Ratatan

Ratatan is a welcome injection of weird into the Switch 2 roster. Hiroyuki Kotani builds on the legacy of Patapon with an addictive musical strategy title that will have "Rata" and "Un-Taka" rattling around your brain long after you walk away from your console.It will please fans of the developer's previous rhythm-action strategy, while offering something fresh and challenging for newcomers. It's a bit light and can feel too chaotic at times, but it's easily one of the most unique titles on Switch 2.

Ratata Art's debut title, Ratatan lets some of the old Patapon developers explore the unique mix of rhythm and command-based action once more.

Ratatan captures pretty much everything that made Patapon fun, though your mileage may vary on the first few runs. Once things get going, Ratatan lives up to its predecessor’s reputation, mixing a solid roguelite angle with its unique, incredibly satisfying rhythm-based gameplay. If you dig rhythm games, I recommend giving Ratatan a go, as it’s got plenty to offer that you won’t find anywhere else.

Ratatan is a charming and addictive spiritual successor to Patapon, blending rhythmic combat with rewarding roguelite progression. Its gorgeous art style and infectious soundtrack shine, even if visual chaos and repetition occasionally get in the way.

Ratatan exists to satiate players who crave the quirky charm of Patapon. Music and strategy meld with colorful, whimsical visuals and while its roguelike structure can often extend enjoyment, those fundamentals also beget repetition.

Playing Ratatan is like opening an old, forgotten box in a closet. You find objects you thought...

Ratatan recaptures the charm of Patapon with addictive rhythm-based combat, charismatic characters, and a design that blends action and strategy with plenty of personality. However, repetitive expeditions, a progression system that could offer more variety, and some issues with presentation and performance prevent it from truly shining. It is a highly enjoyable spiritual successor that successfully revives a special formula, though it still has room to evolve.

Ratatan is a perfect and weird mixture of action, platforming, arcade, roguelite, and rhythm gameplay, making it one of the most entertaining and beautifully made games I’ve played all year. Ratatan is one of the best spiritual successors ever made. It gets what made Patapon so good and actually makes it better. No kidding, I can say I like Ratatan more than I like Patapon, because the only thing that kept Patapon from being perfect was how long its main story was. It had the length of a mid-sized JRPG, so it could get tiring, but by changing it into a more action-arcade-centric game, Ratatan elevates its premise and makes it more fun and approachable. So, yeah, this is one of the best games of the year. I loved every second of it and will continue to love every second, because I don’t plan to stop playing anytime soon. So, give it a go, and “rat-tat-tat” away!

With its charming concept and art style, Ratatan has a huge amount of appeal. However, its rogue-like structure makes it incredibly repetitive, leading to a certain weariness despite the game’s steadily increasing difficulty.

While a vibrant and entertaining rhythm game, Ratatan suffers from repetition and a forced grind which makes extended gameplay tiresome.