Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, which was released last February 16 on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation, is a surprising rhythm game overflowing with content. Square Enix and the indieszero developer have drawn on the powerful soundtracks that accompanied the Final Fantasy series' main chapters, but also to its many other non-core works. We first want to tell you what makes Final Bar Line the finest representation of the Theatrhythm series, as well as a musical treasure trove of incredible value.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line has enthralled us in two ways: the excessive amount of content and the willingness of the Japanese association to go beyond the confines of only Final Fantasy to embrace a potentially unlimited music library.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy for Nintendo 3DS was a surprising surprise success, particularly because it incorporated the typical elements of the rhythm game with the indispensable role-playing component of the Square Enix series, even basing a very slim and unpretentious plot (represented once more in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy).
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call, a Nintendo 3DS game that included 221 songs by default (more 100 DLC melodies), was reintroduced two years later.
The first two, called Quest Medleys, pushed the user and his favorites to confront real challenges that usually resulted in a rather difficult boss, while the second, called Versus Mode, suggested challenges in a "1-vs-1" format, where the player could confront the CPU or a friend online or locally, and ring notes to get the highest score.
Curtain Call, a game that was unfortunately never released in the West, is in all probability the true precursor of Final Bar Line, since it was the first episode of the Square Enix musical series to incorporate melodies from other Square Enix franchises, such as Bravely Default or The World Ends With You.
In recent times Square Enix and the developers of indieszero have finally given shape to what they themselves have long dubbed the "definitive Theatrhythm" as well as the most complete of Always.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is a superbly crafted homage to the Final Fantasy series ever released, with 385 playable tracks from the first fifteen numbered episodes as well as numerous spin-offs that have been inspired by the franchise in recent decades, such as Hitoshi Sakimoto (FFXIV: A Realm Reborn), Naoshi Mizuta (Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles) and Takeharu Ishimoto (Final Fantasy Type-0).
Theatrhythm's Final Bar Line is an unmissable opportunity to revisit — or perhaps discover for the first time — the incredible musical heritage that underpins the Final Fantasy series.
Final Bar Line is not limited to just this: the 385 tracks in the basic package and the 27 exclusive songs in the "Digital Deluxe" edition explore the finest music from the final fantasy, while the 90 paid DLCs that will be released in 2023 will leave only Final Fantasy to explore works equally memorable musically.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, which already has 502 playable tracks, is essentially drawing on the soundtracks of LIVE A LIVE, Mana, Chrono, Xenogears, The World Ends with You, and Octopath Traveler.
We would not be surprised if Square Enix would extend its post-launch support of the product into a sort of live service that would be updated on a regular basis with new and captivating packages.
Tetsuya Nomura's desire to avoid repeating the word "final" and spare us a title à la Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero might have been attributed with reason, although the suggestion by Kingdom Hearts' whimsical and often vapid father might be interpreted as a very clear intention.
Final Bar Line's playful and structural design lends itself well to updates and DLCs, and given the warm welcome that fans have received in these first few weeks, a possible Dragon Quest expansion might already be in the Japanese giant's future plans.
