BattleCattle posted:

Keep in mind that each intoner not only introduces new beats, but subsequent intoners serve to test what you've learned all the way up to second phase zero.

Zero has a regular camera and basic quarter notes. Simple.
Five introduces a slow pan away from the field, combined with syncopated quarter notes, blending the notes into the background.
Four introduces switching to and from syncopation, and moves the camera parallel to the ground, destroying the depth perception of the note.
Three is the thesis of syncopation switching, and if you are still relying on visual cues beyond this point, you're done.
Two introduces eighth notes, and moves the camera to a useless position. Mikhail looks quite sad during this battle, by the way.
One expands upon eighth notes, and actively tries to distract the player with the rapidly panning camera.
Final Phase Zero introduces tempo gradients, tests your eighth notes, and introduces dialogue syncing. There is no time to adequately prepare for the two concepts introduced in this phase without subsequent playthroughs.

e. The last phase also moves Mikhail to the top of the screen during the tempo gradient phase, so the player who miraculously got to this point by visual cues alone would waste time and concentration trying to find him again.