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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.
Theatrhythm box reveals paid DLC, 'Nintendo Network' logo
The Japanese box art for Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy, spotted in the wild by Twitter user joshua_x_ (probably on a retail poster) notes that the game features downloadable content, and, in fine print, that this downloadable content is paid. If you were wondering which game would be the first to support the 3DS's new DLC infrastructure, there you go.The front of the box also features a "Nintendo Network" logo, which hasn't been used elsewhere before. This is likely some kind of rebranding for the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, rather than a completely new service, but we'll certainly find out before the game's mid-February release.Finally, the box identifies the genre as "Theatrhythm Action." That's just a bit on the nose.
3DS demos available in Japan today, including RE: Revelations, MGS 3D
The Nintendo Direct conference was ... light on news. However, Nintendo did announce that the first downloadable demos for retail 3DS games are hitting the Japanese eShop today! The selection includes Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy, Resident Evil: Revelations, Rhythm Thief, and Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D. All of those games are expected to launch in the US around the same time as their Japanese releases, save Theatrhythm, which hasn't been announced stateside. We're just going to be optimistic and believe demos are on the way soon. Of course, we were optimistic about the amount of news we thought would come out of this thing, as well, and that didn't get us very far.
A 'Special Trailer' for Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy
With over three minutes of footage of the 3DS's Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy (triple-check that spelling), this trailer certainly is "special." We leave it up to you to define that word.
Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy dated, overpriced in Japan
Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy, Square Enix's cutesy Final Fantasy omnibus music game, will arrive in Japan on February 16, the company announced today. There has yet to be an announcement of a release for the 3DS game outside of Japan. Considering the criticism Theatrhythm has received for looking too simplistic to be a full-price retail game, you might be surprised to hear that Square Enix has priced it at ¥6,090 ($79). Games are more expensive in Japan than in America, but that's ¥1,290 more than Super Mario 3D Land costs in Japan. The Square Enix Tax is in full effect.
Aeris returns to life as Theatrhythm bonus character
It should come as no surprise that Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy, which features music from throughout the series, also features more characters for your onscreen party, drawn from a variety of Final Fantasies. It's even less surprising that Final Fantasy VII's iconic, dead Aeris would be among those redone in the music game's signature style (originally found in character art for Kingdom Hearts Mobile). The latest issue of Jump revealed this information, Andriasang reports, along with the following: Snow (FFXIII), Prishe (FFXI), Vivi (FFIX), Faris (FFV), Cid (FFIII), and Princess Sara (FF). They'll be unlockable as "sub characters," and can be swapped into your party. Not that it really matters who walks along the bottom of the screen as you tap icons rhythmically!
Welcome to the Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy theater
To help explain how the different modes in Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy work, Square Enix posted three new gameplay videos to its site, each showing one of the three gameplay modes: event, battle, and field. YouTube user FinalandMedia then compiled them into a single embeddable video. Check it out if you want to see Final Fantasy VIII's ballroom dancing sequence finally made playable ... sort of. You're also welcome to trace a stylus on your screen and pretend this video is a demo.
Fine fanservice in Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy
People give Square Enix trouble for Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy, saying that the graphics are too simple and the gameplay too limited for a retail 3DS game. To those people, I say whatever. Well, I might (conditionally) agree on the second point. But mostly, whatever. Even if it is a simple implementation, it's a game that the series has needed basically since the beginning: a celebration of its memorable music. Plus, it's super cute! And fun to play!
Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy looks pretty Flashy
Square Enix is known for making games that use their platforms to the highest possible graphical potential, often redefining what gaming hardware is visually capable of. In this fairly low-quality YouTube clip, Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy looks ... well, it it has Moogles, and that ain't nothing.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy coming from Electroplankton devs, features characters from I - XIII
The plot description for Square Enix's upcoming 3DS rhythm game, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, goes beyond the regular "suspension of disbelief" requirements. According to the game's official site (as translated by Andriasang), "the space between the gods Chaos and Cosmos is known as 'rhythm,'" and as "the forces of chaos have disrupted the peace" the music-controlling crystal birthed by the aforementioned space ("Rhythm") is losing its luster. If that weren't enough, it seems that in order to return that shine "the music wave 'Ripzo' must be increased." Okay Square, you win! We give up! In a related but significantly less confusing bit of news, the game is apparently being developed by indieszero, best known for its work on Electroplankton and Retro Game Challenge. Gameplay still hasn't been defined in the strictest sense, but it seems that players will be able to choose characters from Final Fantasy I through XIII in stages based on the baker's dozen of primary FF titles released over the past quarter century. Each stage is said to be divided into three distinct pieces ("field," "event," and "battle") with three unique gameplay systems, though those systems have yet to be explained. Long time FF fans will be happy to hear that the four-person party system of past titles will return in Theatrhythm, and "major songs" from the series' history will accompany the gameplay. "The Sunleth Waterscape" from FFXIII and "One Winged Angel" from FFVII are specifically named, among several others. Beyond that, well, there's a chibi Behemoth (seen above). We've dubbed him "Purpular," mostly because he's adorable, but also, ya know, he's purple.
Final Fantasy 3DS rhythm game, Theatrhythm, revealed
We've interacted with the world of Final Fantasy in so many ways. We've stabbed guys, changed outfits, even made Chocobos have sex with each other, but we're still waiting on the Final Fantasy game where battles are conducted by rhythmically tapping on the screen along with prompts. (Actually, that might have been in a Final Fantasy game at some point. We've not been so diligent about finishing them lately.) Regardless, our odd itch will soon be scratched by the just-announced Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, a 3DS game that includes dungeons and towns, and has you tapping on the screen to conduct battles. Other details are light in the report (found in Japanese mag Jump and translated by Andriasang), but we know the game will include music and chibi-style versions of characters like Lightning and Cloud from throughout the franchise. After the break, you'll find a screen from Jump that, while fuzzy, sends the perfectly clear message that this is unlike any Final Fantasy game before it ... as far as we know. [Thanks, Dean]
