I’m back at PAX East, geeking out about Fretless again. Ritual Studios has really got something here—a turn-based deck-building rhythm RPG. Yeah, it’s a mouthful. But trust me, once you get the hang of it, it’s like strumming along to your favorite jam. And guess what? The wait is almost over. Just a week until May 22, and then it’s game on!
I remember my first dive into this game last year. Fretless mixes stuff in a way that just clicks. Instruments are your weapons, and as you go into battle, the music shifts with your choices. It’s like if your acoustic guitar had a sword fight with a bass. Sounds bizarre, right? But it totally works. You end up crafting a different beat with every swing or spell.
This year’s epiphany? The rhythm in its battle system is spot on. I mean, when I look back at Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the timing felt kinda iffy. Dodging, parrying—half the time I wasn’t sure whether I’d end up flattened by some creature or gracefully sidestep its charge. Not here, though. Ritual Studios wasn’t trying to duke it out with Sandfall Interactive, but hey, I couldn’t help but compare. Playing Fretless, my fingers were tapping in sync, like I was born for this. And I’m itching to get my hands back on it when it drops on PC. It’s gonna be a blast.
