I have been a Patapon fan for a long time, which is why I was so eager to talk to the Ratatan team. The game is the new creation from Ratata Arts, developed by TVT and published by Game Source Entertainment: a side-scrolling rhythm roguelike action game with online co-op for up to four players and more than 100 characters fighting on screen at once. It launched in mid-October on PC (Steam), PS5, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox.
By email, Ratata Arts answered questions about what changed since Patapon, the technical challenge of syncing rhythm online, the Kickstarter campaign and the question I most wanted to ask: is the game’s Portuguese European or Brazilian? Answers were provided in English, translated from the Japanese original.
The interview
What did you keep from Patapon’s rhythm-command system, and what had to change for side-scrolling action and online co-op?
“The most significant change in game design from Patapon to Ratatan is that players can now move freely and perform actions whilst commanding their troops via rhythm commands. The perspective has shifted from guiding the characters as a deity to projecting yourself into Ratatan and embarking on an adventure within that world.”
“As the addition of action elements can lead to more complex controls, we took great care to ensure players could concentrate on the rhythm. A prime example is the command input. In Patapon, the phrase ‘Pata Pata Pata Pon’ was easy to remember due to the sound of the words and helped players visualise moving forward. In Ratatan, whilst maintaining the connection between sound and action, we have evolved this into a simpler, more intuitive command, ‘Ratta Ratta Ratta-tta’, which can be entered simply by pressing the same button three times.”
“As players are now free to act as they wish, multiplayer lets them make their own judgements on positioning and manoeuvring, significantly enhancing the strategic depth. We have also blurred the lines between solo and online co-op play, so both feel like the same adventure. And the eight distinctive Ratatans brought a major change in character expression. We hope all players will find their favourite.”
Online co-op supports up to four players and more than 100 characters fighting at once. What was the hardest technical challenge?
“The greatest challenge was balancing online synchronisation, including rhythm, with the rendering process, whilst a vast number of characters and attacks were moving simultaneously. In addition to the four players’ Ratatans and a large number of Cobuns, numerous enemies, projectiles and attack effects all appear on the same screen.”
“During development we had to constantly check whether these movements were synchronising correctly online. As this is a rhythm-based game, synchronisation was particularly crucial. On the visual front, we wanted to keep the fun of a roguelike, where attacks become more powerful and the visuals more spectacular, while keeping the processing load down. We struggled to optimise without compromising the liveliness and exhilaration on screen.”
The project started on Kickstarter. How did the backers shape the game?
“Firstly, we made a conscious effort to regularly update our backers. Our goal was to present a substantial amount of work each month, which ultimately helped speed up development. We also held around two closed beta tests for backers, and having the clear objective of preparing a playable build accelerated the process.”
“Whenever we were unsure about a decision, we showed it as much as possible, let people try it, and used their feedback to set our direction. Our backers helped reduce uncertainty within the team and enabled us to continue, albeit on a small scale.”
“On the other hand, we have fallen significantly short in the operation and support of the Kickstarter for our backers around the world. I am truly sorry for the inconvenience and concern this has caused to everyone who supported us.”
What did working with TVT and Game Source Entertainment bring to the project?
“As the development team, TVT has taken the concept of Ratatan and turned it into a playable game. Our publisher, GSE, has supported us in a wide range of areas, including events around the world, localisation and the development of the console versions. It is no exaggeration to say that without GSE’s support, Ratatan would not be what it is today.”
Ratatan is out on Steam, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox. What comes next: updates, new content, events?
“Firstly, we plan to move forward urgently with bug fixes and balance adjustments. There are still many promises we made to our Kickstarter backers that we have yet to fulfil. Whilst working on these, we intend to add new gameplay features and improve the user experience.”
“Depending on future sales, we also hope to plan further content, such as DLC, so everyone can enjoy the world of Ratatan even more.”
Ratatan already includes Portuguese. Is it European or Brazilian Portuguese, and would you consider a Brazilian Portuguese version?
“We currently support European Portuguese. Adding Brazilian Portuguese would place a significant burden on our current development team, so we cannot make any specific promises at this stage.”
“However, if even more people in Brazil come to love Ratatan, I believe that would be a huge incentive for us to consider adding this support! I’d be delighted if you could help share this interview with as many people as possible.”
Anything you’d like to tell Brazilian players?
“Hey there, players in Brazil, can you hear me? We’ve created a really fun game right beneath your feet! We’d love to share the cheerful music of Ratatan with you all. We’re sure you’ll love this music, this world and its colourful cast of characters. Please join us and enjoy the adventure to the beat!”
Where to play
Ratatan is available on Steam, PS5, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox, with European Portuguese among its languages. If Brazilian players want their own version, the studio’s message was clear: the more people play it there, the better the chances. My thanks to Ratata Arts and Game Source Entertainment for their answers.
Source: email interview with Ratata Arts.
Max Xavier
