Patapon Non secular Sequel Blows Up Kickstarter In Simply One Hour

Dozens of PlayStation followers have spent years dreaming a couple of new Patapon sport, the rhythm-based technique sequence for the Ps Moveable that combined shades of Pikmin and Guitar Hero. That’s most likely by no means occurring, however creator Hiroyuki Kotani is again with the subsequent neatest thing: a non secular successor referred to as Ratatan that appears higher than followers might 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 via the wilderness and tackle more and more troublesome and complicated bosses, the small Sony Japan Studio undertaking gained a BAFTA and IGN’s greatest PSP sport of the 12 months, amongst different accolades. Sequels added multiplayer, further unit sorts, and extra gameplay mechanics. Then we by no means heard from it once more. Till now.

Kotani introduced the sequence’ unlikley return through a brand new sport at BitSummit in Japan final week. Ratatan brings again the hand-drawn side-scrolling motion, satisfying harm numbers, and catchy percussion primarily based tunes to which you’ll be able to lead your armies. The largest distinction is that the creaturs now sing “RATA RATA RATATAN” as an alternative of “PATA PATA PATAPON.” If you happen to’re me, the trailer is a type of belongings you spot out of the nook of your eye whereas clicking via a dozen tabs a minute and immediately notice you need to watch:

Authentic 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 at present, 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 objective of $527,000 to convey 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 12 months 2023. You don’t need to look far to level to crowdfunding campaigns by designers of cult classics that both ended up being actually dangerous or by no means transport. Extra lately, profitable Kickstarters are sometimes simply step one towards getting the writer help wanted to really take a undertaking over the end line longterm.

“There’s a risk of perhaps doing a Patapon sequel sooner or later, however for this we actually wished to make our personal sport, in our personal fashion, with particular kinds of gameplay that mirror what we wish,” Kotani instructed 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 occupied with publishing these kinds of tasks these days. Sony’s Japan Studio was dismantled in 2021, and the PS5-maker appears more and more targeted on massive finances blockbusters and reside service video games to the close to exclusion of every part 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.