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.

Rhythm Heaven Fever: A First

I actually played this game a while ago, and haven't had the pleasure of playing it again since *hint hint*. While wondering what to write this post about, Rhythm Heaven Fever kept popping into my head. Then I realized I haven't written anything on it! Also, because I haven't beaten the game I can't really write a review; this is how I came to the great decision of writing this post!

This game is a great one! It is completely worth a buy! I've only played it for like half an hour and recommend it! It's so awesome right from the start; a way good game for those who have good rhythm in their feet. It was fun and (once I got the hang of it) actually pretty easy on some levels. Of course it gets harder and harder! Some of the levels I could never imagine doing! Then again, if I actually owned the game I think I might be able to!

For my first time playing Fever, I say it was definitely worth it! It was fun and very VERY entertaining!! I think I fell in love when I first saw the trailer for it, and when I actually got to play it! I was so happy and it totally lived up to my expectations!! If you've played Rhythm Heaven Fever why don't you tell me about it? I'd love to know if you share the same opinion as me!

*Side note - Sorry I haven't been posting very often! I'm really overloaded with school right now, as it is getting closer and closer to the end of the school year! Plus I'm on the Student Council and I am doing stuff for that; anyways I am really sorry for the excuses but I'll try to post on my schedule again! Thanks for all your support!

Now Playing: Week of April 14-20

Welcome to another edition of Now Playing! Let's dive right into the games of the week:

Holly
As a recent First Impressions post would tell you, I finally received and have been playing the Wii game Xenoblade Chronicles. This week, I also hope to break back into Okami for Wii. I'm finding it somewhat difficult to do so, but I must! Metroid Prime rounds out this week's Wii line-up. It's pretty ambitious, I know! In the handheld realm, I will still be playing Kid Icarus: Uprising, but, having beaten it, it'll be more of an afterthought to GBA games Golden Sun and Metroid: Zero Mission. In addition to all of the above games, I may sprinkle in some of the following during the week: Rhythm Heaven Fever, Super Mario Galaxy (1 and 2), Final Fantasy III, Super Mario 64, and Wii Sports Resort. How 'bout you all?

Nintendo Lifeline Top Ten Wii Games

Thanks to everyone who participated in our one-year anniversary celebration! This post is meant to be a gateway to all of the Wii games that made our top ten list, so let's dive right in:

10. Excite Truck
One of the first examples of how motion control could be used in racing games, which seemed a logical fit. Excite Truck still holds up today, even though it was released back in 2006. Little else can offer the satisfaction that Excite Truck has in store for gamers: catching big air, slamming into other trucks, driving through a forest to rack up the "tree run" stars, etc. The control in Excite Truck may seem a little wonky, but it can turn into one of the highlights of the whole thing, if only the player lets it.

9. Rune Factory Frontier
Remains one of the most addictive games in my collection. Rune Factory Frontier sees the player in control of Raguna, who has the typical memory issues, and so is essentially forced to live in the quaint little village of Trampoli to begin a lovely new life. Raguna can spend his days any way he wants: fighting monsters in the dungeons, seeking friendship with the locals, maintaining a farm for profits, or any combination of those things. Though the load times may be quite severe in this game, the graphics will not disappoint.

8. Rhythm Heaven Fever
It didn't take long for me to know that Rhythm Heaven Fever would end up being one of my all-time favorite games. Indeed, it is, at the very least, my absolute favorite rhythm game of all time. With simple, precise control, intelligent rhythms, and an imaginative style, Rhythm Heaven Fever will never grow old for this gamer.

7. Super Mario Galaxy
Mario goes into outer space with totally epic results. Super Mario Galaxy did what no other Super Mario could do: make the weird, quirky world of Mario feel grand and mighty, thanks to the out-of-this-world setting and an orchestral soundtrack.

6. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
I love a good side-scrolling platformer, and it doesn't get much better than New Super Mario Bros. Wii. In addition to exhibiting pure platforming genius, New Super Mario Bros. Wii flawlessly added multiplayer to the mix, which would inspire games to come to do the same. None have nailed it quite like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, though.

5. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Zelda series finds its dark side. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is one of the best adventures I have ever experienced. The minimalistic approach to motion control adds a lot, the graphics and presentation are stunning. Also, the Twilight Realm in this game has got to be one of the coolest locations in the history of video games.

4. Wii Sports
Anyone who has owned a Wii console from the early days undoubtedly has fond memories towards the game Wii Sports. The game was magical back then, and it's still fun to play today. Nintendo orchestrated the release of their motion-controlled gaming console with perfect finesse by including this game as a pack-in.

3. Super Mario Galaxy 2
What's even better than the excellent Super Mario Galaxy? Why, Super Mario Galaxy 2, of course! That's not what my expectation was, however. I thought that Galaxy 2 couldn't possibly add anything that Galaxy 1 didn't already have. WRONG! Galaxy 2 is one of the best games I've ever played.

2. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
The developers of Super Smash Bros. Brawl must've been insistent that the game be nothing less than perfect. After suffering from two set-backs in release date, the game finally fell into eager gamers' hands. Not only is Brawl a superb gameplay experience, it's also got an impossible amount of sheer content. You could get lost in it!


1. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Skyward Sword came along just as I was hoping for a Zelda game that stayed true to the spirit of the series while adding something completely different. Wouldn't you know it, Skyward Sword did just that! A fresh graphical style, controls that fans had only dreamed of, and a revamped format to the game world are just a few examples of how Skyward Sword soared.

Favorite Wii games countdown #8: Rhythm Heaven Fever

I know music. I know rhythm. And I know that Rhythm Heaven Fever is a superb rhythm game. It's simple: A and B are the only buttons used. The rhythm is precise, varied, and intelligent. And the pure charm that Fever exudes rounds out an excellent experience.

I didn't mention this in my review of Rhythm Heaven Fever, but when I started the game up, I initially disliked it. The practice before the first mini-game seemed a little unfair to me. Once I got the flow, however, the game was just non-stop charm. I adore this game!

Honorable Mention: NBA Jam
What happened between us, NBA Jam? You were fun to me for, what, a day? Ya know, I suppose it was my siblings who tore us apart: I couldn't stand that they loved you so much more than other excellent multiplayer games like Super Smash Bros. Brawl and New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Ah, well...you're still a great little multiplayer game.

A Game I Should Have Played: Wii Music
I'm adding this game to my list not because it got great reviews, but because I wish I could have played it by now. As I've already stated, I love music. Someday I'll give Wii Music a shot.

Why Rhythm Heaven Fever is everything a rhythm game should be: A Review

Piano lessons since age 5, band and choir during high school, dance lessons, guitar lessons, jazz band...yeah, you could say music has been a big part of my life. My first encounter with the rhythm video game genre came in the form of Guitar Hero II on PlayStation 2. I was probably 14-ish.

The first Rhythm Heaven game for Nintendo DS, paired with the game Samba de Amigo for Wii opened up my mind to the fact that Guitar Hero and Rock Band aren't the only rhythm video games out there. And they certainly aren't the best.

Rhythm Heaven Fever is the best rhythm game I've ever played. And, hey, I've played my fair share of Guitar Hero. In Rhythm Heaven Fever, everything just comes together in one solid package.

So what is the Rhythm Heaven formula? The player takes part in a variety of rhythm-based activities, each with its own original tune. In Fever, only two buttons are used for this: A and B. This places wonderful emphasis on the music and gameplay. The game isn't bogged down with gimmicky peripherals or imprecise motion control, yet it has a richness to it. This may be due to the copious amounts of sheer charm. While one game will have you high-fiving monkeys from the second hand of a clock, the next might have you playing badminton at an altitude of 8,000 feet, all to the beat of an infectious song. I can assure you that each and every activity in Fever will tickle your giddy nerves in some way.

Fever is set up in a way that promotes maximum satisfaction. What do I mean by this? Well, I'll start with the basics. You'll unlock a single mini-game at a time by getting a rating of at least "OK" on the previous game. The games come in columns of five, the final one being a remix of the first four. Remixes are the greatest challenges of the game, but they form the backbone of what turns out to be an excellent, balanced difficulty curve.

Fever also has a great rewards system. Normally, there are only three simple ratings to achieve on a particular song: Try Again, OK, or Superb. An OK rating will get you past a song, but Superb will earn you a medal. Medals "buy" in-game extras like "Endless Games" and "Rhythm Toys". You can also earn a perfect score on a game, but only when the game grants you the opportunity. Earning perfect scores is not the easiest task, especially considering you only get a limited amount of tries when the opportunity arises. If you miss an opportunity, it will open up again eventually, but perfect scores unlock music and humorous reading material. Unlockables are not offered on a neat little platter to the gamer's face, which fuels a drive to play new games and even replay old favorites. It's a deeply satisfying format.

Rhythm Heaven Fever does offer a two-player mode. However, only a fraction of the main collection of mini-games make their way to this portion of the game. In addition, online function is non-existent in this game. To me, however, these are two minor issues that are more than compensated for in the rest of the game. And with a nifty entry price of $29.99, it's not likely I'll find a bigger bang for my buck in a long time.

Conclusion
Rhythm Heaven Fever gets a Superb rating from me. It offers a simple, uncluttered control scheme and interface to place more focus on what matters: the music, the beat, the rhythm, whatever you want to call it! It does it all with style and a satisfying rewards system. The two-player modes lacks, but at least it's there! Though it lacks any kind of online features, Rhythm Heaven Fever is a can't-miss experience on the Wii console.

Looking ahead: Nintendo's 2012

Games
When thinking about the games coming out this year for Wii, one title and one title only comes to my mind: Rhythm Heaven Fever. Out February 13 (yeah, I was quite wrong before), it's sure to assist with the Wii console's final struggle as the world makes way for Wii U. And at a mere $29.99, this is one game I won't be missing out on!

The future of the Nintendo 3DS system is another story. 2011 saw the portable gaming device gathering steam that shows no signs of stopping in 2012. RPG fans should get excited about Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance and Tales of the Abyss. Roller Coaster Tycoon 3D could prove to be a decent little port of the PC series. Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure will likely jump in from nowhere to steal gamers' hearts. Oh, and there's always the growing list of what are sure to be hard-hitters: Luigi's Mansion 2, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Animal Crossing (name not final), Paper Mario (name not final), Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, and Resident Evil: Revelations.

What I'll Be Playing
At this very moment, I have an infinitely long list of games, old and new, to play. I beat Super Mario Bros., so I would like to move on to Super Mario Bros. 3 (I'm not brave enough for number 2). I received the well-reviewed Okami (Wii remake) for Christmas, and it's simply calling out to me. I'm not sure if I'll ever manage to get away from Mario Kart 7 long enough to take the cartridge out of my 3DS. The downloadable Pushmo is a strong contender in the fight for my time. Oh, and there's those ten GameBoy Advance games I downloaded for free recently. I'm actually working on another entry into my Metroid series with Metroid II: Return of Samus...if I can find time to play it. Kirby's Adventure for the NES rounds out the formidable list. Wish me luck!

What will you be playing or looking forward to in the year 2012?

4 great games coming this holiday and why I recommend them

Will your games be coming in packages this season?

The "holidays" start when we begin enjoying Halloween candy and end sometime after New Year's, when it makes us sick just looking at all the left-over goodies. In between, we eat what seems like a never-ending flow of candy and baked goods.

In addition, the holidays never fail to see that gamers all over the world get a hearty supply of video games. Wii and Nintendo 3DS owners are not exempt from that, so here are 4 up-coming games for you to consider this season:

Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
Out this Sunday, it's the latest installment in what is undoubtedly Nintendo's (and gaming's) most successful franchise. That is the first and most obvious reason why it will be a must-buy for N3DS owners. That said, players can expect brilliant platforming madness, power-ups old and new (read: Tanooki suit and boomerang suit), and even practical uses for stereoscopic 3D. Don't pass this one up!

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
One short week after Mario jumps onto store shelves once more, Nintendo will pump out what is sure to be the company's biggest hit of the year. Mark November 20th on your calender as the release of a game that has been in the making for literally years. The reasons for getting this are too numerous to count, but here's a quick summary of what's in store: one-to-one sword action thanks to the Wii Remote Plus, a story that promises to explain the origins of the iconic Master Sword (and then some!), what is sure to be a stellar soundtrack, a larger quest than in any other Zelda (estimated 50-100 hours to complete), and, of course, the dungeons, puzzles, enemies, and gameplay that come packed into every Zelda game. Seriously, don't miss out on this one. You'll regret it.

Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
Are Mario Kart memories of some sort not ingrained into the heads of every Nintendo fan alive? New courses, new items, better online capabilities, hang gliders and water jets, customizable karts, and more await in this installment of the popular series. The game hits stores December 4th.

Rhythm Heaven (Wii)
This one comes out the day after Christmas (what's up with that, anyway?) February 13, 2012, but it still fits into the "holidays", because, like I said above, the holidays don't end until after New Year's. Catchy music, quirky gameplay, and a whole lot of personality characterized the Nintendo DS installment of Rhythm Heaven, so why should the Wii title be any different? I look forward to more information before the game's post-Christmas release!