LogFAQs > #947469326

25. The Metronomicon Rock the Dance Floor
Genre RPG-themed rhythm

Gameplay: 4
Rest of Game: 5
Engagement: 8
New to Me: 5
Playtime: 5

Total score: 27/40

Song selection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSADNWroahk

I enjoy rhythm games. I rarely seek them out. I fell in love with Amplitude and bought a PS2 just so I could play it. I was an avid Guitar Hero/Rock Band aficionado. But ask me what other rhythm games Ive put time into and the lists pretty short.

Lately it feels like its become a trend to mash-up rhythm with other genres. Crypt of the Necrodancer, Sayonara Wild Hearts, and Beat Hazard have led up to this JRPG hybrid. In Metronomicon, the intentionally ridiculous story centers on four graduates of the school of music who are now going to go out and attempt to fight back against all the monsters in the world that throw raves and dance parties by beating them at their own game. Along the way, youll level up, gather equipment, gain new allies, and have to ultimately create a build as you advance through the plot. (Or the high scores list online.)

Metronomicon uses a DDR-esque four arrows system for its gameplay, but the fact that each party member has their own track makes it play more like Amplitude. The interesting wrinkle here is that rather than removing that player's line immediately, completing one phrase of the track charges up your party member to do their level 1 attack. Complete a second in a row, and theyll switch to level 2 instead, and then level 3 goes off automatically since theres nothing beyond. Those moves are mostly attacks, but could also be a heal, a taunt, a support buff/debuff, or any of the other myriad of moves you see in turn-based RPGs. The enemies stroll up to you one at a time as the song progresses, but. Inflict not enough damage, and theyll start to pile up. Kill them quickly enough, and someone else takes their place. You lose if one of your party members gets KOed before the song ends.

As near as I can tell, all the tracks in Metronomicon are licensed from lesser-known artists. There were a couple names that made me go oh, maybe Ive heard of them?, but nobody particularly renowned. The soundtrack is solid, though. I probably wouldnt buy the game just to serve as a music album, but you certainly could.

Ultimately, the controls are decent, the gameplay is in some ways an improvement on Amplitude, and the silliness of the setting and the artwork keeps you engaged and motivated to continue. Theres sometimes a little too much going on visually, and once in a while the game did become more than I could handle, but seldom was that because of poor rhythm skills. Challenge is fair, and the core controls are solid and easy to use, which is honestly the biggest selling point for me.

Should you play it?: Do you like rhythm games that ask you to do more than just mash the beat?

Next: Second verse, same as the first

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Video Game Music Contest 14 champion: Idola Phantasy Star Saga - Endeavour