In single player it offers three ranked tournaments - bronze, silver and gold - in which you tackle CPU opponents to rise to number one. The other main attraction is Versus Mode, which is a diverse offering in its own right. Short and Medium quests work well for commutes or dip-in sessions, while the Long alternatives take in over 20 stages and require plenty of effort, with greater rewards and a sense of satisfaction when complete. They begin as relatively easy challenges yet ramp up in difficulty quickly, which may unfortunately push rookie players away quickly practice will only take players so far due to the speed and precision needed in Expert and Ultimate Scores.įor experienced players, however, these quests are perhaps the best way to experience the game's library of tracks, mixing up retro chiptunes with sweeping orchestral numbers in the journey to defeating a final BMS boss. Though they're effectively just fairly random compilations of tracks from across the library, an overhead map, unique collectibles and divergent paths make it a compulsive option. Quest Medleys do much to scratch that itch, being split into Short, Medium and Long challenges. While the lack of a relevant story isn't particularly missed, it's clear that the development team hasn't forgotten that a premise and some tension can add a great deal to an experience. The majority of the content is in the former two formats, with EMS tracks showcasing moments (though low in number) in which you're playing over an impressive cutscene. In practice the variations are minor, as whether the scrolling rhythm symbols are in a single track, four tracks as per the battle or dynamically moving around the screen, the principles remain the same. The structure of the music also retains the form of the original, which tracks split between FMS (Field Music Stages), BMS (Battle Music Stages) and EMS (Event Music Stages). Though it's not the most glamorous approach in practice, less skilful players can utilise this core mode to play through every track at their preferred level, with hours upon hours of content available. Expert Score is an excellent compromise that often matches the flow of the track, while Ultimate Score is a frenzy of stylus swiping madness. As in the predecessor 'Basic Score' is accessible to all but with arrangements that occasionally struggle to recreate a tight beat to match the music. Notably, there's no need to unlock multiple difficulty levels, no doubt a hat-tip to those returning for a second dip in the series, so there are three options immediately there to be picked. All options can be mastered - we've seen players performing brilliantly with the Circle Pad and buttons - so it's down to personal choice. The stylus on its own remains King in our view, then, though there are some occasions where directional swipes unexpectedly register incorrectly - it's a problem in less than 1% of inputs, in all likelihood, but will frustrate on those occasions that it disrupts a lengthy combo. It's an intuitive setup, in which the stylus provides speed and precision to take on the most challenging stages there are also options to use the Circle Pad and any buttons as you see fit - or even a stylus and buttons combined - which are nice alternatives for accuracy in the easiest difficulty setting, but can lack immediacy for tough combos. Inputs consist of stylus taps, directional swipes, and solid bars that require sustained pressure and - depending on the mode - vertical movement and a final swipe. Taking its cue from many rhythm games that have come before, Curtain Call incorporates a combination of control styles.