Fret Nice Review

Fret Nice is a platform game from Tecmo that appeals to the rhythm genre fan that has their guitar controller collecting dust in the corner. Currently the game is available for download on the PS3 via the PSN store for $15, and will eventually make its way to the Xbox 360.

The story In Fret Nice is as plain as it gets, with the whole "I'm going to invade Earth and take over the world" routine. You are armed with only a guitar to save the world from certain doom. Now this kind of story has been beat to death in multiple titles, and I wanted something new and refreshing,but you really can’t expect much from a rhythm game.

Fret Nice’s gameplay is unique to say the least. Like I stated earlier about the guitar controller, you can use it for Fret Nice and it's highly recommended. Frankly, using the PS3 controller is pointless and not as much fun. In later levels of the game there are certain button combinations that you have to push which seem IMPOSSIBLE unless you have a guitar controller.

Being a platform game, your goal is to go left to right collecting musical notes on the way. Monsters are in your way, but you can take them out with your guitar. While the gameplay is simple there is one drawback being that you have to jump to attack, making for a little more tedious gameplay.

The soundtrack is top notch with the mixture of jazz and bass that adds to the experience, and goes well with the graphics of the game. As a whole, the music selection is incredibly good for such a small budget game. Enemies in the game use a gibberish language that reminded me of the talking in the Sims.

Unless you have the uncanny ability to channel a sixth sense of God, there's no way you can get all the medals in any one level the first time through. Because of this, the game forces you to play the same level multiple times. This adds to the replay value for the game, but of course, you have to be into the game to keep playing over and over again.

Rhythm games have found new life in the smaller budget games after rise of the Guitar Hero/Rock Band games. Developers realize that many gamers are burnt out from the two big franchises, and are looking elsewhere to get their music game fix. Fret Nice is there to provide a fix to those music game junkies.

- Cupcheck

article id: 950 | poster: OG