"One of the best in the music genre."

Introduction:
The hit GBA rhythm game has finally hit the shelves in this new DS release. Designed once again by Yoshio Sakamoto, and developed by Nintendo R&D1, the guys who developed WarioWare, the game keeps players preoccupied with over 50 addictive minigames and wonderfully entertaining music by Mitsuo Terada. Known as “Rizumu Tengoku Go-rudo” (Rhythm Heaven Gold) in Japan, the game's US title will remain “Rhythm Heaven.”

Gameplay:
Taking complete advantage of the touch screen, this DS release requires players to tap, flick, and slide the stylus to the rhythmic tunes of minigames. After successfully completing one minigame, another minigame will be unlocked, and so on and so forth until you reach a fifth called “Remix 1” or 2, or 3, etc... The Remix levels combine the previous four minigames, requiring you to remember how each one was played in order to move on to the next. Therefore, you could consider the Remix stages to be a sort of “boss” level planted every five minigames, but it's really not as difficult as it might seem.

Which brings us to difficulty. As should be gathered from the game's title, Rhythm Heaven focuses mostly on musical timing rather than graphics, meaning that there are quite a few stages that you could very well play with your eyes closed. However, this doesn't make the game easy! Although some levels are easy enough to score a “high level” mark on the first try, others might need to be played several times before moving on. Fortunately, the entertaining music and graphics softens any frustrations and keeps the game going even if you're having a hard time.


Graphics/Sound:
Being a project developed by the Nintendo R&D1, a lot of the looks and sounds of the game may bear similarities to WarioWare; which, is not a bad thing at all. The look and feel of the game can only be described as fun, and you may find yourself smiling or even laughing at the different minigame illustrations. Combine this with great music developed once again by Mitsuo Terada, also known as Tsunku, and you'll find yourself unconsciously bobbing your head to the beats and singing/talking out loud to keep yourself with the rhythm of the game. Which is really what this game is all about—musical rhythms. The songs, although short, are amazing enough to wish that there was a CD you could buy to play in your car.


Play Time/Replayability:
It might not take long to unlock every minigame, but even after that you'll find yourself going back to play your favorites, or going back to get a gold frame—received by doing exceedingly well—on certain levels. Doing so will then unlock different options, such as guitar lessons, giving players further incentives to keep playing. The game also randomly offers you chances to get “perfect” frames around minigames that you've completed, allowing for other unlocks and giving more incentives to keep playing, which is good for those “gotta catch 'em all” gamers such as myself. Aside from that, the Rhythm Tengoku also has a few “endless” minigames that score you on how long you can continue rather than how well you play to the end of the song, but what really keeps players hooked, in my opinion, is the addictive gameplay and rhythm music fun which keeps this game replayable.


Final Recommendation:
If you love music games, then this is a must have. If you love quirky Nintendo games, then this is a must have. If you like anything fun, then please, you must have this in your game arsenal. With addictive music, gameplay, and over 50 minigames—you can't go wrong. My only warning is that you refrain from playing this game in the public because people will stare at you as you uncontrollably bounce to the rhythmic beats.


Gameplay – 10/10
Graphics/Sounds – 10/10
Play Time/Replayability – 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/04/08

Game Release: Rhythm Tengoku Gold (JP, 07/31/08)