Improvements and Future Plans for the Ratatan Demo

[h2]Improvements and Future Plans for the Ratatan Demo[/h2][p]Thank you so much for playing the Ratatan demo![/p][p]We can’t begin to express how much we appreciate everyone who has played this new take on rhythm action along with its charming characters and music, as well as those who shared valuable feedback and suggestions with us.[/p][h2]Our Improvement Plan[/h2][p]Ratatan aims to deliver a new kind of experience through the combination of rhythm and roguelike gameplay, with the intention of offering fun that deepens as players replay the game. However, throughout the demo, several issues (particularly in the early stages) have become apparent:[/p]

[p]Players feel stress early into the game.[/p]
[p]The main source of difficulty isn't just level design, but also in the lack of clarity and poor controls.[/p]
[p]Players quit before reaching the core fun of the game.[/p]

[p]This has led us to a serious realization: we were unintentionally creating a negative experience in areas outside of the intended difficulty curve and growth mechanics.[/p][h2]Our Thoughts on Difficulty[/h2][p]We’ve received many comments from the Ratatan demo saying that the challenge and toughness are what make it fun. As a development team, we value the experience of challenge and achievement.[/p][p]The upcoming adjustments are focused solely on improving the early-game clarity and user-friendliness, and are not simply about lowering the difficulty.[/p][p]Elements such as strict rhythm accuracy, powerful enemies, and limited healing—what we call “restrictive features”—are planned to be included in the future endgame content, called “Oaths”, where players can choose their own rules and challenge themselves as they see fit.[/p][p]We aim to update the game in a way that still allows those seeking a challenge to find one, while also making sure that newcomers can still enjoy the experience from the start.[/p][h2]Upcoming Improvements Planned in the Near Future[/h2][h3]1. Bug Fixes (Top Priority)[/h3][p]We are currently working on hotfixes to address critical issues that disrupt the core gameplay experience, including:[/p]

[p]Game-breaking bugs (during tutorials, combat, or at Rataport).[/p]
[p]Multiplayer connection errors and problems when sessions are disconnected.[/p]
[p]Freezes or unresponsive controls occurring in certain environments.[/p]

[h3]2. Improvements to Rhythm Controls and Usability[/h3][p]We aim to enhance the overall feel of the tempo and controls to reduce player stress. Planned improvements include:[/p]

[p]Adjusting the input timing window for rhythm actions to make them easier to execute.[/p]
[p]Tweaking enemy wind-ups and attack intervals to make them easier to respond to.[/p]
[p]Improving the usability of shooting attacks.[/p]
[p]Introducing cancelable actions for certain moves to reduce sluggishness in controls.[/p]

[h3]3. Game Balance Adjustments (Especially in the Early Stages)[/h3][p]We are redesigning the game to ensure challenges feel fair and satisfying, while preserving the core enjoyment of the roguelike experience. Planned adjustments include:[/p]

[p]Increasing the number of starting Cobun to strengthen early-game combat.[/p]
[p]Adding a way to replenish Cobun when their number reaches zero.[/p]
[p]Adding a way to restore Kobun's HP.[/p]
[p]Changing healing springs to restore both HP and MP.[/p]
[p]Adjusting the HP of regular enemies and bosses to improve combat pacing.[/p]
[p]Revising unfair attacks, such as Wagoon’s wide-range or instant-death moves, to be more reasonable.[/p]

[h2]UI Improvements (Mid-to-Long-Term Updates)[/h2][p]Since UI improvements require structural changes, these will be rolled out gradually in future updates. Planned improvements include:[/p]

[p]Enhancing the visibility of rhythm timing UI and improving synchronization with audio.[/p]
[p]Improving the clarity of navigation for party setup, weapon switching, and skill usage.[/p]
[p]Making button prompts more visible and easier to understand.[/p]
[p]Strengthening control guides and tutorials.[/p]

[h2]In Closing[/h2][p]Our development team is committed to making Ratatan a game that anyone can enjoy, and we will continue to improve and push forward, listening to all of your feedback.[/p][p]The demo is still evolving, and so we welcome your continued thoughts and impressions.[/p][p]Thank you for your ongoing support of Ratatan![/p]