Pokémon
So, how would you combine the button-pressing, screen-tapping mechanics of Theatrhythm with the ol' Pocket Monsters? Pokémon has had more spin-offs than any other franchise, so we're a bit shocked that a music one hasn't been a part of that. And if we're throwing it into Theatrhythm's clothes, then the obvious route would be Trainer, Gym, and Elite Four battles in the Legato region!
Okay, we couldn't come up with a better name than that one, but imagine going through a mixture of gym battles in a brand new region. A different leader from every existing Pokémon game, each with their own Gym theme from their region. Trainer battles with region-specific music. And the same for the Elite Four and champions. But there's plenty of pretty fabulous area themes too, and Quest Mode could see you go through a different region or section of a region, traversing through different locations (a forest, a cave, then a mountain etc.). Or, if you wanted to get really daring, perhaps the Beauty Contests or Cooking could be adapted to have some rhythm-based mechanics?
Song samples: Mt. Moon, Battle! Champion Cynthia, Anistar City
Castlevania
There's no better combo than "good music" and "Castlevania" in our books, but like Sonic, this series has two different "styles" to translate into a winning musical formula. There are the stage-based arcade games and the Metroidvanias — though technically, every smaller area map in the Metroidvania games could easily translate to a stage-based level.
So let's add an extra layer of complexity to this rhythm Castlevania — create your own map or "game". Basically, pick a bunch of different "types" of tracks — a cave track, an entranceway track, a desert track (thanks Portrait of Ruin, how are we supposed to make that work!?), a library... dot some boss rooms around, make sure one area has Bloody Tears. Secret areas could be unlocked in place of Summons in Final Fantasy, and those rooms could either have your usual sub-weapons or new characters. And we're done.
Song samples: Bloody Tears, The Tragic Prince, Sorrow's Distortion
Mario
The oldest franchise on the list, but this wouldn't be a Nintendo Life list without the Italian plumber, would it? Mario's already had time to show off his dancing moves in Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix, but something a bit more traditional would easily work! And good lord how much Mario music is there? Galaxy and Odyssey alone over the past 15 years is enough. And the creativity of Odyssey and its 2D sections could lend them themselves really well to a Theatrhythm-style.
We're thinking about a lot of the 3D challenge levels from games like Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario Sunshine, but more thematic to match the music being used. Or perhaps something a bit more simple for the side-scrolling games, where every few notes Mario could jump on an enemy or get a mushroom or fire flower. Maybe we can get the spin-offs involved with some Tennis or Mario Party-related rhythm minigames? We're rubbing our hands together just thinking about it.
Song samples: Overworld 1, Bowser's Road, Steam Gardens
Street Fighter
When we were thinking about a fighting game to include on this list, nothing came close to Street Fighter and its iconic music. The premise should be pretty simple for this one — one-on-one bouts where success depends on how good you are at the song. Think about the boss fights in Guitar Hero 3 and put that into a Street Fighter rhythm game. Come on, don't tell us you've never wanted to beat M. Bison in a dance-off of sorts!?
We think you could get really weird with what games you include here. There's more than enough brilliant Street Fighter music over the years, but let's throw in the Puzzle Fighter games! Or, if we really wanted to make this a fighting game bonanza, Capcom vs. SNK or Marvel vs. Capcom could be crossovers — more characters, more stages, and some funk-jazz menu tunes?
There's also got to be a way to get those Bonus Stages in — the classic car kicking in Street Fighter II, barrel breaking in Street Fighter V, all of them! This is the simplest of all the games on the list — nothing could go wrong with a Street Fighter rhythm game.
Song samples: Guile's Theme, Theme of Zangief, Ken's Theme
The Legend of Zelda
You didn't expect us to leave this one out, did you? Koji Kondo has composed many iconic Nintendo soundtracks, but in our minds, his work on Zelda is perhaps the best. With this one, Nintendo could release an Ocarina controller for the Switch, right? And perhaps the visual style could either go for some SNES-inspired spritework or like Grezzo's Link's Awakening diorama doll style for something utterly irresistible.
But really, how do you combine the adventure of Zelda with an entire rhythm game? Cadence of Hyrule is pretty good proof that it works, but we want straight-up rhythm fun. We need classic dungeons, minigames, horse riding, boat sailing, and all of Link's iconic sub-weapons. Dungeons could be just like the overworld stages in Theatrhythm, and the minigames could all replace the combat stages — except for bosses. We need a good few rounds against Ganon. or Ganondorf. Or Zant. Whoever!
Who could be your guide instead of a moogle, though? Well, Tingle would be perfect for that, wouldn't he?
Song samples: Ballad of the Wind Fish, Gerudo Valley, Ghirahim Battle
So, those are our picks for the ten video game series we'd love to see get rhythm games. Or, honestly, Square Enix could just bring All-Star Carnival to Switch and we'd stop begging.
Which of these would you like to see get the Theatrhythm treatment? Vote in our poll below and let us know what you picked — or perhaps you have some even better ideas. In which case, share them below!
Comments 50
Ooh interesting. Mega Man seems like such a no brainier for this that I’m surprised they haven’t already done it.
Curtain Call’s DLC basically made it a Squeenix game rather than just FF. It’s brilliant.
I’d like a redo of curtain call for the switch and ps5 that includes all dlc of the 3ds release.
Also yeah localize theatrhythm dragon quest please.
The only one I would buy would be a Zelda version. FF is my favorite gaming music followed by Zelda.
Pretty much the only one that makes the most sense would be a Mega Man rhythm game.
NINJA APPROVED
SF would be fun, but not as challenging as Ikaruga or Ghosts N Goblins.
Maybe there should be a capoeira video game?
Two I could definitely see potentially happening at some point would be Splatoon and Pokemon. They both have history with music/rhythm between Splatoon 2's rhythm minigame and Pokemon myriad of sound based Pokemon and moves, plus the music in both games is utterly fantastic/iconic throughout. You could even only need to make one game and just keep updating it as new games come out. You've honestly gotten me really excited for the idea now and I'm slightly disappointed it hasn't happened yet!
Also the selection of AA songs is great, I would throw in Kazuma's Theme and Great Revival there myself.
Chrono Trigger hands down as a different option, such an amazing soundtrack! If there's not enough content, throw in Chrono Cross too!
You think with the KH music game having decent success, and the FF music game shutting down april last year in Japan, they would do a switch/ps4 port huh?
Please give us Xenoblade Theatrhythm. Love the way theatrhythm plays and enjoy the final fantasy one a fair amount, just sucks I have no connection to the series whatsoever. Gimme a Xenoblade one and I am SOLD.
No series should have to put up with trashy rhythm game make overs.
Would Kirby make for a good theatrhythm game?
FF Theatrhythm's artstyle always looked ugly and funko pop-y to me
AC, Pokémon, Atelier games and Kirby have some great tunes.
RPGs lend themselves better thanks to their more diverse soundtracks, so I'd go with Pokémon.
Played both and the DQ one. Incredibly fun games to waste time in. DQ has better music IMO but would be nice to see more of these types of games
Ace Attorney is an inspired choice. The way Theatrythm splits up field stages and battle stages would translate easily to Investigation and Courtroom stages. That said, if they crammed everything from Curtain Call onto a Switch cartridge and added FF15 and FF16 music, it would be my Game of the Year.
These soundtracks would all be awesome in a rhythm game, though I've never really liked the idea of rhythm adventure games too much. They always felt kind of corny. It works fine for some of the goofier ones, but it'd just be weird to see a lot of these characters happily bouncing along with the beat. If we could get a more generic Nintendo rhythm game that includes the full soundtracks from a bunch of different franchises, that'd be amazing. Even better if it had a plain music player mode like Smash Bros. does, since they're so stingy about releasing their soundtracks as separate products.
I would like to see rhythm music games based on most of these listed series but they shouldn't necessarily have to go after Theatrhythm's tune, bad pun intended lol.
Seriously though, that S-E music series' gameplay is kinda alright but each series here should try doing something more original and different instead of just using a "inspired" Theatrhythm style imo.
Not my kinda game strangely but would absolutely love Legend of Zelda, DQ, Mario & Fire Emblem and Xenoblade Chronicles Theatrerhythm games. They'd be insta-buys.
I’ve been playing Curtain Call on and off for the past few months, and I was thinking it’d be great to have an Ace Attorney Theatrhythm game… and Lo and behold, you mention it here 👏 😂
I’d love to see a Monkey Island one too… or maybe a Hollow Knight rhythm game…. Mmmmm
@DiggleDog
Considering that the Theatrhythm games are by Square Enix and not Capcom may be one reason why not
I'd rather just listen to the soundtracks from these series and play a proper rhythm game, then shoehorn the mechanic onto a franchise I care about.
Also I would much rather see Mario, or Sonic get a Cadence of Hyrule type of game instead of this series.
I think Kirby would be another good one.
I already have the Dancing All Night games, but Persona would be a great fit here too.
I'd pounce on either a Mega Man or Sonic Theatryhthm game.
This list could also be called "10 video game series soundtracks that I constantly listen to while I work." So good choices!
@sneaky_sasquatch I agree, I'm not sure why no one has mentioned the art style. I think that comparing them to funko pops is a bit unfair on them though as funko pops are at least cute (Most of the time)
@Pk-glitch
I think this series of games has a very lazy, mobile phone f2p art style. The lack of animation and detail in general has steered me away from the series. Brace Yourself Games, with Crypt of the Necodancer and Candence of Hyrule have really cemented my preferred rhythm games.
Guess what I voted for!
Dance Dance Revolution Pokemon Mix
Beatmania IIDX SONIC DASH
@Anachronism "If we could get a more generic Nintendo rhythm game..."
There were two many, many years ago for the DS developed by Nintendo, called Daigasso: Band Brothers (JP only), followed up Daigasso: Band Brothers DX (JP) / Jam with the Band (EU).
The interesting decision they made though is that at the time, as far as the Japanese versions were concerned, they were more focused on keeping the song list as mainstream as possible, picking classical music, Billboard hits and J-pop hits. Kinda like the track list on some of the later Taiko titles.
Zelda and Dragon Quest would be the best, whilst Sonic and Mario would also be quite good. Ah, who am I kidding? I haven't got any rhythm.
@steventonysmith I would definitely buy Super Mario Bros Crypt of the Necrodancer.
Now I want to play some Cadence. BRB
I mean almost any and all classic Square RPG’s could fit as they mostly have awesome soundtracks. I guess if I had to throw out 3 selections I’d go with (that aren’t Final Fantasy)…
Non-Square Picks:
But also just bring back a new:
… if we’re talking music games !
… Wun can only hope.
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Reminds me, I need to get some of the DLC songs for these games before it all shuts down
@farrgazer I feel like I've heard of Jam with the Band at some point, though it looks like it never made it over to the US. The track list is way more limited than what I'd hope for in a modern equivalent. I'd want something that has the full track lists of maybe a dozen different games to start, and either adds in other soundtracks later as DLC or just has a bunch of sequels. Even Smash Ultimate's ridiculous soundtrack only covers a fraction of Nintendo's massive library of music. It's a shame they don't put it to more use.
Seiken Densetsu and Mother, first and foremost. Then as long as I'm dreaming, a Quintet series
Never even heard of this before, kind of interesting. Shame there's no android version. Could always emulate the iOS version on my Android...but then again it doesn't look THAT interesting.
As much as i love Xenoblade and its music, i don't think enough of it is interesting enough standalone.
They are fantastic mood pieces in their respective regions, but other than "Gaur Planes", there's very little really memorable stuff.
And whoever came up with Street Figher....just no
Only 2 picks? So hard to pick, so many good tunes in these games.
A platformer that requires fast precise reflexes absolutely should not get rythym games.
Nintendo should just make a rhythm game based on all of their collected franchises. It would be amazing!
I liked theatrhythm ok, but mainly because of the final fantasy content. I have just never cared about video game music. The music i love, i love because of the lyrics. Just instrumentals does nothing for me. I can't really say if any music without lyrics is "good", I only know if it doesn't get on my nerves. It's all just "there" to me. I'd like to play the dragon quest version, but I'd rather a turn based rpg without chibi characters, personally.
I'm surprised Splatoon isn't on the list, though I'd imagine Splatoon rhythm game to look and play more like Project DIVA games.
There are too many great series to choose from so I'll just cheat and combine them all into one. Imagine if Super Smash Bros. had rhythm game mode in it and you'd be able to play any song in Ultimate.
Sonic Spinball's options screen would be a great addition! At least with a warning to put the volume down first
Beyond the arcade game FF All-Star Carnival which is #1 on my port want list, you could jam pack a Theatrhythm FFXIV-specific edition and release expansion DLCs for years to come (probably best they don’t go this direction as I would gorge myself to no end)
Outside of FF and the above…
-itching for a collective “Nintendo” one, or something based off all the incredible Super Smash Bros. arrangements.
-rights and licensing would be insane, but anime like Gundam (or Super Robot), One Piece, etc could make for really fun ones.
-while I’m sure sales would be generally atrocious and they’re way too niche compared to FF, KH, Nintendo, etc…a Ganbare Goemon or collective Game Arts (Lunar, Grandia, + all their old shooters) version would speak oh so deeply to me.
I own DQ Theatrhythm and had a total blast with it, just unfortunate that a lot of the DQ music sorta blends together for me / not my personal favorite music as a collective series. But the top-down gameplay and mission modes were super fun, huge shame it didn’t ever get brought over.
(also thanks for now getting me to mentally obsess over a Theatrhythm Xenoblade…!!! Time to whip out the 3DS!)
Sonic and Bayonetta. Both have amazing music ideal for a rhythm game. Bayonetta especially needs more love.
I LOVED curtain call. I bought 80% of the extra tracks and would play it literally every day to get those extra daily points!
I wish they had translated that dragon quest once, but what I truly want is a game that spans the whole of squenix's past from the start!
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