Theatrhythm last line is the next entry in Square Enix’s rhythm-themed game series. With songs from the main and sub-categories, The last bar line there will likely be a lot of meat to offer the player. Especially with a total of three game modes. Given the chance to jump into the demo, I’m excited to see what new additions have been made to stage rhythm I’ve come across this entry, and even with the short time spent on it, I can’t wait for it to be released in full.
Theatrhythm last line allows you to create a team of characters from many The Last Illusion Game. The demo let me choose from titles like Final Fantasy XIV, Final Fantasy VIIand Final Fantasy XIII. You can mix and match these characters, as each character has their own unique abilities and skills that are unlocked as you level them up. For example, Alphinaud from Final Fantasy XIV is a utility mage, with the ability to deal with wind and heal spells. Aerith from Final Fantasy VII more focused on support, as her skills focus on healing and buffing party members.
Besides the basic character types, such as physical, magic, healing and defense, there is also the hunter type. But rather than being defined by these roles, it’s important to read what each character does. While Prompto and Yuffie are both hunter-type characters, Yuffie has the ability to find summoning stones, and Prompto more or less debuffs enemies and provides summoner spells to your party.
Thankfully, party composition doesn’t matter to base difficulty, as your summons can more than make up for any damage or assists you may be lacking. But adding a healer to your team is sure to make the periods you’re struggling a lot easier. Also, the stages will show you which enemies are weak and which bonuses are available. Certain stages will double physical damage, which means you should include characters like Tifa in your party along with Red XIII. Of course, this is not necessary, which is great for those who want to complete stages with their favorite characters.
Experience is also easily earned and I very quickly leveled up my original Lightning, Snow, Vanille, and Hope party to level 30 after a few stages. From there, I swapped out certain characters, mixing and matching, until I found a layout that I eventually settled on.
The demo has two types of stages, exploration and battle stages. The combat stages are fairly straightforward, with some objectives focused on defeating bosses or specifically named enemies. You don’t have to do this to progress, completion is enough, but this is largely what you’re aiming to achieve. While the exploration stages have your characters traverse different 2D environments, with some button presses focused on holding and moving your cursor up and down to follow the trail to maintain Maintain your match. It sounds confusing, but it’s pretty simple.
In terms of difficulty, it can add up pretty quickly. This includes, of course, more button presses that will appear at a more precise but faster tempo. However, leveling up a character and choosing the right type at certain stages will make them easier to defeat. This includes using summons, with a number appearing in stages based on what percentage you are in. Some skills also work this way, so if you get stuck, add a few healers to your party with different healing skills that activate at different percentages to maintain your HP.
The Theatrhythm last line the demo gave me a glimpse of the full release. But more than anything, it left me wanting more. It feels like some kind of great pick and place game, something to play before bed or while traveling. Honestly, I spent a lot of time playing games in bed before going to bed. Finally, the combination of songs from other Square Enix properties will only make The last bar line stronger. So I want to see how those songs will play in the future.
Theatrhythm last line releases on February 16, 2023 on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, and the DLC will appear for multiple seasons.
