Rhythm Heaven

"One of the best Rhythm games I've ever played"

Introduction

Rhythm Heaven is the sequel to the Japan-only game, Rhythm Tengoku, which was released for the Game Boy Advance. While the GBA version uses buttons, the DS version utilizes the touch screen for controls and gameplay. Rhythm Heaven is a music-based game, similar to games like Elite Beat Agents and Ouendan.

Gameplay

In the main portion of the game, you play four mini-games before you play a Remix, which is essentially a review of what you have done in the past four games. This is true for only certain remixes. Before each mini-game, you get a brief tutorial on how to play the game, so it's nice to be able to know how to play before jumping into the real game. All of the mini-games utilize only the Touch Screen (with the exception of one mini-game). At the end of the game, you get one of four ranks: Superb, OK, Just OK, or Try Again. Getting the first three will allow you to progress to the next game, while getting the result "Try Again" will force you to redo the level. Getting a Superb will net you a medal in that game, and later on, you can retry that level for a Perfect when the opportunity comes. Getting a Perfect requires no mistakes whatsoever, but you will be rewarded with unlockable music or scripts that you can read later on. There are a total of 50 games in the main gameplay. However, some of the mini-games later on are repeats of earlier ones. They are usually slightly more difficult, or longer than their initial counterparts. I give the gameplay an 8/10.

Graphics

The graphics are good, but they aren't anything spectacular. Then again, Nintendo isn't known for having games with extremely detailed graphics like the 360 and PS3. When you play Rhythm Heaven you'll be having so much fun that you won't care about the graphics. I give the graphics a 7/10: not bad, but nothing worth going WOW over.

Music/Sound

Well it's a music-based game, what do you expect? The music is extremely catchy, that maybe some of the songs will stick in your head for a while. Again, it's not something that you'll go WOW over, but it's still good that maybe you'll be humming it at some random time. Maybe you will even want to go back to a certain level just to hear the music. You are also capable of unlocking music in the progress, however, unlocking all of the music is quite a task. Again this gets a 7/10.

Replayability

So you've beaten the main portion of the game. What do you do now? Well, chances are that you didn't get a Superb ranking in all the games. You can go back and attempt for Superb in all games for a bigger challenge. Every single game in the main portion is fun, so you can go back to replay the level because it's cool, or simply because you like the catchy music. You can also attempt Perfects for all 50 games, but that's quite a challenge. When the option to attempt a level for a Perfect shows up, you'll have three chances to get a Perfect before that opportunity disappears. If you don't get it after three tries, you'll have to wait until the game gives you the opportunity again for a perfect. However, if you've gotten a Superb in all 50 games, there will always be a Perfect opportunity, the thing is that opportunity will shift between games after three tries. I give this a 6/10.

Extras

Aside from the main bulk of the game, there are other options such as going to the cafe, Rhythm Toys, Endless Games, and Guitar Lessons. I don't really think these extras are that necessary, but the Guitar Lessons are nice, where you can play the songs in the game. The songs that you can play depends on the amount of medals that you have earned in the main gameplay. For example, in order to learn the Crop Stomp music, you must get five medals, which is equivalent to 5 Superbs. In the cafe you are also capable of listening to music, but to listen to all of the music in the game, you must get Perfects on all 50 of the main games, which is extremely challenging. All the other extras aren't really worth mentioning. This gets a 5/10.

Overall

All in all, I believe all Nintendo DS Phat/Lite/i owners should at least rent this game and try it out. I was a bit skeptical to play it first, but I bought it 5 days after the US release and couldn't put it down for a while. The main gameplay is extremely fun, and you'll be going back to be a master at all of the games. I believe this game deserves an 8 out of 10 (not an average): the games will entertain you for quite a while, but certain levels, especially the later ones, will be difficult, especially if you are attempting Perfects.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 05/05/09

Game Release: Rhythm Heaven (US, 04/05/09)