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Editor's Review
Friday Night Funkin’ (FNF) by The Funkin’ Crew Inc. has become a prominent game in the rhythm game genre, unique for blurring ease and challenging gameplay with an in-house soundtrack that is intricately linked with its own cast of characters.
FNF’s gameplay relies on rhythm dueling. The game has players control “Boyfriend,” who fights in music battles that are similar to rap battles, fighting through a succession of enemies across various “weeks,” each with numerous stages. The primary gameplay is matching arrow inputs with musical rhythm: arrows scroll up from the bottom to a stationary target region at the top, and the player must hit corresponding keys exactly on beat. This mechanic is extremely easy, so the game is still open to players who have never played rhythm games or have very limited experience.
The reason this game is so appealing is due to its increasing learning curve. The initial stages of the game feature slow and easy-to-read note patterns that acquaint players with the mechanics. As levels progress, note sequences become more complex and faster, introducing holds and speedy sequences that demand immaculate timing and handiness. This accessibility with later complexity keeps the game engaging over the few weeks. An additional feature is that there is an option to choose difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, Hard), which introduces a challenge scalable to meet a large quantity of players.
The audio innovation of Friday Night Funkin’ is arguably one of its best things. Unlike most other rhythm games that feature recycled generic or licensed tracks, FNF boasts a completely original soundtrack by Kawai Sprite and other artists.Each week boasts its own thematic music style that reflects the personality and story of the characters featured. Consider Week 2 with guest stars Skid and Pump, whose jazzy, frivolous songs with whimsical instruments match their childlike appearances. Week 3 changes over to a harder electronic and rock crossover style, mirroring the intensity of Pico’s size and upbringing.
This deliberate synching of music to character development adds depth to the game world, making each level more than just beat matching. The live layering of songs, as the melody changes depending on the skill of the player, adds another degree of depth not usually seen in rhythm games of this caliber. The rap vocal battles themselves, often displayed with animated facial expressions on-screen and visual flair, add even more sense to the narrative despite minimal actual dialogue.
But the game and music credentials are matched by limitations. The four-direction key-only control system is not highly customizable; there is no detailed remapping of the controls, and non-keyboard input devices are not utilized smoothly. This can be a drawback for players who have certain accessibility needs or prefer gamepads over keyboards. Also, although the soundtrack variety is great considering that it is an indie game, if a gamer replays the same songs repeatedly, then some of them will tend to sound repetitive because they are looped and relatively short.
Replay value also shares close relations with score maximization and timing optimization. Because omitted notes result in lost health and eventual loss, pattern mastery is incentivized by repeating patterns in the game. As much as this delights fans of rhythm, this could grow grindy over time for non-hardcore players. Lack of a deep story mode or branching narrative also limits engagement for players who seek meaningful storytelling in games.
By Jerry | Copyright © JoyGamerss - All Rights Reserved
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