Final Fantasy, Guitar Hero Collide In New Rhythm RPG You Can Play Free Now

Many Final Fantasy games have set templates for other RPGs after them. While Final Fantasy has had plenty of competition, the sheer popularity of the series has propelled it into mainstream recognition, so it’s easy to wear those sorts of inspirations on your sleeve. That said, there’s plenty more to explore with that formula, and studios will keep innovating on (and in some cases, surpassing) Final Fantasy in the decades to come.

But before we see those countless RPGs hit the market, you can play one now on Steam that nails the union between Final Fantasy and Guitar Hero. Given how it plays out, it works way better than you’d expect.

Nocturne Is A Rhythm-Based RPG

If you’re remotely into rhythm games, you may want to check out Nocturne, which is releasing in September. The setup is very simple: “The afterlife is now digital. Discover that eternal life comes with sacrifice in a genre-defying RPG with unique rhythm combat.”

Over the course of the narrative, you’ll embark upon your adventure in a “100,000-word” story, with a 10-plus hour campaign, and 101 playable tracks. Nocturne aims to be accessible, with six difficulty options. The difference between easy and expert is stark, going by the chart on the official page.

The idea is that by hitting notes, you’ll attack and nail critical hits, but missing notes allow enemies to strike back. You’ll be able to plus-up everything through RPG mechanics, with a leveling system, stats, and support for equipment. Bosses are in, as are cutscenes to advance the story.

The best part is that an Arcade mode is included, and as you beat enemies throughout the story, you’ll be able to replay “any of the 101 original tracks” in a high-score attack rush. Boss music was also apparently recorded by the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra, adding extra flair.

You Can Try Nocturne For Free

A demo is available for Nocturne now, if you want to try it before its September 24 release date. The new demo introduces a different Chapter 1 than the previous public build, with a playable section of Chapter 2.

Arcade mode is enabled in this new demo, which also injects the live orchestral recordings into the mix. The final price is $19.99 USD at launch, with a 10% discount for 14 days. The OST will also be sold alongside the game.

If you’re a Steam user, this is a great one to wishlist. Once the reviews come out, you can see whether the two concepts worked in concert.

Brand

Valve

Original Release Date

September 12, 2003