Theatrhythm Final Fantasy
Encyclopedia
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is an upcoming Final Fantasy
video game developed by indieszero
and published by Square Enix
exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS
. The game is similar to other traditional Final Fantasy
games with an overworld and dungeons. However, the combat differs as commands are entirely time-based.
. The space between the two is called Rhythm, which gives birth to a crystal that controls music. Chaos causes the crystal to become disrupted, and the only way to return it to normal is to increase a music wave known as "Rizpo".
Along with Chaos and Cosmos, other characters confirmed to be featured include Lightning
from Final Fantasy XIII
, the Onion Knight from Final Fantasy III
, Bartz Klauser from Final Fantasy V
, Cloud Strife
from Final Fantasy VII
, and Warrior of Light from the first Final Fantasy
title. The character and monster designs are designed by MonsterOctopus, who also designed the Kingdom Hearts
avatars found in Kingdom Hearts Mobile
.
video game. Players take control of four chibi
versions of Final Fantasy
characters, and select a Final Fantasy game from the first Final Fantasy to Final Fantasy XIII. Each game has three stages: field, battle, and event. Each stage features different game mechanics than the others; once a stage is completed, the characters level up. The difficulty level can be changed in order to make it appealing to "beginners and rhythm masters alike". Throughout the game, players can unlock music and movie scenes. The gameplay requires players to tap on the screen in correct spots to the beat of the music playing.
. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy was officially announced for release exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS
handheld game console
in the Japanese manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Jump
. It is currently announced for release only in Japan. Square Enix Japan created an official website to promote the game. Rumours came up that Theatrhythm Final Fantasy would be developed by Jupiter
; however, it was later confirmed on the official website that it would be developed by Indieszero
, which developed Nintendo DS
games such as Retro Game Challenge
and Electroplankton
.
, One Winged Angel from Final Fantasy VII
, To Zanarkand from Final Fantasy X
, and The Sunleth Waterscape from Final Fantasy XIII.
s Chris Kohler wrote that it might be a good game, and added that while developing rhythm games may be difficult, he hopes that Square Enix would enlist a developer who could accomplish such a task. He wrote that the 3DS has a meager library and that the high quality of Final Fantasy music could lend itself well to the genre. Nevertheless, he wrote "if it sucks, it’ll really suck." He further criticized Square Enix Japan for rarely making video games outside of its three big brands, which includes Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest
, and Kingdom Hearts. However, he noted that they are making an attempt to make more video games that aren't role-playing games. MTV Multiplayer
's Matt Clark thought that it was a joke when he first heard about it, though he noted that he liked rhythm games. He questioned why the game needed to exist in the first place; nevertheless, he wrote that he would reserve judgment until he can "see the game" for himself. Game Set Watch's Danny Cowan also felt that the name sounded like a joke, and speculated that it could be a prank similar to the April Fool's Day reveal of the hoax game Funky Fantasy, which was also supposed to be a Final Fantasy rhythm game. 1UP.com
's Chris Pereira wrote that while Theatrhythm may not be what 3DS owners were expecting, its developer has a quality track record. Shack News' Steve Watts commented that the title, which he calls "insane", "could be part of some internal contest to come up with the strangest name". GameSpot
's Jonathan Leo Toyad wrote that the rhythm genre lends itself well due to the high quality of the series' music, and called the art style "colorful".
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
video game developed by indieszero
Indieszero
is a video game production company headquartered in Musashino, Tokyo, Japan. It was founded on April 14, 1997, and has developed video games for other video game companies, including Nintendo and Namco Bandai Games.-Notable works:* Sutte Hakkun...
and published by Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo. The autostereoscopic device is able to project stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or any additional accessories. The Nintendo 3DS features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS series software, including Nintendo DSi software...
. The game is similar to other traditional Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
games with an overworld and dungeons. However, the combat differs as commands are entirely time-based.
Plot
The game follows the events of the gods Chaos and Cosmos, a similar plot to Dissidia Final Fantasy for the PlayStation PortablePlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
. The space between the two is called Rhythm, which gives birth to a crystal that controls music. Chaos causes the crystal to become disrupted, and the only way to return it to normal is to increase a music wave known as "Rizpo".
Along with Chaos and Cosmos, other characters confirmed to be featured include Lightning
Lightning (Final Fantasy)
is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the video game Final Fantasy XIII developed and published by Square Enix. She was created by Motomu Toriyama, the game's director and scenario writer, and designed by Tetsuya Nomura...
from Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Released in 2009 in Japan and 2010 in North America and PAL regions, it is the thirteenth major installment in the Final Fantasy series...
, the Onion Knight from Final Fantasy III
Final Fantasy III
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square in for the Family Computer as the third installment in the Final Fantasy series. It is the first numbered Final Fantasy game to feature the job-change system....
, Bartz Klauser from Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy V
is a medieval-fantasy role-playing video game developed and published by Square in 1992 as a part of the Final Fantasy series. The game first appeared only in Japan on Nintendo's Super Famicom . It has been ported with minor differences to Sony's PlayStation and Nintendo's Game Boy Advance...
, Cloud Strife
Cloud Strife
is a fictional character and the main protagonist in Square's role-playing game Final Fantasy VII and several of its sequels and spin-offs. His original design was created by Final Fantasy VII character designer Tetsuya Nomura...
from Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII
is a role-playing video game developed by Square and published by Sony Computer Entertainment as the seventh installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was originally released in 1997 for the Sony PlayStation and was re-released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers and in 2009...
, and Warrior of Light from the first Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy (video game)
is a fantasy role-playing video game created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, developed and first published in Japan by Square in 1987. It is the first game in Square's Final Fantasy series...
title. The character and monster designs are designed by MonsterOctopus, who also designed the Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts
is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The first game in the Kingdom Hearts series, it is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company. The game combines characters and settings from Disney...
avatars found in Kingdom Hearts Mobile
Kingdom Hearts Mobile
is an online community-based social gaming networking service developed by Square Enix for the NTT DoCoMo. It was officially launched on December 15, 2008 in Japan in conjunction with the video game Kingdom Hearts coded for mobile phones. Unlike Kingdom Hearts coded, Mobile is not part of the main...
.
Gameplay
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is a rhythmRhythm game
Rhythm game or rhythm action is a genre of music-themed action video game that challenges a player's sense of rhythm. Games in the genre typically focus on dance or the simulated performance of musical instruments, and require players to press buttons in a sequence dictated on the screen...
video game. Players take control of four chibi
Super deformed
Super deformed or SD is a specific style of Japanese caricature where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby, with stubby limbs and oversized heads, to make them resemble small children...
versions of Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
characters, and select a Final Fantasy game from the first Final Fantasy to Final Fantasy XIII. Each game has three stages: field, battle, and event. Each stage features different game mechanics than the others; once a stage is completed, the characters level up. The difficulty level can be changed in order to make it appealing to "beginners and rhythm masters alike". Throughout the game, players can unlock music and movie scenes. The gameplay requires players to tap on the screen in correct spots to the beat of the music playing.
Development and release
The trademark "Theatrhythm" was filed near the end of E3 2011 by Square EnixSquare Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy was officially announced for release exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo. The autostereoscopic device is able to project stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or any additional accessories. The Nintendo 3DS features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS series software, including Nintendo DSi software...
handheld game console
Handheld game console
A handheld game console is a lightweight, portable electronic device with a built-in screen, game controls and speakers. Handheld game consoles are run on machines of small size allowing people to carry them and play them at any time or place...
in the Japanese manga anthology Weekly Shōnen Jump
Weekly Shonen Jump
is a weekly shōnen manga anthology published in Japan by Shueisha under the Jump line of magazines. The first issue was released with a cover date of July 2, 1968, and it is still circulating. One of the longest-running manga magazines in Japan, it has a circulation of 2.8 million copies...
. It is currently announced for release only in Japan. Square Enix Japan created an official website to promote the game. Rumours came up that Theatrhythm Final Fantasy would be developed by Jupiter
Jupiter (company)
Jupiter Corporation is a Japanese video game and hardware development studio that focuses on handheld consoles. It is based in Kyoto, though they have a secondary branch in Tokyo...
; however, it was later confirmed on the official website that it would be developed by Indieszero
Indieszero
is a video game production company headquartered in Musashino, Tokyo, Japan. It was founded on April 14, 1997, and has developed video games for other video game companies, including Nintendo and Namco Bandai Games.-Notable works:* Sutte Hakkun...
, which developed Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
games such as Retro Game Challenge
Retro Game Challenge
Retro Game Challenge, known in Japan as , is a Nintendo DS game developed by indieszero and published by Namco Bandai Games. It is based on the television series Retro Game Master . Shinya Arino himself gave much input into the game creation process...
and Electroplankton
Electroplankton
Electroplankton is an interactive music video game developed by Toshio Iwai and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console. It was first released in Japan, and was later released in North America and Europe. This game allows the player to interact with animated plankton...
.
Music
So far, the soundtrack has been confirmed to include "Clash on the Big Bridge" from Final Fantasy VFinal Fantasy V
is a medieval-fantasy role-playing video game developed and published by Square in 1992 as a part of the Final Fantasy series. The game first appeared only in Japan on Nintendo's Super Famicom . It has been ported with minor differences to Sony's PlayStation and Nintendo's Game Boy Advance...
, One Winged Angel from Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII
is a role-playing video game developed by Square and published by Sony Computer Entertainment as the seventh installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was originally released in 1997 for the Sony PlayStation and was re-released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers and in 2009...
, To Zanarkand from Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square as the tenth title in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 2001 for Sony's PlayStation 2, and will be re-released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2012...
, and The Sunleth Waterscape from Final Fantasy XIII.
Pre-release reception
Since its announcement, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy has received mixed reception. Several writers have questioned the idea of a rhythm game in the Final Fantasy series. WiredWired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
s Chris Kohler wrote that it might be a good game, and added that while developing rhythm games may be difficult, he hopes that Square Enix would enlist a developer who could accomplish such a task. He wrote that the 3DS has a meager library and that the high quality of Final Fantasy music could lend itself well to the genre. Nevertheless, he wrote "if it sucks, it’ll really suck." He further criticized Square Enix Japan for rarely making video games outside of its three big brands, which includes Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest
Dragon Quest
, published as Dragon Warrior in North America until 2005,Due to the inconsistent usage by sources since Square Enix obtained the naming rights to Dragon Quest in North America. Dragon Quest has been used by sources to refer to games released solely under the Dragon Warrior titles...
, and Kingdom Hearts. However, he noted that they are making an attempt to make more video games that aren't role-playing games. MTV Multiplayer
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Matt Clark thought that it was a joke when he first heard about it, though he noted that he liked rhythm games. He questioned why the game needed to exist in the first place; nevertheless, he wrote that he would reserve judgment until he can "see the game" for himself. Game Set Watch's Danny Cowan also felt that the name sounded like a joke, and speculated that it could be a prank similar to the April Fool's Day reveal of the hoax game Funky Fantasy, which was also supposed to be a Final Fantasy rhythm game. 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
's Chris Pereira wrote that while Theatrhythm may not be what 3DS owners were expecting, its developer has a quality track record. Shack News' Steve Watts commented that the title, which he calls "insane", "could be part of some internal contest to come up with the strangest name". GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
's Jonathan Leo Toyad wrote that the rhythm genre lends itself well due to the high quality of the series' music, and called the art style "colorful".