We have some great news for fans of rhythm games. Ratatan hits Steam early access on September 19. This is a spiritual successor to one of the most renowned rhythm games of all time, Patapon. The designer behind the original game, Hiroyuki Kotani, is involved.
The mechanics here are similar to Patapon and its sequels, but look to be more elaborate. The game tasks players with rhythmically controlling cute little soldiers called Cobuns, but directing these warriors while avoiding damage is easier said than done. We said it felt like “the gaming equivalent of patting your head and rubbing your stomach.”
The developer also announced some new features coming to the game. It revealed two new worlds, including a jungle and a garden that’s been frozen over, along with new soldier and weapon types. This is 2025, so the game also features a roguelike element, as players can encounter unique power-ups and buffs during each run.
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There’s still a lot we don’t know about this title, including the price and when it’ll eventually come to gaming consoles. The developer has a livestream planned for September 14 hosted by voice actor Tomokazu Sugita. The stream “will feature the latest updates, our post-launch roadmap and information on upcoming events.”
Patapon originally came out all the way back in 2007 for the PSP. It was followed by a handful of sequels, all originally for Sony’s first portable console. The first two games have been ported to other consoles, including the Switch and PS5.