Since its debut on the NES in 1987, the Final Fantasy series has boasted some of the best soundtracks video games have to offer, across 15 (soon to be 16) main series games and countless spin-offs. This makes the series very suitable for the idea of a rhythm game that celebrates this music. That’s exactly what his Theatrhythm series and its latest entry, Final Bar Line, offer. Combining a typical rhythm game experience with some light RPG mechanics can seem a bit strange to first-timers. And those who last experienced Theatrism on the 3DS may wonder how well the game translates to non-touch platforms. screen. How does it rock regarding both of these questions?
As previously mentioned, Theatrhythm is a rhythm game featuring a collection of music from the entire Final Fantasy series, from the original NES game to Final Fantasy XV, including multiple spin-off titles such as Mystic Quest and Type 0. increase. The general premise of gameplay is simple. A circular trigger icon appears from the left (and possibly top), and once you reach the empty circle on the right, you must perform the correct input. These triggers are tuned to music and come in several varieties. A regular red trigger requires you to press either the trigger or the face button. The yellow trigger has an arrow and you need to flick one of the analog sticks in the direction it indicates. , and green triggers require you to hold down the trigger/face button and release at the right time. On stage he has three types. BMS takes your party against a line of enemies. FMS features a unique version of the green trigger that requires the party to walk along a path and follow the analog stick up and down. EMS plays much like his BMS, but with video playing in the background instead of combat. All of these modes are responsive, easy to learn, and fun to play. Also included are slide notes from his FMS stage, which was particularly concerning about the transition from touchscreen controls.
The game also features some light RPG mechanics, as you can build a party of four from a massive character pool from across the franchise. There are different types that specialize in support skills, etc. Completing a song rewards characters in your party with XP. This will increase your level and give you different skills that you can use. Other than assigning abilities and choosing summoning stones, the player has very little input into how combat goes, other than how well they did in combat. The better you hit the , the stronger the attack. If you want to play music ignoring this element, don’t worry, you can easily ignore it. Where it really comes into play is the Series Quest Mode, which is also the primary way to unlock music. is unlocked and free to play. There are various things to do. you want to complete them all.
The amount of music on Final Bar Line is frankly staggering, reaching nearly 400 tracks. This is a great choice, but it has one drawback. Tracks are unlocked only by completing them in series quests, so unlocking the entire library is a very lengthy process. As of this writing, I’ve put about 20 hours into the game and still haven’t gotten it all. Another problem with games is the controller you’re playing with. Personally I found the placement of the right analog stick to be uncomfortable to use for long periods the pro his controller pretty much solves this problem but if you play in handheld mode the You should be prepared for hand pain. A small personal gripe I have is that many of the long tracks in series like One-Winged Angel and vocal tracks like Sutekidane are small clips of songs that usually last about two and a half minutes on average. Not having the option to play the full version of these tracks if you want is not unexpected, but a little disappointing.
Overall Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is a frontrunner for my personal Game of the Year and it’s only February. It’s proving to be a dangerous catalyst to keep you occupied with its massive track list, fun gameplay, and cute aesthetic, and keep you saying “one more song” over and over into the night. The difficulty options are also well-balanced, and the beginner chart is easy enough to get a feel for the game. Expert charts are fun and not incredibly difficult. Ultimate Track is a great challenge for the most advanced players and those looking for extreme challenges. Some tracks add his fourth difficulty called Supreme. All of these levels feel as expected. This means that any skill level can have a good time. Final Fantasy music is legendary for a reason, and Theatrhythm perfectly captures it. If you’re looking for a great rhythm game to waste your time and fill your head with, Final Bar Line is a great choice.
