Rift of the NecroDancer is the latest entry in the rhythm game series, this time bringing Cadence and the rest of the cast out of the dungeon and into city life. Developed by Brace Yourself Games and Tic Toc Games, Rift of the NecroDancer strips away the dungeon crawling and leaves a more pure rhythm game experience, with an incredible soundtrack, though that doesn’t necessarily make it easier than earlier titles.
While Cadence may have found her way into the city, things seem a little strange, such as mysterious characters prowling around. These suspicions are all but confirmed when she’s forced to battle various enemies with the power of music. While it sounds hokey, this translates into a series of rhythm battles, with enemies pouring out of the titular rift along one of three tracks. Initially, this seems very straightforward, with slimes and skeletons dying after a single attack, but just like in Crypt of the NecroDancer and Cadence of Hyrule, enemies each possess different behaviors that players will need to remember in order to progress.
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They’re fairly simple at the start, but they quickly ramp up in intensity. Bats fly into other tracks, but advanced species will zig-zag or take three hits instead. Long, snaking dragons take up multiple beats requiring longer button presses, and swordsmen can attack from any distance, meaning players will need to stay vigilant to survive. These are just a few examples of the many enemies players will have to remember in order to succeed.
If these combinations seem complex, it’s because they definitely can be when they start to appear in various combinations. Some songs may require multiple attempts to clear, but when the lessons start to click, Rift of the NecroDancer shines almost literally, with the track lighting up with additional flair to indicate a combo. As always, the gameplay is dominated by the thumping beats of the music, and following that beat while defeating row after row of incoming enemies is an unmatched sensation. The songs are so enjoyable though, that it doesn’t feel as bad having to relisten to it after failing a stage. The songs are especially catchy since some of them feature artists like Alex Moukala lending their talents to punch up an already funky soundtrack.
Of course, Rift of the NecroDancer also features boss battles with some enemies that fans of the original game may recognize. These boss fights have their own songs and rules, effectively turning them into mini-games. Cadence’s interactions with her friends and other characters also occasionally take the form of less intense minigames, such as attending a friend’s yoga session where players attempt to match the beat set by the other participants. While most of the gameplay is comprised of playing through song battles, the less traditional distractions are certainly welcome.
The preview demo jumped from encounter to encounter, so it’s not clear what is meant to occupy the time between songs, but the rhythm-based gameplay is enough to keep Rift of the NecroDancer stuck in your head all day.
Rift of the NecroDancer releases in 2023 on PC and Nintendo Switch.
