take on quests together, and replay stages with different combinations. That’s why we chose a roguelike structure—it fits perfectly.”
Kazuto also shared his personal favorite character, saying, “I really like the cat-type Ratatan—partly because I like cats, but also because of how they play. For new players though, we recommend starting with Rap-a-Pak units. They’re simple and accessible, but as you progress, you’ll unlock deeper strategies.”
And don’t let the colorful charm fool you—Ratatan has some bite. In our time with the demo, even the first boss brought serious challenge. But it’s that difficulty, paired with the game’s personality, that kept us tapping back in.
When asked about what he hopes new players notice first, Kazuto didn’t hesitate:
“The visuals. The music. The cuteness. That’s what we want players to feel. It’s catchy and inviting on the surface, but there’s depth underneath.”
Looking Ahead to Early Access
With early access on the way, the developers are staying tuned to community feedback and continuing to polish the game toward its 1.0 launch on July 25th.
“We can’t change everything,” Kazuto acknowledged, “but we’re listening. We want to make the best possible version of Ratatan for our players.”
If the early buzz and developer passion are any indication, Ratatan is drumming up something special. Between its stylish evolution of rhythm gameplay, roguelike replayability, and co-op chaos, Ratatan is a beat worth watching.
