The early eras of thePlayStationbrand were defined by experimentation. During the PS1 generation, Sony Interactive Entertainment developed and published games that many would consider too unorthodox for mainstream audiences. These included titles like the monochromatic rhythm gameVib-Ribbon, the surreal 3D platformerKula World, and the restaurant management gameOre no Ryuori, among many others.PlayStationcontinued to fund niche, lower-budget titlesin the PS2, PS3, and PSP generations. Throughout those periods, the publisher produced dozens upon dozens of eclectic video games, each of which was distinct in their ways.
One of the more acclaimed video game franchises thatwas conceived during this era of PlayStation history wasPatapon. This short-lived series of rhythm action games was developed exclusively for thePSP by Japan Studio, the now-defunct Sony first-party developer behind cult classics likeShadow of the Colossus,Gravity Rush, andApe Escape. Even though thePataponfranchise only received three installments, it garnered a small but passionate fanbase over the years. Many have advocated for Sony to bring the series back in some way, but it seems like the company isn’t interested. At this point, a fourth entry in thePataponfranchise probably won’t be released anytime soon, butRatatan, an upcoming game from the creators of the series, may be the next best thing.
Ratatan May Scratch the Itch for PlayStation Fans Longing for a New Patapon Game
Ratatan is a Rhythm Action Game That Takes a Lot of Cues from Patapon
Ratatan, for those who don’t know, is a spiritual successor to thePataponseries. It’s being developed by two newly established independent companies called Tokyo Virtual Theory (TVT) and Ratata Arts. The game was originally announced in July 2023 with a brief teaser trailer, and a Kickstarter campaign for it was launched shortly thereafter. Even though the developers hadn’t shared any gameplay at the time,Ratatanquickly became one of the fastest-funded projects in Kickstarter history, amassing over $141,000 in just 41 minutes. Eventually, it surpassed most of its stretch goals by August 2023.
Like the series it’s inspired by,Ratatanis a side-scrollingrhythm action gamethat features dynamic background music and a distinct art style. In it, players control cute one-eyed creatures called Ratatans, who can command armies of Cobuns (e.g. soldiers) with magical instruments. Using the power of music, the Ratatans must order the Cobuns around to defeat enemies and take down challenging bosses. Strategy and rhythm are key components ofRatatan’s gameplay; if players fail to keep to the beat when issuing commands and are unsure when to retreat during a combat encounter, they can easily be trounced in battle.
Some of the Developers That Worked on the Patapon Series Are Involved With Ratatan
Although the companies developingRatatandon’t have an established track record in the gaming industry, they do have a lot of talent behind them. Hiroyuki Kotani, a game designer who worked on the first entry in thePataponseries, is involved in the project. Kenmai Adachi, the composer that made the soundtrack for the originalPatapongames, is working onRatatanas well. Meanwhile, the illustrator and character designer Nelnal, best known for theirwork onDeltaruneand thePokemonseries, is handling the artwork in the game.
Ratatan is Coming Out in 2025 For All Current-Gen Platforms
TVT and Ratata Arts recently announced thatRatatonwould be published by the Hong Kong-based company Game Source Entertainment. It is scheduled to be released, according to the developers, sometime in 2025 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Physical copies of the game are also planned, though the studios have yet to specify what platforms they’ll be available on. On its official Kickstarter page,Ratatanhas a tentative release window of April 2025, but since this was posted more than a year ago, it’s likely that date is outdated by now. Regardless, fans should expect to hear successorin the near future.
PlayStation 5 Slim Disc Edition
The Sony PlayStation 5’s slim console upgrade offers the same functionality as the launch unit but throws in increased storage (1TB), an additional front USB-C port, and a much more compact frame, making for an ideal console purchase for users still on the fence.Priced $50 more than its digital edition, the disc edition already trades at a $50 discount over MSRP and comes with a Dualsense controller, an HDMI 2.1 cable, an AC power cable, and documentation as part of the package, making for a complete package for gamers looking to hook one up to a monitor or TV out of the box.
