Dozens of PlayStation followers have spent years dreaming a couple of new Patapon recreation, the rhythm-based technique collection for the Ps Moveable that blended shades of Pikmin and Guitar Hero. That’s in all probability by no means occurring, however creator Hiroyuki Kotani is again with the following neatest thing: a non secular successor known as Ratatan that appears higher than followers may have hoped for. These followers are actually throwing their cash at him on Kickstarter.
Patapon was a light sensation on the PSP when it arrived in North America in 2008. A colourful side-scrolling journey the place you management little warriors with musical cues as they journey by the wilderness and tackle more and more troublesome and complicated bosses, the small Sony Japan Studio challenge received a BAFTA and IGN’s finest PSP recreation of the yr, amongst different accolades. Sequels added multiplayer, extra unit sorts, and extra gameplay mechanics. Then we by no means heard from it once more. Till now.
Kotani introduced the collection’ unlikley return by way of a brand new recreation at BitSummit in Japan final week. Ratatan brings again the hand-drawn side-scrolling motion, satisfying harm numbers, and catchy percussion based mostly tunes to which you’ll lead your armies. The most important distinction is that the creaturs now sing “RATA RATA RATATAN” as an alternative of “PATA PATA PATAPON.” For those who’re me, the trailer is a type of stuff you spot out of the nook of your eye whereas clicking by a dozen tabs a minute and immediately understand you need to watch:
Unique Patapon musician Kemmei Adachi will contribute to Ratatan, and the sport goals to supply an “expansive on-line multiplayer gameplay expertise.” Which brings us to the Kickstarter. Launched earlier right this moment, it’s already raised the requested quantity of $141,098 in below an hour, and at the moment sits at over $240,614. It’s slated to reach on PC someday in 2025, with a stretch aim of $527,000 to deliver the sport to consoles.
After all, whereas the Kickstarter’s success proves hardcore followers’ enduring love for the offbeat indie franchise, it additionally raises all kinds of pink flags within the yr 2023. You don’t should look far to level to crowdfunding campaigns by designers of cult classics that both ended up being actually dangerous or by no means delivery. Extra just lately, profitable Kickstarters are sometimes simply step one towards getting the writer help wanted to really take a challenge over the end line longterm.
“There’s a chance of possibly doing a Patapon sequel sooner or later, however for this we actually wished to make our personal recreation, in our personal fashion, with particular sorts of gameplay that replicate what we wish,” Kotani advised VGC. “After that, if there’s an opportunity to talk to Sony about doing a Patapon sequel then we’ll go from there.”
Sadly, Sony doesn’t appear very fascinated about publishing these sorts of tasks these days. Sony’s Japan Studio was dismantled in 2021, and the PS5-maker appears more and more centered on massive price range blockbusters and reside service video games to the close to exclusion of every little thing else. Hopefully, Ratatan in the end ships on time and is sweet, proving the spirit of a few of these tasks can reside on even with out Sony’s help.