No doubt the announcement of Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy late last week has kept you up many a night since, pondering everything from which of your favorite Final Fantasy characters will find their way into this theatrically rhythmic piece of insanity, to where the line between portmanteau and complete nonsense word must ultimately be drawn.

While Square Enix will likely be of little help on the latter matter, the former has been cleared up a bit via some new details released this morning (and translated/posted by Andriasang).

Evidently, Theatrhythm will feature characters from all 13 main entries in the Final Fantasy series. Before you scream something at your monitor about how this is butchering the Final Fantasy canon, take a deep, calming breath, as Squeenix has you covered. Each cast will have its own set of three stages, which you can tackle via a party of four characters of your choosing. Those different stage sets will each have their own differing gameplay mechanics as well, though exactly how they're different has not yet been explained.

You can see the new Chibi art style in the embedded screenshots. Though exact character lists have not yet been announced, major characters like Cloud, Lightning, and whoever the hell it is that people cared about in Final Fantasy XI will likely be included.

The exact nature of the rhythm-based gameplay is still a bit of a mystery, though Square Enix has noted that a number of major songs from the numbered entries in the franchise will be included in the game, such as:

• "Clash on the Big Bridge" (Final Fantasy V)
• "One Winged Angel" (Final Fantasy VII)
• "At Zanarkand" (Final Fantasy X)
• "The Sunleth Waterscape" (Final Fantasy XIII).
• The Main Final Fantasy Theme

Lastly, we have the game's storyline, which, as translated by Andriasang, is absurd.

Apparently, the space between the gods Chaos and Cosmos is known as "Rhythm." "Rhythm" gives birth to the crystal which controls music, and fills the world with sound. However, the forces of chaos have disrupted the peace, and the crystal has begin to lose its shine. To restore the crystal's shine, the music wave "Rizpo" must be increased. And so, the warriors, guided by the crystal, begin their journey of music.

That sounds totally reasonable, right?

As great as a Final Fantasy spin on an Electric Light Orchestra album sounds, we'll reserve any and all judgment until we've seen some actual gameplay.

No doubt the announcement of Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy late last week has kept you up many a night since, pondering everything from which of your favorite Final Fantasy characters will find their way into this theatrically rhythmic piece of insanity, to where the line between portmanteau and complete nonsense word must ultimately be drawn.

While Square Enix will likely be of little help on the latter matter, the former has been cleared up a bit via some new details released this morning (and translated/posted by Andriasang).

Evidently, Theatrhythm will feature characters from all 13 main entries in the Final Fantasy series. Before you scream something at your monitor about how this is butchering the Final Fantasy canon, take a deep, calming breath, as Squeenix has you covered. Each cast will have its own set of three stages, which you can tackle via a party of four characters of your choosing. Those different stage sets will each have their own differing gameplay mechanics as well, though exactly how they're different has not yet been explained.

You can see the new Chibi art style in the embedded screenshots. Though exact character lists have not yet been announced, major characters like Cloud, Lightning, and whoever the hell it is that people cared about in Final Fantasy XI will likely be included.

The exact nature of the rhythm-based gameplay is still a bit of a mystery, though Square Enix has noted that a number of major songs from the numbered entries in the franchise will be included in the game, such as:

• "Clash on the Big Bridge" (Final Fantasy V)
• "One Winged Angel" (Final Fantasy VII)
• "At Zanarkand" (Final Fantasy X)
• "The Sunleth Waterscape" (Final Fantasy XIII).
• The Main Final Fantasy Theme

Lastly, we have the game's storyline, which, as translated by Andriasang, is absurd.

Apparently, the space between the gods Chaos and Cosmos is known as "Rhythm." "Rhythm" gives birth to the crystal which controls music, and fills the world with sound. However, the forces of chaos have disrupted the peace, and the crystal has begin to lose its shine. To restore the crystal's shine, the music wave "Rizpo" must be increased. And so, the warriors, guided by the crystal, begin their journey of music.

That sounds totally reasonable, right?

As great as a Final Fantasy spin on an Electric Light Orchestra album sounds, we'll reserve any and all judgment until we've seen some actual gameplay.

The Character art on this looks crazy.

Shocker

You can always tell if Alex wrote a headline.

Wait, what?

@august said:

You can always tell if Alex wrote a headline.

That's exactly what I thought ha!

All this talk about rhythm games makes me only want a new Ouendan.

Makes you think why the fuck isn't there a new fucking Ouendan.

Fuck.

How can you butcher a language that is already little more than a Frankenstein like combination of German and French?

Looks like I'm not the only person who loves the Sunleth Waterscape music, but I am apparently the only person who loves Dancing Mad, too.

I'm gonna say it "Thee-uh-trih-thum" until I hear official word that says to the contrary.

Kinda wish i kept my 3DS.. oh well, the 3DS "lite" will be out before this hits NA anyways.

the final fantasy 13 stages will play themselves. just kidding i liked that game

@august said:

You can always tell if Alex wrote a headline.

@Sil3n7 said:

@august said:

You can always tell if Alex wrote a headline.

That's exactly what I thought ha!

Same. His headlines are usually pretty awesome.

this seems like half a game.

Final Fantasy/ELO crossover confirmed?

Alex, you totally made all of that shit up, didn't you?

Square simply doesn't know what to do with the Final Fantasy franchise anymore. It is a monster now. :)

What the fuck is going on with SquareEnix? Jesus.

Final Fantasy XI being included makes me so happy. I might have stopped playing that game 2-3 years ago but I still listen to the album collection pretty much every night or whenever else I'm reading. Hell, Song of Susannah and Sanctuary of Zi'tah are pretty much one in my head from listening to that song on loop for so long while reading that book.

So yeah, I want that one. Or Gustaberg. Or my former home nation, San d'Oria.

I'm about as interested in this as I am in Dora the Explorer branded band-aids.

She cried to the southern wind,about a love that was sure to end.Everything in her heart was gone,waiting for a showdown.

They should break dance fight.

I would be ever so slightly more interested in this if The Black Mages' music was used.

@Video_Game_King: Dancing Mad is amazing.

This game looks kinda Gitaroo Man/ Elite Beat Agents, which has my hopes up.

Am I the only one that thinks this game looks at least interesting? I'm curious to see how a rhythm game and an RPG can be combined.

Honestly, given the recent trend in Final Fantasy spin-offs, I have zero expectations for this game. Hopefully it's a pleasant surprise.

Isn't At Zanarkand the main theme of X? The slow, soft, intentionally saddening theme of X that wouldn't fit at all in a rhythm game?

Rhythm games are cool I guess.

Rhythm games are dead, guess that makes it a perfect fit for Final Fantasy...

I'm just kidding, please don't kill me.

The at rhythm?

Wait... that's Lightning in the bottom left corner, isn't it? What a change of pace. 
 
I never played the game, but I don't think I've ever seen her smile. For that matter, I don't think I've ever seen a screenshot or video of FF13 where one of the characters smiled.

This looks stupid as hell.

This looks genuinely cool. Since when does crazy ever stopped Final Fantasy, or any japanese game, from being good?

So wassup, they dancin'?

for every game i see with Final Fantasy in the title, another giant nail is being hammered into the extremities of square enix. its only a matter of time before they bleed to death.

Wow Square.... I have no words for what you have become. Rhythm games and a painfully dull-looking sequel to FF13 can't save you. Stop fucking about and get back to making decent games.

Speaking of which, whatever happened to the only promising future title they had, FF Versus 13? (Jesus, these names are killing me.) That game looked pretty phenomenal.

wait, there are 14 main series games, or is squeenix just pretending that ff14 didn't even happen?

It looks a little like you got your Final Fantasy in my Elite Beat Agents and I got my Elite Beat Agents in your Final Fantasy.

Day one purchase.

wait, there are 14 main series games, or is squeenix just pretending that ff14 didn't even happen?

@MariachiMacabre said:

@Sil3n7 said:

@august said:

You can always tell if Alex wrote a headline.

That's exactly what I thought ha!

Same. His headlines are usually pretty awesome.

Yep.

ill probibly play it once and then it will sit on my shelf for the rest of time but hey im still gona get 
it it looks like it could pass some time on a boring day (i happen to have alot of them rite now)

Final Fantasy XI being included makes me so happy. I might have stopped playing that game 2-3 years ago but I still listen to the album collection pretty much every night or whenever else I'm reading. Hell, Song of Susannah and Sanctuary of Zi'tah are pretty much one in my head from listening to that song on loop for so long while reading that book.

So yeah, I want that one. Or Gustaberg. Or my former home nation, San d'Oria.

Just for the the record I think "Thaertrythm" is about a million times better than "365/2 days" or whatever the fuck.