Operation Backlog Completion 2025

It’s the 13th Anniversary of Rhythm Thief (Still Waiting for a Sequel… or Remaster)

 Video games  2 Responses »  Tagged with:
Jan 202025
 

Yesterday was the 13th anniversary of Rhythm Thief, which first came out in Japan on January 19, 2012.

Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure is an excellent rhythm game about a thief trying to learn the truth behind his father’s disappearance.

My best comparison for how it plays is that it’s like a Professor Layton game with rhythm games instead of puzzles, and it’s really a lot of fun. The story is also insane in all the best ways.

Back when I played it and wrote my review, my one criticism was that it ends on a big sequel hook but never got a sequel. Three years ago, I returned to the topic of Rhythm Thief to once again lament the lack of a sequel.

Now here we are in 2025, still with no Rhythm Thief sequel in sight.

With the 3DS eShop having been shut down, it is now pretty much impossible to get a copy of Rhythm Thief. Physical 3DS copies are rare and expensive, and the only port it ever got was an abridged iOS version that was shut down years ago. As much as I want a sequel, I can’t help but think a port or remaster of the original is an important step toward making that possible.

From Ghost Trick to Trace Memory to Xenoblade Chronicles X, we’ve had plenty of nearly-forgotten games be revived lately. In this era of unexpected remasters and revivals of old series, I really hope Rhythm Thief is the next to make a return.

And don’t worry, the daily blog dedicated to counting the days until we get a sequel is still active.

Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure is one of my favorite underrated games, and I’d love to see it get a sequel someday. For now, I hope for a remaster so that more people get to play it. Do you think we’ll see a Rhythm Thief remaster anytime soon?

But When Will We Get a Rhythm Thief Sequel?

 Video games  4 Responses »  Tagged with:
Dec 132021
 

2021 has been the year of niche games I love getting unexpected sequels, to the point where I haven’t even been able to play them all.

On top of all of the sequels that came out this year, Bayonetta 3 and Alan Wake 2 are on the horizon, as well.

But you know what’s one game that still needs a sequel? Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure.

It’s been five years since I played and reviewed this unusual rhythm game (and nine years since it came out), a game I always describe as being similar to Professor Layton in structure, except with rhythm games instead of puzzles.

I’m not the world’s biggest fan of rhythm games, but Rhythm Thief pulled me in with its cast of characters and entertaining story. But as I griped about five years ago, it ends on an overt sequel hook, yet no sequel is anywhere in sight.

Rhythm Thief was published by Sega, but it was developed by a company called Xeen. I wasn’t familiar with the name, but Xeen is still around, since they developed last year’s Trials of Mana remake, as well as a mobile game and an arcade game this year. So it seems there’s nothing that would prevent a Rhythm Thief sequel from being made.

I’m not the only one still waiting for this sequel. In fact, I found a blog devoted to counting the days until a sequel is made, so that person clearly wants a sequel even more than I do.

So in this time of niche games getting sequels… how about it, Sega? Sequel? Maybe a Switch port of the original to test the waters? Here’s hoping we can eventually see a second game in this series.

Would you play a Rhythm Thief sequel?

Rhythm Thief is Like a Musical Layton Game

 Reviews, Video games  4 Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Jul 202016
 

Rhythm-ThiefRhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure is a fantastic game, and I say this as someone who generally dislikes rhythm games.

More than anything else, Rhythm Thief feels like a Professor Layton game with rhythm games instead of puzzles. You will encounter occasional puzzles, but they’re mild and usually based on audio cues.

You move from screen to screen to traverse Paris, interact with NPCs around the city, and tap the screen to search for secrets.

While a Layton game rewards your tapping with hint coins, you’ll find a variety of things in Rhythm Thief.

Medals, the most common, can be used to buy movies, items to make a rhythm game easier (or harder), and more. Sometimes you’ll find Phantom Note pieces, collectibles for a side quest. You can also find Sound Disks, which add music tracks to your gallery.

Finally, you’ll find sounds you can record. Some are required to advance the story, while others are part of a side quest.

As you’ve probably guessed, music themes are prevalent throughout Rhythm Thief, both in its gameplay and story. Its excellent soundtrack makes this enjoyable.

Now, the main reason I enjoy Rhythm Thief more than other rhythm/music games is that it’s story driven. And much like a Professor Layton game, its story becomes completely insane.

You play Raphael, whose father vanished three years ago, leaving behind a coin marked with a mysterious symbol. Raphael adopts a secret identity as “Phantom R,” a thief, and hunts for clues about his father’s whereabouts. His search leads him to a girl named Marie, whose violin bears the same symbol.

But Marie is pursued by Napoleon, who has risen from the dead to reclaim his throne with the help of an ancient treasure Marie is the key to finding.

Fighting the Chevaliers Diabolique

Fighting the Chevaliers Diabolique

Yes, we have a musically-inclined thief facing off against an undead Napoleon (and his “Chevaliers Diabolique”) while searching for ancient treasure. It’s crazy and awesome!

The story and characters kept me invested in Rhythm Thief. The overall gameplay is enjoyable (more so if you like rhythm games), although the few rhythm games that use the gyroscope are frustrating and the Phantom Notes seem to adjust positions in a way that was probably meant to be helpful but ended up annoying.

There’s only one other thing I can criticize about Rhythm Thief. While the main story is wrapped up, it ends with a clear cliffhanger and sequel hook… for a sequel that never came.

In 2012, the producer expressed interest in making a sequel. Four years later, it still hasn’t happened.

That’s too bad, because it sets the stage nicely for an epic sequel. Maybe someday? Nevertheless, I recommend Rhythm Thief without reservations, even if you aren’t a big fan of rhythm games.

Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure may be difficult to find physically, but digital copies are available from the Nintendo eShop.

(There was a mobile port called Rhythm Thief & the Paris Caper, but it was discontinued.)

I hope we see a Rhythm Thief 2 someday. In the meantime, let me know your thoughts on or questions about the game in the comments.

Buy Rhythm Thief and the Emperor’s Treasure from the Nintendo eShop
Buy Rhythm Thief and the Emperor’s Treasure from Amazon