For rhythm-lovers it is, indeed, heaven - A Review of Rhythm Heaven

Before diving into my review of Rhythm Heaven for the Nintendo DS, I would just like to remind you that I reviewed the Wii sequel, Rhythm Heaven Fever, first. Being out of order and all, I will try to separate the two games in my mind to give the DS original its just rewards.

Rhythm Heaven is an E-rated rhythm game for the Nintendo DS system. It's controlled almost entirely on the touch screen, with the player holding the DS in the sideways "book" position. Righties and lefties are both welcome! The player completes a series of rhythm-based mini games by tapping, sliding, and flicking the stylus on the touch screen.

Visually, Rhythm Heaven is a real treat. The graphics are decidedly cartoony, but each mini game differs from the others in some small way. The hardware of the Nintendo DS is beginning to show its age at this point, but Rhythm Heaven's graphical appeal is hard to deny even now.

The music in Rhythm Heaven is admittedly a mixed bag. The songs are, more often than not, quite forgettable. And the handful of vocal performances within the bunch are shoddy at best. However, there are a couple of standouts in the soundtrack. The "Built to Scale" and "Rhythm Rally" tunes are two such examples.

Though the music itself isn't perfect by any means, it does serve to create some really great rhythmic gameplay. Like I mentioned before, tapping, sliding, and flicking the stylus on the touch screen comprise the majority of control in Rhythm Heaven. It may seem like a simple control scheme, but it lends itself to a rhythmic precision that I find very appealing. If there is anything to complain about control-wise, it's that the force needed to complete successful flicking in this game can be quite taxing on a touch screen.

Rhythm Heaven is a challenging, but rewarding, game. Medals earned by acquiring Superb scores go toward unlockables like rhythm toys and endless games, which are fairly satisfying diversions. Perfect scores earn reading materials and music tracks, both of which can be accessed through the Cafe, where players are meant to go to relax and take a breather from the main game. Overall, Rhythm Heaven is a surprisingly deep game, especially considering you can nab a copy for very cheap nowadays.

I don't typically mention sound effects in my reviews, but it would be hard to slide by without noting those in Rhythm Heaven. Often, the game's strange and quirky sound effects are there to help the player get into the rhythm's flow, but they turn out to be integral elements to the game's overall charm. The dancing amphibians in "Frog Hop" and the voice in "Lockstep" are two particularly memorable examples.

Conclusion
You would have to be really picky to not find something good in Rhythm Heaven. For fans of the music genre, it's got intelligent, precise rhythms to master. For those just looking to add another great game to their DS collection for cheap, Rhythm Heaven is a steal. Its charm and gameplay alone merit a purchase.