Review: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call (3DS)

So after actually taking a look at Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney gamplay videos, I decided I didn't wish to buy it. For one, I noticed that there wasn't really any replayability after the main story (if you don't count the extra puzzles it offers). Instead, I waited (agonizingly and patiently) for TFF: CC instead which arrived in the mail on my doorstep on 16th September 2014 [right on time of the release date!].

Man, it was hell worth the wait. =)

Story

It's a music game, so it's just a quick sypsonis on the whole light versus darness thing and you need Rhytmia (points) to restore the 'music harmony'. Other than that, you're not going to get anything else.

Score: Not grading this. Even if it has RPG elements.


Graphics and Presentation

It's cute and adorable. Enough said. I'm a sucker for cute and chibi-fied art. Kudos to the devs to have the background scenes that match up according to game series. Like when you play FFX title 'To Zanarkand' the background scene is actually just that!

You also have the EMS (Event Music Stages) that have the game cutscenes played during the music stage. Once you completed it, you can watch it again in the theater without having to play it. It's awesome AND you can play it in 3D! I wish they included more of them (like the previous FF titles) but I'm happy to see newer and the spin-offs get some love!

Score: 8/10


Gameplay

Very fun and addictive. The game devs have actually expanded the game elements of Quest mode to handle more RPG elements and you can go about of creating your 'ultimate' team of heroes. I like it has FF abilities and items in the mix too.

Those who like Rhythm games can feel at home with a tap of a beat. The Ultimate mode provides crazy swishing and button pressing. Not to mention in this sequel you can use button mode, stylus mode, hybird, and one hand mode. A plus for left hand people and those who don't have a sturdy wrist.

Versus mode though, shines a lot for many people. This time around, you can play this game with your friends than just yourself.

Score: 9/10  




Music and Sound

This is a music game, and I have to say its huge library doesn't get any better than this (unless you're up to buy the DLC too!). 221 tracks with no DLC is a lot to get through. Trust me, I was chasing the trophy that needed you to clear every song (whatever difficulty you choose) and it felt a bit draggy.

On another note the sound quality between older songs which are 16 bit and the contempory versions of the new serious was actully that good, I felt there were no horrible sound qualities between them. While I use normal phone headset while I play this game, I really now want to buy a good headset and see how it really sounds with surround sound.

Another plus for this game is the music player feature. You can play the music with headset and the 3DS in sleep mode! The only thing that suck is you need 121,000 Rhythmia to unlock all the songs. So far I'm at 90,000 so I'll get there soon.

Score: 10/10 

Overall

One of the best titles if you love FF music and like cute things in a rather massive package. The only thing I would advise it to try the demo first if you're okay how the gameplay works. I know some people don't like the art so it's fine. However, you'll be missing out in the Versus mode and Quest mode which I think really makes this game so much more fun. Plus, what other title can you find FF music series in one package? I'm planning to get a few DLCs that I'd like. First pack came out on 16th September, the next will be up today. =)

Overall Score: 9/10 (I'm enjoying this and I can play back to it anytime I want to).

Thanks for reading~!
~ SilverWriter2

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3DS Games List that I will Buy and Not buy (because of my budget)



Which one to choose?


It's that time where most gamers are in dilemma mode. A time where all the release games are game you want for your game library, but your wallet isn't cooperating.

 

Fortunately, I find myself very lucky that I'm a very picky gamer, and on the other side of the spectrum... I'd consider myself very disciplined in financial planning. So what games I usually get I'll buy with money that I've saved from months ago (I'm not kidding xD ).

 

Anyways, for me, I have a 3DS XL. At the moment I just couldn't buy a home console since I'm on the go too much, and I rarely (if ever) watch a television nowadays (it's that bad). Currently from June 2014- December 2014, there are many games slated for excited Nintendo fans. So here's the list on what's out and what I'm going to skip, buying (pre-order), and on my maybe list.

 

Note that the list comes from Nintendolife.com's most anticipated games in the summer for the 3DS.

Not Buying

Now, before anyone pulls out a rifle, gun, or weapon of choice... I will explain why I'm not buying them, although my main reason is I'm limited to a budget. It doesn't mean I don't/will not like the game. Also there's a part where I may not like the game genre. These are pretty much my personal preferences, so they might be different to yours. Okay, without further or do...

Harvest Moon the Lost Valley + Story of Seasons (October & December 2014)

Last title to have the Harvest Moon name. The next? Your farming type name. :D



- Story of Seasons -
Apparently due to licensing issues, we're not getting the title Harvest Moon after this title. 
At least until another company comes along and changes it? 



I gotta admit I've loved the Harvest Moon series since I've started playing them on the GBA. Only now, I'm a little confused how two titles are coming out at once in the same year. I mean, wouldn't it hurt the sales of the title themselves? If you're a big fan and planning to buy both I salute you. Me? Ehhh... -__-;;; I've had my share of playing farming games. I blame facebook and free android games. Plus, I can't help but feel strained to do repetitive farming chores again. On the gameplay side, it's going to take a chunk of my time and I'd rather spend it on something more exciting. Farming games are more suited for those who want to slow down. If you want farming and excitement I'd recommend you get Rune Factory 4 instead.

 

 

Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (November 2014)

 

Sonic and Crew - 'Sonic Boom Series'



This is pretty clear for me. I honestly am not a sonic fan, and this sort of platformer game never really appealed to me. Plus, when I read the synopsis, it just didn't appeal to me either (damsel scenario in distress anyone?). So, it's a pass.

 

 

 Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (25th November)



Love the animation, but I think I need introduction help to feel invested.



While this is the first Persona Q title on Nintendo hardware and has a mixture of characters from Persona 3 and 4... I... haven't or never have followed this series before. Give it time and perhaps borrowing the previous games (along with their game consoles) I may have a liking to it. Considering I'm not a follower of this franchise, no for now. Maybe (and that's a little maybe) if someone introduced it to me properly I'd like it. On the schedule side, it's release is near to a game that I have pre-ordered. So, I'm sorry for this, but it's a pass (this year).

 

 

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Sometime Q4)

'Objection!'

Despite the game being linear, this is one package for the detective genre lovers. Basically this package will be all three games from the series that have came out before. Good for those who like the collection. For me, I have the roms for the games... so I don't feel the need to buy them at all. Heck, they're not all that big sized too. If you're lucky, I think you can search this game (all three) on the android market and play it for free as well on a tablet.   


 
 
 

The Maybe List

 

 

Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (29th August 2014)

Can anyone say 'double Objection'? *points finger*



Two famous characters that are the pinnacle games on the 3DS for puzzles and crime genre in the same game? Definitely a buy, but I'm holding reservations to buy this as a game that I want on day one. Again, I'm going to buy it with how the reviews are coming in... and if the 'let's play videos' are giving me any urges to get this for my own. It's out now, so we'll see.

 

 

Pokemon Art Academy (24th October 2014)

 

Let's draw and color Pokemon!

There was a problem in the first Art Academy for the 3DS series, a problem that lead me to not buy it... there wasn't an undo button... at all. For something that was made a 3DS game, MS Paint had an undo button years ago. ^.^;;; 

 

Thankfully, it's now in this part of the game, along with the outline tool and you can share your art on Miiverse. Problem is... the release game date which clashes with another game I have pre-ordered (again -__- ) and that there's no pre-order for this title in my country (which sucks). So maybe I'll save it till December? *shurgs 

 

 
Buying List or Should I say Pre-Ordered? =)
 

Final Fantasy Theatrhythm: Curtain Call (16th September 2014)

 

Orchestral music and all that jazz? Here I come! \(^o^)/

 

Reasons I'm buying this: I'm a Final Fantasy fan, I love music, a music game with 221 songs at the start and more DLC, has the largest character roster, it's cute (my thing), and has RPG elements. Plus, I've checked everything this game has to offer and I'm sold. I was planning to buy the first one, but with this one having more features and content, it pretty much sealed the deal.

Super Smash Bros 3DS (3rd October 2014)



Finally available on handheld! Oh yeah! xD



 

Like the Mario Kart series, I'm a sucker for games where you can bring to a gathering and play in a group and have a good time. While it doesn't really have a storyline, it's more of the character roster I'm chasing at. Fire Emblem: Awakening characters there? SOLD. Pokemon from the recent XY series? SOLD. It's on the 3DS and I can play it anywhere? SOLD. Now it features a music player when you have the 3DS on sleep mode? Great job! Pre-order day one~ \(^o^)/

 

 

Fantasy Life (24th October 2014)



You can change your 'Life' errr.. Job here anytime!

 

RPG that ignores story plot? Meh. But it has a job system that will make you explore hours on end? Okay. You can play multiplayer online and local? SOLD. Cute graphics that are stunning? Great. My friends are on hype to buy this? Well, I'm not going to miss out on the fun. =D Plus Level-5 game like this is a big contender and winner in my book. Day one for me~ =)

 

Pokemon Omega Sapphire (November 2014)



Kyogre Primal Form - It definately is cooler than Mega Evolution~ :3 

I'm a sucker for nostalgic games... and pokemon Sapphire is one of them. Considering this is the jump to 3D I cannot refuse. Nintendo has my money for this one. =) I remember that this is the first game that had a girl character selection in a pokemon game (if you ignore the crystal version that still said you are a 'he' regardless you chose a girl character or not).  

That's all the games I'm explaining (despite I know there's like a dozen more or so that's coming out. See you all later in the next post!
 

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Many Faces of Robbin Williams

As we all know, a couple days ago (Aug 11th, 2014) Robin Williams died committing suicide. Most people (myself included) were the many who didn't actually didn't believe it at first until it was confirmed. Yes, he actually did and it's sad -- in a more heartbreaking way.

When I was a kid I'd remember his as the guy who voiced the Gennie in Disney's animation 'Aladdin' (1992) or as the guy who cross dressed and made it funny in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). As I grew up, I followed his films that were eyeopeners like Good Will Hunting (1995) and even Good Morning Vietnam (1987). All in all I knew him as the guy who was looking so happy that he'd share it and it'll be contagious you can't help but smile too.

On another flip side of the coin, he was a guy who supported kids and heck, he wasn't afraid to act like one. I remember at some point there's be adults who would shake their head at his antics. But as a kid I actually appreciated it. He was one of the few I knew that didn't think acting like kid was a serious disease. He embraced it.

And if that wasn't cute, he (as well as his wife) agreed to actually named his daughter after a video game character Zelda. Most of the other kids who were video gamers would love to be named after her. Don't believe me? Well, he and his daughter actually were apart of a 3DS commercial in 2011. 

 
To think he'd end his own life thanks to depression was something that never occurred to me. In a way, I feel bad... The guy you've known on film and other things that had the most happiest face in world actually suffered from depression? It makes you think about the other people around you (whether your at an office, school, public area) are suffering from the thing. Also, it makes you ask yourself what you could have done to stop it before the worst thing happened.

Personally, I've had a friend who suffered the same fate and committed suicide. He was a year above me in University (majoring in the same subject), he was also a friend of my sister before he was accepted in the university I eventually went to. In a sense, he was a guy that I knew before most of my peers of my University class did. I saw him strive with my sister as well as her friends, made it into one of the top universities in the country, knew him as a happy-go-lucky guy, and even was he far more religious than me.

When we heard he died and committed suicide, it was just shocking. Just a few day before he died, I was talking to him in classroom like it was a usual thing. I didn't even gave a thought and he didn't seem like he was any under sort of depression like state. Well, I probably won't go further than that. The thing is, I think it's a example to us that we have to pay a lot more attention to people around us. 

Well, I can't say much than RIP Mr. Robin Williams and thank you for giving us a treasure trove of films as well as a lesson for all of us to share more smiles in the world, and we have a long battle ahead of us when it comes to fighting depression. 

"Everyone you meet is fighting and battle you don't know. Be kind."      

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Latest Blog after a couple =)

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, by anyone and start today and make a new ending. ~ Maria Robinson.

So here we are, a couple blogs (dead ones) later and I decided a new format one. Well, the least I could think of that this one will be updated more than my previous one. Overall, welcome to my blog where I freely write about numerous hobbies I like (movies, gaming, reading, etc.).

For this one, I suppose I going to say, everything goes. So when I feel like it, short reviews, things on my mind, the whole bunch.

~ SilverWriter2.

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