Groove Coaster Future Performers: An Unfinished Melody on Nintendo Switch
Released worldwide at the end of July 2025, Groove Coaster Future Performers landed with much anticipation following the success of its predecessor, Groove Coaster Wai Wai Party, which captured players’ hearts upon its launch on the Switch in 2019. Although the gameplay offers intriguing mechanics and a diverse song library, the experience is somewhat marred by significant shortcomings, including extended loading times and questions surrounding the quality of its background visuals.
A Mixed Bag of Tracks
Despite its official claim of featuring 50 songs, many players are finding the track selection vastly limited upon first interactions. A major portion of these songs—around 20—must be unlocked by progressing through an often unevenly paced campaign. Players quickly discover that the initial experience lacks variety, as both the storyline and its songs tend to recycle frequently, detracting from the excitement. According to a roadmap shared during a stream in July 2025, scheduled free content updates are not set to commence until October 2025. This means players will be left waiting for new songs well into the fall.
Story Mode: A Disappointing Journey
In terms of narrative, Groove Coaster Future Performers introduces players to teenage characters Kakeru and Aria through a story mode that aims to lend a plausible competitive context to the game. However, the execution leaves much to be desired. While Kakeru’s storyline is fully accessible, Aria’s tale abruptly halts at a “to be continued: update pending” screen after the fourth chapter, leaving players feeling shortchanged and frustrated.
Gameplay Mechanics: Familiar but Flawed
The gameplay remains largely consistent with its predecessor, offering four levels of difficulty—from Easy to Master—across various tracks. Players engage with the game via a combination of button presses and hold notes while maintaining a full-screen view. However, the absence of the Challenge and multiplayer modes from Groove Coaster Wai Wai Party, alongside a lack of ad-lib notes, weakens the overall appeal. Additionally, some tracks do not feature the entire song, which can come as a notable disappointment to fans of specific pieces, like “Bow and Arrow” from the anime Medalist.
AI-Generated Imagery Concerns
Compounding these issues is the troubling possibility that Groove Coaster Future Performers utilizes AI-generated imagery for background visuals, particularly noted during the “Bow and Arrow” gameplay. While playing on easier settings to capture screenshots, I noticed an unsettling consistency in the visual quality that suggested a lack of refinement—especially in the background details like the ice skates.
Final Thoughts: A Dull Echo of a Once Great Series
In its current form, Groove Coaster Future Performers presents a generally disappointing experience, especially when compared to the dynamic and engaging nature of Groove Coaster Wai Wai Party. The campaign is repetitive, and song availability hinges significantly on campaign completion. The added concern of potential AI usage for imagery may hint at a growing trend that could affect future titles in the series. While a demo version is now available for players to test the waters, my recommendation leans towards experiencing its predecessor for a more fulfilling gameplay experience.
For players interested in checking out this title, Groove Coaster Future Performers is available for the Nintendo Switch. However, consider exploring other options first.
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