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Theatrhythm Dragon Quest trailer cuts down Metal Slimes
Theatrhythm Dragon Quest's debut trailer, shown by Square Enix during Jump Festa 2015, likely resembles what Theatrhythm fans imagined when the rhythmic 3DS game was announced last week; a tap-to-the-beat reunion with heroes, monsters and backing tracks from the Dragon Quest series. The familiar Field and Event Music Stage playstyles are accounted for, but a top-down, Rock Band-style setup seems to shift the four-lane Battle layout from the horizontal scrolling found in previous Theatrhythm releases. Theatrhythm Dragon Quest will arrive in Japan on March 26, 2015, but a Western release has yet to be confirmed. It's reassuring that previous Theatrhythm games have launched outside of Japan and that Square Enix is gradually releasing mobile ports of Dragon Quest games, but the latest, MMO-flavored entry to the main series, Dragon Quest 10, never reached Western adventurers. [Image: Square Enix]
Theatrhythm Dragon Quest announced
When Square Enix mused about Theatrhythm crossing to properties other than Final Fantasy, we all knew where that train of thought was headed. Sure enough, Theatrhythm Dragon Quest is now officially a thing, and it's coming to 3DS in Japan on March 26, 2015. Details are sparse for now and there's no confirmation of a Western release, though both Theatrhythm Final Fantasy games have made their way to our shores. Square Enix is set to share more on the game at the Jump Festa event later this month, including a debut trailer.
Curtain Call DLC covers Final Fantasy Fables, Romancing Saga, more
Whether you've already earned SSS ranks across the entirety of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call's 200+ song setlist or you just really dig deep cuts like Romancing Saga, Square Enix is serving up a la carte encores through its unlockable DLC store. Each track, as well as two additional pieces of character DLC, runs for 99 cents apiece. This week saw the release of four new tracks across the Final Fantasy series, including FF8's Premonition and Vivi's Theme from FF9, as well as four tracks spanning the first three Romancing Saga games. As for character-focused DLC, a second take on Cloud is also offered, which channels his wardrobe from FF7: Advent Children. Another batch is due on Thursday, October 9, which will include FF7: Advent Children's Advent: One-Winged Angel, Locke's Theme from FF6, and Leviathan Battle from FF Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon. Lastly, next week's character DLC will add FF Tactics' Cidolfus Orlandeau. You can parse through the full lists for both this and next week's DLC offerings after the break. [Image: Square Enix]
Theatrhythm FF: Curtain Call trailer hunts for sidequests
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call's encore is adding more songs to its rhythm-driven revisit of the Final Fantasy series' soundtracks, but this trailer shows off a new quest and battle mode as well. Just remember: Friends don't let friends summon Meteor. That kills people. [Image: Square-Enix]
Daily iPhone App: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is a really interesting gift from Square Enix for Final Fantasy fans. It's a music game that was originally released on the Nintendo 3DS earlier this year, in which players can play a touchscreen game with songs culled from Final Fantasy soundtracks, supported by a progression RPG game featuring stylistic versions of characters from throughout the Final Fantasy series. It's very much fan service: If you love the songs and the characters from these games, you'll love seeing and playing along with them in this form. Now the game's been brought over to iOS' single-screen platform. The game plays just as well as it did on the 3DS, and in some ways it's even better. You especially see this on the iPad, where the bigger screen gives lots of room to show off the game's clear and colorful graphics. Any Final Fantasy fan will love finding the references and hearing these songs again in this context is a really great experience. The only issue is the price. You can download the app for free, and it comes with two songs, so anyone who wants to simply try out the game can do so without consequence. Buying songs can be an issue, because they aren't cheap. Each track is US$0.99 and bundles run for $2.99. But if you want to get the whole thing, you'll be paying quite a bit of money. That makes sense to a point, because the 3DS game is still available for $30 or more in stores. But Square's a little greedy here, because buying all of the songs costs more than the 3DS purchase. Of course, Square Enix can set the prices to whatever it wants, but usually the App Store calls for a bit of a break. At any rate, buying a few of your favorite songs won't set you back too far, and the game is just as good as the 3DS version. If you're a Final Fantasy fan, definitely don't miss this one.
Deepworld, You Don't Know Jack, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, and more available now
We're deep in the holiday season at this point, and right now that means dozens (if not more) of game developers out there are getting their best and brightest titles out onto the App Store, making sure they're all ready to download when the Christmas rush rolls around. Here's a look at some of the biggest new App Store releases today. Deepworld isn't brand new, but it is out for the iPad -- it's a great sandbox-style building game that we've been covering here at TUAW for quite a while. It's available as a free download right now. Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy is a great music game that originally appeared on the 3DS, but has now brought its Final Fantasy-based music/RPG gameplay to iOS. It's available as a free download with two songs to play, though if you want more, you'll have to buy them with in-app purchases. You Don't Know Jack has been on iOS before, but today we've got a brand new (free!) version of the title that appears to be ported from the Facebook version. It features the same old quiz show gameplay, now with updates from your friends through the big blue social network. Fluxx is a really incredible card game, and it's now been ported over to iOS as well. You can buy the whole thing for $2.99. Mike Lee's new Lemurs Chemistry game is available for $1.99. SNK has released a port of the original Metal Slug as a $1.99 game. As expected, Disney's Monsters Inc. Run has appeared. It's a mashup of Mega Run and the great Pixar movie, available for 99 cents. Zooniverse is a brand new free-to-play zoo building game from Chillingo. This isn't a new app, but Finger Tied finally got its big level sharing update, so definitely download that and check it out. If you don't have it already, the app is 99 cents. And finally, for those of you who appreciate soccer/football and managing it, Football Manager Handheld 2013 was released by Sega. The game's $9.99, and... it looks complicated. There you go! Stay tuned for full reviews and more insight on these apps and all of the others due out this holiday season here on the site.
Theatrhythm franchise could cross Square Enix properties
There's a reason Theatrhythm received top billing in Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy, as the game could expand into a series beyond the Final Fantasy franchise. Ichiro Hazama, producer at Square Enix's 1st Production Department, told us the publisher has plenty of intellectual properties where the formula could be applied."Our company has so many other IPs that create great music, so if you ask if I want to do it? I want to do it, but nothing is determined yet," said Hazama. "In my mind, it was my intention that if it expands to other franchises that would be great. That's why this title carries Theatrhythm first and Final Fantasy comes next."Hmm, that opens up the series to possibilities like Theatrhythm: Kingdom Hearts... or Theatrhythm: Hitman.%Gallery-157377%
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy box points to first paid DLC for Nintendo 3DS
3DS owners have been waiting (and waiting) for a chance to take advantage of a downloadable content market, and while Nintendo already accomplished the tough part (read: launching it) a few days back, there's still been no word on when paid content would make an appearance. Pushing those freebies aside is Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, which is seemingly destined to be the first 3DS title in existence to offer up enhancements in exchange for a few yen. The box here is actually an "early retail dummy unit," though the verbiage on the back makes quite clear that downloadable material will be available at a cost. Furthermore, there's a heretofore unseen Nintendo Network badge on the front, which may be a new look for the existing Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. At any rate, the game is scheduled to ship on February 16th in Japan, after which all of this will-it-won't-it drama will presumably be cleared up.
