Dozens of PlayStation followers have spent years dreaming a few new Patapon recreation, the rhythm-based technique collection for the Ps Transportable that combined shades of Pikmin and Guitar Hero. That’s in all probability by no means occurring, however creator Hiroyuki Kotani is again with the following smartest thing: a religious successor known as Ratatan that appears higher than followers might have hoped for. These followers are actually throwing their cash at him on Kickstarter.
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Patapon was a gentle 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 tough and complicated bosses, the small Sony Japan Studio undertaking gained a BAFTA and IGN’s finest PSP recreation of the yr, amongst different accolades. Sequels added multiplayer, further unit varieties, 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 largest 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 kind of stuff you spot out of the nook of your eye whereas clicking by a dozen tabs a minute and immediately notice 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 now, it’s already raised the requested quantity of $141,098 in beneath 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 carry the sport to consoles.
In fact, whereas the Kickstarter’s success proves hardcore followers’ enduring love for the offbeat indie franchise, it additionally raises all types of purple 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 not too long ago, profitable Kickstarters are sometimes simply step one towards getting the writer assist wanted to really take a undertaking over the end line longterm.
“There’s a chance of possibly doing a Patapon sequel sooner or later, however for this we actually needed to make our personal recreation, in our personal model, with particular varieties of gameplay that replicate what we wish,” Kotani informed 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 thinking about publishing these varieties of initiatives these days. Sony’s Japan Studio was dismantled in 2021, and the PS5-maker appears more and more targeted on huge price range blockbusters and dwell service video games to the close to exclusion of all the things else. Hopefully, Ratatan in the end ships on time and is sweet, proving the spirit of a few of these initiatives can dwell on even with out Sony’s assist.
