The Theatrhythm collection has been a standout, if criminally underrated, instance of showcase a collection’ glorious set of scores whereas celebrating the historical past of a prolific franchise. Because the earlier entry was launched on 3DS in 2014, Remaining Fantasy music has developed by way of the releases of Remaining Fantasy XV, Remaining Fantasy XIV expansions, remakes, and extra. Theatrhythm Remaining Bar Line packs these additions into a mixture of throwback classics and lesser-known tracks to create an unbelievable catalog of songs to play within the collection’ trademark rhythm style.
And as in 2012 and 2014, it stays as quirky and eclectic as ever. I’ve minor points with the sport, however they hardly ever intervene with what issues: the gameplay. This new Theatrhythm units the bar excessive for all the collection, persevering with the pattern of outdoing what got here earlier than it and displaying simply how a lot a festive collection compilation could be achieved.
There are plenty of issues which are acquainted this time round for returning gamers. This sequel retains the identical chibi artwork model, identical sorts of scene codecs, and plenty of present songs. It is a “do not repair what ain’t broke” scenario and a scenario that works. One huge distinction is that as a consequence of {hardware} variations between the 3DS, the place the final two video games resided completely, and the PS4 and Swap, it is the way you hit the notes. 3DS video games have been extra tactile since you used the touchscreen stylus to kind notes on the display screen. Now you will have to hit a observe because it scrolls throughout the display screen by urgent a face button, shoulder button, or directionally slashing with an analog stick.
Granted, it is fairly awkward at first, and I wasn’t a fan of this crucial format change, partly as a result of the sport does not do a lot that can assist you work out an acceptable management scheme. As a result of you may hit most notes with nearly any button on the controller, it is initially troublesome to know the place your fingers are and the place they need to go when issues get hectic. After an hour or two, I settled right into a sample that labored for me, however I figured it out by myself. I’d have favored extra Remaining Bar Line path, particularly in a style the place most video games assign particular button presses to particular notes.
After discovering what labored for me, I devilishly blazed by way of the songs, and my previous love for performing rekindled. The Area Music Levels and Battle Music Levels start by deciding on certainly one of your 5 celebration loadouts. Every loadout can comprise as much as 4 characters from varied Remaining Fantasy video games. I loved mixing and matching a few of my favorites, like Lightning from Remaining Fantasy XIII and Cloud from Remaining Fantasy VII, to create offensive builds. And when boss battles, for instance, gave me explicit challenges, I’d equip magic-focused characters to focus on enemy weak point alongside extra defensive heroes. It is a new ingredient of technique that provides a deeper stage of engagement for gamers searching for the very best doable scores and treasure yield at every stage.
This was particularly essential for finishing collection quests, that are non-compulsory aims connected to every tune. Finishing these quests ranges from defeating troublesome enemy bosses, requiring you to hit “crucial” notes all through the tune, or one thing so simple as finishing a stage with a specific character within the celebration (often as a result of this character is connected to the tune someway). These quests add an additional contact of problem if desired. They’re additionally utterly non-compulsory, which suggests if you would like your Remaining Bar Line expertise to be all about taking part in nice songs and staying on the beat whereas doing it, it may be simply that.
I want quests have been extra built-in into the primary development. Whereas not required to advance, finishing them comes with rewards. However typically the reward is ugly, like a potion, which is an merchandise I hardly ever used. Different instances it is higher, like if you win a CollectaCard that showcases a key Remaining Fantasy second in collectible card model. Anyway, as these further challenges are non-compulsory, I hardly ever felt compelled to offer every quite a lot of tries. If I failed sufficient on a tune, I’d transfer on as a result of there isn’t any penalty for that. Finishing the tune is all that’s wanted to advance.
One in all my favourite facets of Remaining Bar Line is the unlocking of particular occasion music phases, which let you play by way of songs as in-game cutscenes play behind the notes. It is a good contact and provides a better stage of high quality to the nostalgia issue of the sport. The in-game museum additionally helps on this entrance, as you may view your CollectaCards at any time. Wanting on the promo artwork I forgot existed for some Remaining Fantasy video games was a very good deal with, however different maps give a greater have a look at the sport’s characters or enemies of their chibi design. It is an awesome addition for gamers seeking to play 100% and displays the celebration nature of the Remaining Bar Line properly.
Exterior of the sport’s single-player choices, there are a number of battles. Right here you may compete with as much as three different gamers, and I loved the way it modifications the gameplay. Success from different gamers triggers results in your display screen, akin to a “Fats Chocobo” rush that sends a fleet of Fats Chocobos onto your display screen, obscuring incoming notes. Others suppress the UI that tells you the way arduous you hit a observe, which has a surprisingly unfavorable impact on my efficiency. And probably the most troublesome impact despatched by an opponent provides false notes to my scroll. It is an thrilling and aggravating technique to play by way of my favourite Theatrhythm songs and a surefire technique to prolong my playtime with the sport. The identical goes for the Countless World stage, which helps you to play monitor after monitor. till you run out of HP.
Nevertheless, Remaining Bar Line does little to propel you ahead. There’s barely any semblance of a narrative, and I rolled by way of the credit not even realizing I used to be near the tip – I had solely completed a couple of third of the 385 tracks. You’ll be able to earn new summons, which routinely play throughout a stage based mostly in your rhythm motion, from different gamers in Multi Battles, and you will get excessive scores by replaying songs, however Remaining Bar Line does not spotlight why it is best to do that.
Regardless of this lack of increase issue, I am nonetheless utterly engrossed on this sport, taking part in it for 15 free minutes that I can discover all through my day. Though I’ve technically completed the sport, I need to SSS rank all my favourite songs, dig deeper into the libraries of Remaining Fantasy video games I am much less accustomed to, and showcase my rhythm prowess in opposition to different gamers. This can be a improbable rhythm sport to the tune of the best music catalog of all video games. Whereas I’d have favored extra steerage on how to do that, the musical content material on provide is so various, so nostalgic, and so properly performed that I’ve no drawback composing my very own enjoyment.