The Theatrhythm sequence has been a standout, if criminally underplayed, instance of how one can each showcase a sequence’ wonderful set of scores whereas celebrating a prolific franchise’s historical past. Because the earlier entry’s launch on 3DS in 2014, Ultimate Fantasy music has developed due to the releases of Ultimate Fantasy XV, Ultimate Fantasy XIV expansions, remakes, and extra. Theatrhythm Ultimate Bar Line folds these additions into a mixture of returning classics and lesser-known tunes to create a tremendous catalog of songs to play via within the sequence’ trademark tackle the rhythm style.
And similar to in 2012 and 2014, it stays as quirky and eclectic as ever. I’ve minor gripes with the sport, however they not often get in the way in which of what issues: the gameplay. This new Theatrhythm units a excessive bar for the complete sequence, persevering with the development of outdoing what got here earlier than it and showcasing simply how nicely a celebratory sequence compilation could be completed.
There’s quite a bit that’s acquainted this time round for returning gamers. This sequel retains the identical chibi artwork fashion, the identical kinds of stage codecs, and lots of the present songs. It’s a “don’t repair what isn’t damaged” state of affairs and one which works. One massive distinction is that because of the {hardware} variations between the 3DS, the place the final two video games resided completely, and the PS4 and Change, is the way you hit notes. The 3DS video games had been extra tactile since you’d use the contact display screen stylus to faucet the notes on display screen. Now, you’ll have to hit a word because it scrolls throughout the display screen by urgent a face button, shoulder button, or slashing directionally with an analog stick.
Admittedly, it’s fairly awkward at first and I wasn’t a fan of this essential format change, partially as a result of the sport does little that can assist you decide a becoming management scheme. As a result of you may hit most notes with virtually any button on the controller, it’s initially onerous to maintain observe of the place your palms are and the place they need to be going when issues get hectic. After an hour or two, I settled right into a scheme that labored for me, however I found that each one by myself. I might have favored extra route from Ultimate Bar Line, particularly in a style the place most video games assign particular button presses to particular notes.
After discovering what labored for me, I fiendishly blazed via songs, and my previous love of Theatrhythm reignited. Each Discipline Music Levels and Battle Music Levels start by choosing considered one of your 5 celebration loadouts. Every loadout can include as much as 4 characters from numerous Ultimate Fantasy video games. I loved mixing and matching a few of my favorites, like Lightning from Ultimate Fantasy XIII and Cloud from Ultimate Fantasy VII, to create offense-heavy builds. And when boss fights, for instance, gave me explicit challenges, I outfitted magic-focused characters to focus on the enemy’s weak spot alongside extra defensive heroes. It’s a brand new factor of technique that provides a deeper stage of engagement for gamers chasing down the very best doable scores and treasure yield in every stage.
This was particularly vital to finish Sequence Quests, that are non-obligatory aims connected to every tune. Finishing these quests ranges from defeating difficult boss enemies, necessitating that you simply hit “crucial” notes in the course of the tune, or one thing so simple as finishing a stage with a specific character within the celebration (often as a result of that character is connected to the tune indirectly). These quests add a contact of extra problem if you would like it. They’re additionally utterly non-obligatory, that means should you solely need your Ultimate Bar Line expertise to include taking part in via some nice songs and staying on rhythm whereas doing so, it may be simply that.
I do want the quests had been extra built-in into the first development. Whereas they aren’t essential to advance, finishing them does include rewards. However typically the reward is awful, like a potion, which is an merchandise I not often used. Different occasions, it’s higher, comparable to if you earn a CollectaCard that showcases a key Ultimate Fantasy second in a buying and selling card fashion. Regardless, as a result of these further challenges are non-obligatory, I not often felt compelled to provide every greater than a few tries. If I failed a tune sufficient, I’d simply transfer on as a result of there’s no penalty for doing so. Finishing the tune is all that’s required to advance.
One in every of my favourite elements of Ultimate Bar Line is unlocking particular Occasion Music Levels, which let you play via songs whereas cinematics from the sport play behind the notes. It’s a pleasant contact and provides a premium stage of high quality to the sport’s nostalgia issue. The in-game Museum additionally helps out on that entrance, as you may view your CollectaCards anytime. Taking a look at promotional artwork I forgot existed for some Ultimate Fantasy video games was an particularly good deal with, however different playing cards give a greater take a look at in-game characters or enemies of their chibi design. It’s a fantastic addition for gamers trying to one hundred pc the sport and speaks to the Ultimate Bar Line’s celebratory nature nicely.
Exterior of the sport’s single-player choices, there are Multi Battles. Right here, you may compete with as much as three different gamers, and I loved how this switches up the gameplay. The success of different gamers triggers results in your display screen, like a “Fats Chocobo” rush that sends a fleet of huge Chocobo to your display screen, obscuring incoming notes. Others take away the UI that tells you ways nicely you hit a word, which has a surprisingly detrimental impact on how I carry out. And essentially the most difficult impact despatched by an opponent provides faux notes to my scroll. It’s an thrilling and irritating strategy to play via my favourite Theatrhythm songs and a positive strategy to prolong my playtime with the sport. The identical goes for the Limitless World stage, which helps you to play observe after observe till you now not have HP.
Ultimate Bar Line does little to propel you ahead via any of this, although. There’s barely a semblance of a narrative, and I rolled credit with out even realizing I used to be close to the top – I had solely accomplished roughly a 3rd of the 385 tracks. You’ll be able to earn new Summons, which routinely play throughout a stage based mostly in your rhythmic motion, from different gamers in Multi Battles, and you’ll go for top scores by replaying songs, however Ultimate Bar Line doesn’t emphasize why you need to be doing this.
Regardless of that lack of propelling issue, I’m nonetheless utterly engrossed on this sport, taking part in it throughout any 15 free minutes I can discover all through my day. Although I’ve technically accomplished the sport, I wish to SSS rank all of my favourite songs, dig deeper into the libraries from Ultimate Fantasy video games I’m much less accustomed to, and showcase my rhythm prowess in opposition to different gamers. It is a unbelievable rhythm sport set to the tune of arguably the best music catalog in all of video games. Whereas I might have favored extra steerage in how one can proceed, the musical content material on provide is so numerous, so nostalgic, and so nicely completed, that I’ve no drawback composing my very own enjoyable.
