Game: Tadpole Treble Encore
Genre: Rhythm, Music
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam & Wii U)
Developers | Publishers: BitFinity |ONE PR Studio
Age Rating: US E
Price: US $8.99
Release Date: January 21st, 2021
Review code used, with many thanks to BitFinity & ONE PR Studio
Tadpole Treble Encore is a music rhythm game, originally funded on Kickstarter by 1,033 backers who pledged $34,250 to help bring this animated musical to life. Originally released on Steam and Wii U, now it’s swimming it’s way to the Switch.
Save Baton
You play as Baton, a young little tadpole. After breaking out of the frogspawn, Baton is attempting to make her way home after having an encounter with a large stork. Being a tiny tadpole with no defenses this isn’t an easy task for Baton. As Baton must swim through dangerous encounters with fish and many other things much bigger and scary looking to a tadpole the size of Baton!
We all know music plays a large part in most games, it’s there in the background waiting to creep forward in times of drama. The music in Tadpole Treble Encore is in essence the game. Every level in the game is a full music track and you’re in for a real treat as each track is a joy to listen to, but more on the music later.
Avoid the Obstacles
Each level is laid out as a music sheet, meaning the obstacles that you have to help Baton avoid are the music notes. The music for a particular level determines the layout you have to negotiate Baron through. Some music tracks are slow beats with fewer notes and other tracks are in a faster beat with lots of notes.
As you move Baton along you must try to avoid damage, collect pink bubbles and pink blobs of food for Baton. The little tadpole can also swing her tail at some elements of the level to punctuate a song with clapping or a cymbal crash. At the top of the screen is a “treble meter” which, when full, allows Baton to become temporarily invincible and gain extra points.
Get a High Score
The overall goal is to reach the end of the level with a score as high as possible. There are unlock-able bonuses for collecting the bubbles as well as completing certain objectives in each level. Such as finding the one “challenge fly” in every level that requires you to perform a specific task to achieve it.
The bubbles you collect on each level can be traded to a large bullfrog named Etude for bonuses like a sound test mode, hints on how to collect challenge flies, a bestiary of the enemies and obstacles, and other goodies. Etude also offers advice from time to time, and this can be quite humorous. Completing the challenges and unlocking the final mission will keep the game going long after the Baton swims safely home.
100% each Level
At the end of every level, you receive a rank grading from F to S depending on how many bubbles you have collected and your overall score. This adds to the game longevity, as completionists will no doubt try their best to nail every level 100%. There are so many things going on at once, it’s hard to keep track of it all, but it all adds to the experience.
Being a rhythm game, your reflexes are the key to success. Some of the movements need to be made in a flash. Baton has a health bar that can be refilled, but many, many times I found myself having to restart a level. The game is definitely challenging, but that’s what makes it so much fun and very enjoyable.
Make your own Music Tracks.
Like all good games of this style, it’s easy to learn but requires time and effort to truly master and hit the top scores. For those who enjoy a challenge the level grading system at the end of each level will no doubt scratch that competitive itch. I certainly found myself retrying levels in the hope of upping my score, which after a while I did manage to improve on.
If it gets too much for you trying to rescue Baton you can take a break and try out Composition mode. In composition mode you can make up your own tracks, all the tools are available. From multiple instruments to choose from and you can change the tempo of the song to suit yourself. I’ve played around with this mode and for someone who isn’t into making up their own music, I did have a lot of fun with it. Even playing back my failed attempts to compose something nice was very funny.
Visuals, Controls, and Wonderful Music
The story is told through the music, songs and storybook cutscenes and is very entertaining and charming. All of the music tracks are original compositions and are unique to each level. Some tracks feature vocals and all the tracks sound amazing. There isn’t a single song in the game I disliked, they all sound equally good.
Each and every track sounds distinct, but they all give off the same feel-good vibe with good foot-tapping beats. Tadpole Treble Encore has dozens of songs available and includes fully vocal song boss battles.
Catchy Lyrics
The vocal tracks are incredibly catchy and can easily get stuck in your head. After playing the game for a while I got so hooked on the catchy tunes I looked for the soundtrack of the game online and was very pleased when I found it. You can download the tracks from Spotify or iTunes. I’ve now got a new game soundtrack to listen to on my iPhone! A little advice though, this game is best played with headphones on as you can really benefit from hearing every note and instrument sound the game has to offer.
The controls are very simple, you only use the control stick to guide Baton and the A button or right shoulder button to flick his tail. It works well and it’s just a pity the same can’t be said for my timing in the game.
Conclusion
I think a rhythm game is only as good as the songs it contains, and Tadpole Treble Encore doesn’t disappoint in that respect. It is fun, engaging, and an extremely cute and charming game. The Composition mode adds a virtually limitless amount of content and replayability to the game.
Tadpole Treble Encore is a game that you will play with a smile on your face. You can feel the love the developers, Matthew and Michael Taranto have put into their game. It probably won’t come as a surprise for anyone who has read this far in the review (thank you) that I’m giving Tadpole Treble Encore our highest score of..
Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up 