- Publisher: Square Enix
- Release Date: Feb 16, 2023
- Also On: Switch
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Feb 20, 2023Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is the ultimate version of one of Square Enix's best franchises. It goes above and beyond with its fanservice, gameplay, and superlative selection of music from most of the publisher's best games. While it isn't flawless, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line gets my highest possible recommendation if you enjoy rhythm games and Final Fantasy.
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Feb 14, 2023Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is a terrific rhythm experience that, even after over 30 hours in, I can't get enough of. Its almost overwhelming number of playable songs, waves of unlockables, addictive progression, and endless methods of replayability coalesce to provide a game that all Final Fantasy fans, new or not, will fall in love with. Heck, even if you've never played Final Fantasy, Final Bar Line is worth picking up. It's that good.
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Feb 15, 2023Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line is exactly what it promises to be in the best possible way. It's a simple, addictive and incredibly delightful rhythm game set to some of the best songs in gaming. The RPG elements add some nice customization and Final Fantasy feel, but the real star of the show is the songs. With enough customization and options to make even the rhythmically inept feel comfortable, it's a game for anyone who has ever hummed "Locke's Theme or Answers" without realizing it. Just be prepared to lose hours upon hours trying to master it.
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Feb 14, 2023Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is the best game in the series so far. Based on its existing Arcade version and bringing together more than 40 games from the Final Fantasy franchise, the title is, without a doubt, the best way to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the franchise. A must for fans of rhythm games.
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Mar 5, 2023Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line is without any doubt one of the greatest love letters that this industry has seen.
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PLAYMar 8, 2023If it didn’t seem easy enough to fall into Final Bar Line, there’s even an Endless mode. It’s a game that keeps giving (though future updates may make it pricy). [Issue#25, p.90]
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Mar 8, 2023Overall, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is simply essential if you're a Final Fantasy fan, as it serves as the perfect celebration of the hundreds of tracks that we hold so close to our hearts...It hits that wonderful balance between challenge and relaxation that can be shifted further either way if you so wish. It is a game that I can see myself always returning to whenever I have some downtime, and with the arrival of the additional DLC tracks my love for the game will only grow.
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Mar 1, 2023Just in time for the 35th anniversary of Final Fantasy, THEATRHYTHM FINAL BAR LINE impresses with its wealth of content and feels like a true celebration of its timeless legacy. Whether you are a beginner who has never played a rhythm game before or a veteran of the genre, if you like Final Fantasy music, this is one title you don’t want to miss.
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Feb 28, 2023Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line revisits music-driven gaming experiences with classiness and potent powerfulness that will make any Final Fantasy music-lover happy. It contains a fair amount of challenge, sometimes an impossible amount depending on difficulty, while also allowing you to enjoy decades of musical enlightenment the Final Fantasy series has created.
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Feb 21, 2023I absolutely adore Theatrhythm Final Bar Line as it’s a loving celebration of both the Final Fantasy franchise and its music. From the cute little chibi depictions of characters and the impressive catalog of songs to the extensive accessibility features and impressive role playing elements, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is a masterful rhythm experience.
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Feb 20, 2023A musical love letter addressed to fans of the Final Fantasy series, and one of the best rhythm games around.
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Feb 14, 2023Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is full of charm and nostalgia, and its impressive 385-song tracklist makes it an enjoyable way to listen to and play along with the most memorable songs from the Final Fantasy series.
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Feb 14, 2023Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is one of the finest rhythm games of all time. Even if you don’t have a special attachment to the Final Fantasy series, you’re still bound to connect with this game on some level. It’s impossible not to with some of the most iconic, exciting, and evocative songs in all of gaming. It helps that such memorable tracks are backed up by the franchise's most engaging and complex gameplay to date.
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Feb 14, 2023It took us months to pick up previous Theatrhythms and now Square Enix and IndiesZero are bringing us back into the rhythm game frenzy with Final Fantasy sauce. In addition to the incredible musical journey it offers us, this title shines with its phenomenal tracklist and the formidable efficiency of its game system. Accessible or demanding (your choice, depending on your mastery of the gameplay), Theatrhythm Final Bar Line risks keep you busy for a very long time, especially if you extend the experience by challenging other players online.
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Feb 14, 2023Will these "hardcore Final Fantasy's" fans be satisfied? Yes. With a gargantuan list of titles, a plethora of collectibles and characters to evolve, this new opus will keep you busy for (many) hours. We regret that some titles are only simple extracts of a longer tune and the season pass way too important to be put aside - therefore increasing the "real" price of the title -. Still we have to admit that the formula is ultra efficient if, and only if, you are a Square Enix fan.
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Feb 14, 2023I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Theatrhythm Final Bar Line. Right from the start, I was quickly sucked in by the game’s charming, visually delightful levels and stunning SFX, along with its clever incorporation of battle mechanics and expansive party system. The game is cleanly polished from top to bottom, and as a result, there aren’t any glaring (or subtle) issues present to detract from its many strengths.
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Feb 14, 2023Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is the platonic ideal of fanservice. There are plenty of people who would have been happy with a port of Curtain Call or simply bringing All-Star Carnival over to the West, so it’s a delightful surprise to see just how much effort and care has been poured into a title like this. It is endlessly charming, bursting with content, and treats its content with reverence. This is a game built with love for Final Fantasy, and that expression of love is resplendent, infectious, and mellifluous. I love this game with my entire thesaurus.
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Feb 14, 2023Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is my new favourite rhythm game, with brilliant musical gameplay and a tracklist that is simply breathtaking.
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Mar 6, 2023Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is an easy grab if you’re a Final Fantasy music fan. There are more songs than ever before, and the features are cleaned up. Less is more, I think. While I enjoyed Curtain Call’s overworld map, all of the items and fussing with routes distracted from the core of what Theatrhythm should be about: the music. Having this arguably simple-looking game on a home console brings the atmosphere to life with its charming, cute art, though some may not enjoy the look and feel of the characters. Pricing might irritate some, especially those who already went all-in on previous titles, but the amount of replayability warrants the price of admission. Still, $100 for everything now and in the future can feel like a hard sell, especially if not all of the announced releases whet the palate. I have no doubt that the streamlined online experience, pair mode, and sheer quantity of music will keep me entertained for years. Also, the name suggests that this may be the last Theatrhythm, but…you know.
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Feb 22, 2023I don’t usually go in for rhythm games, but Final Bar Line proved the exception. While it’s a well-crafted experience, it’s the Final Fantasy connection that really sold me. The quests, the customization, and the heavy dose of nostalgia are all wonderful. Conversely, the art isn’t great, some of the inputs are confusing, and the intended audience is pretty granular. In other words, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is mostly for Final Fantasy fans. If you fall into that category though, you won’t want to miss this game. It’s a terrific way to revisit your favorite titles in the series.
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Feb 14, 2023Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line takes a great opportunity and make a strong go of it. Gameplay feels good, and customization options give you nice flexibility to cater to your style. A couple things don't mesh nicely, but the game itself is a complete rhythm package of great gameplay and fantastic songs.
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Mar 6, 2023Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is an easy-to-learn, hard-to-master game enriched with RPG mechanics that will delight Final Fantasy fans and rhythm game lovers alike.
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Mar 29, 2023Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is an easy recommendation for Final Fantasy fans. The rhythm gameplay is highly enjoyable and a fantastic way for players to enjoy a trip through the musical delights that the series offers. As a love letter to the series’ soundtracks it heartily succeeds, and every play session is bound to come away with players fondly humming at least one of the tracks they’ve played through for hours ahead.
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Mar 7, 2023If you're a Final Fantasy super-fan and can name the most famous theme songs from each mainline sequel, you'll enjoy listening to these iconic tunes with a bit of interaction - provided you don't get bored of all this before you grind your way to your favorite JRPG music.
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Mar 6, 2023Theatrhythm is a lovingly made game that celebrates Final Fantasy, the fans of the series and Square Enix with music they've been making for 35 years. With its difficult to master but easy to learn gameplay, incredibly large music library and cute character designs, I highly recommend every Final Fantasy fan to give it a try.
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Feb 26, 2023Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is the perfect game for Final Fantasy veterans, but it's also designed to win over a new audience thanks to its simple system and the exciting journey it offers.
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Feb 21, 2023A brilliant duet of simple-to-play, tough-to-master rhythm game, mixed with a snare-hit of nostalgia right to the face. Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is both a beautiful collection of incredible music and a fun battler that rewards your rhythm skills with satisfying progression.
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Feb 17, 2023It pays mechanical homage by providing tangible RPG elements that complement the rhythm game portions without overwhelming them. When you pair this with a sizable amount of high quality tunes and room for mechanical improvement for the player, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line has a lot to give rhythm game fans and Final Fantasy fans alike.
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Feb 17, 2023Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line is an impressive feat. We hit credits on it, but we feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of its colossal 400+ song list. The love and passion for the series is apparent throughout every inch of this project, and we'd recommend it to anyone interested in rhythm games. Packed with absolute bangers, Final Bar Line will keep you busy for a long time.
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Feb 15, 2023Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is the apex of the Theatrhythm spin-off franchise. Its vast and varied library of music is a nostalgic thrill, the gameplay is approachable while offering plenty of challenge, and the sprinkling of RPG elements like party customization offers a personal touch--even if that touch isn't super impactful. There's something here for everyone, from the staunchest Final Fantasy fan to the person who only knows Cloud and Sephiroth from Smash Bros. There are a few minor missteps along the way, but none of them create any major malfunctions in the experience. Simply put, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is a master-class symphony of fun and nostalgia, and it is a game worthy of the music library it features.
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Feb 14, 2023The Theatrhythm series has always been a celebration of Final Fantasy and the iconic music associated with each title. Theatrhythm Final Bar Line continues that tradition by bringing together more titles, songs and characters onto consoles for the first time. The transition is nearly flawless, allowing Final Fantasy fans to experience some of the most iconic songs from each title in a fun, easy-to-play gameplay experience. It’s not perfect, though, with some titles getting more favor over others. Some exclusions are odd, particularly the absence of the critically-acclaimed Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker and the fact that a good number of iconic tunes are trapped behind premium deluxe editions is simply not OK. Past that, this is a successful transition from handheld to console with tight gameplay, plenty of content to unlock and a beautiful presentation backing it up. Theatrhythm Final Bar Line isn’t the perfect celebration of Final Fantasy, but it’s a great one.
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Feb 15, 2023If you’re a longtime Final Fantasy fan who greatly appreciates the franchise’s musical legacy, Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line is a game that celebrates that. It holds up as a rhythm game, with complex and engaging gameplay and decent integration of obligatory Final Fantasy RPG mechanics. With its expansive track list, adorable visuals, and large roster of characters to collect, it is a joy to play through the musical history of this classic RPG series, either alone or against others. While it doesn’t really aspire to be much more than that, if you are fine with that, then Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line is certainly worth checking out.
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Feb 22, 2023Final Bar Line is a musical museum, but it’s a self-guided one that could, especially for those who aren’t connoisseurs of Final Fantasy soundtracks, benefit from a bit of curation.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 33 out of 45
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Mixed: 0 out of 45
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Negative: 12 out of 45
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Feb 21, 2023
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Feb 19, 2023
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Feb 18, 2023