It is Saturday, and it is another week where I waited to the last minute to cobble up a review because I was having too much fun playing the game I needed to talk about. It’s okay, I figured it out, and I like to think it came out better than expected. Come with me on an adventure in a world where music rules, and an evil rich guy is trying to control everything.

This week is Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson!

Fretless is like an action, rhythm, RPG from Ritual Studios and Playdigious Originals. The game was released for the PC in the middle of July and retails for $15.

Once again, I am here to give a shout-out to the developer and publisher for the key. It is my honor to be the opening act for this game. I received a free review copy of this product from game.press

Fretless is all about how a media group, Super Metal Records, is attempting to use “Battle of the Bands” as a way to control the flow of music. Music inhabits everything in this world, from the environment to people’s everyday lives, and SMR wants to control it. The big baddie is giga-rich and wants to snuff out the protagonist, Rob, before he enters the “Battle of the Bands” competition and threatens the balance of power. Riffson ushers in an army of music-themed monsters to dispatch any person who dares to make a change.

The narrative is a little cookie-cutter, and the characters are a little flat. I enjoy them, but there could have been more to characterize them.

Combat is just turn-based combat, where at the start of each turn, Rob draws music cards that he can play exactly three of. There are attacks, blocks, and a special move that requires you to build a crescendo of 50 to activate. Crescendo is acquired by nailing the QTEs when Rob attacks, much akin to the Paper Mario Series. At the zenith of an attack, Rob will glow a yellow color, press A at the right time, and a crescendo will be gained, along with some extra damage. After Rob gets done doing all his fancy footwork, it is the opponent’s turn to attack, and the same QTE is applied to the enemy. When they glow, press A and block, which looks like half the initial damage.

I never felt like the combat was too difficult, because I think it was so honed in on how unique each deck was, and I was happily engaged with the core mechanics of Fretless

Four weapons are given to the player throughout the game: the basic acoustic, the slap-inducing bass, the controlling synth, and the demonic 8-string. Each weapon has a unique set of cards with a central theme. I chose to go with the Synthesizer because it was super colorful, and the prospect of controlling the battlefield with debuffs sounded GREAT (and it was fantastic). Each weapon offers a unique experience, and searching the world will grant the player upgrade materials and more cards to experiment with.

Defeating bad guys serves up music-themed resources that are tied to upgrading cards to be more powerful, dealing more damage, block, or buff/debuff. Weapons can also be upgraded with materials found throughout the game that impact the way they do their jobs in combat. The synth, for example, builds frequency and has a special effect for hitting a certain frequency at the end of the turn; something like damage, and the top being copying an ability.

After beating up on the BIG BADDIES then you are rewarded with pedals that offer unique advantages in combat, like playing two of the same name cards in a row charges more crescendo, or targeting single enemies deal to all, and negating the reduction of block at the end of the turn.

The website says Dovetail and Rob Scallon created the Fretless soundtrack, and it is top-tier music. There are lots of heavy moments that are matched perfectly by the soundtrack. Fighting SML Larry was an absolute blast, both because of the combat system and because of the music. As many heavy moments as there are, there are also soft, relaxing moments, like the moments in the starting village and Dropdee Beach.

I always say this, but pixel graphics as an art design always blows my mind. Maybe I overestimate what it takes to be a good pixel artist, but Fretless looks great all of the time. I remember thinking nothing of the little starting village, but then I entered the forest and audibly said, “Wow,” then I moved onto the volcano area and just sat for a little while to take in everything. I like that music has seeped its way into the environment in the way of rock speakers. I especially like the creativity behind the monsters that Rob has to fight along his journey. The stereo spiders, the Daft Punk-looking goons, and metal heads that roam the volcano area, AND FOR CERTAIN THE BOSSES. The first time I encountered the AUXarachnid, I thought it was the coolest boss in a video game.

Overall, I really liked Fretless: The Wrath of Riffson. The combat and the arsenal of weapons are unique. I like that each deck has cards to shuffle around and upgrade for a more honed-in combat experience. I like the music-themed world, the goofy-looking characters. The soundtrack and the look of the game are GREAT.

I just wish more love were put into the narrative and worldbuilding. I WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS MUSIC-THEMED WORLD.