PAX EAST 2023 | "Felicity’s Door"
Music can open many to new worlds and experiences. Felicity’s Door, Area 35’s upcoming rhythm game, literally does that with its two human characters and their talking stuffed bear. At PAX East, players had the opportunity to explore the sights and sounds of Felicity’s Door, with only a hint of what may come from its narrative. Needless to say, what I witnessed made me want to swing that door wide open!
The game is played in two different ways: regular controls or the Nintendo Switch touchscreen. On the regular controls, playing to the beat of the song felt natural, as pressing the buttons and toggling the joysticks brought a plethora of rhythm to the fingers and ears. This version is certainly catered to those who are newcomers to rhythm games, as it’s easier to figure out when it’s time to press the buttons to the beat. However, the real experience definitely comes when playing with the touchscreen.
Tapping on the Switch screen made me feel like I was a part of the music, and not necessarily its conductor. With each correct tap, I felt a shake in my hips and a fluttering in my fingers. A joy factor that was minimal in the normal control setting was a lot louder and in focus here, making it the more ideal version to play. However, it is definitely a lot more challenging to figure out when to tap, something that will require players to listen better to the song’s rhythm.
Visually, Felicity’s Door is both cute and appealing on many levels. On top of the in-game animation (done by Gal & Dino studio Kamikaze Douga) bringing the mysterious story to life, the color palettes and designs helped to make playing even the most frustrating parts of a song more tolerable. It’s easy to get lost in the sweetness that’s on the screen, be it the dancing sprites or even the melodies themselves.
Thus far, Felicity’s Door has the makings of a charming and dope rhythm game. With many genres of music to play with — all by indie and big-named artists from all over the world — this bedtime adventure looks to be the kind that you’d bring to parties and have your friends dance along as you play. Although it’s story is still not clear, Felicity’s Door will no doubt find plenty of ways to put a smile on your face and a shake in your hips.
Felicity’s Door has yet to announce a release date. However, when it is out, there are plans to add onto more of the narrative with new music and stories. Here’s hoping its heart and soul will have plenty of groove for years to come!
