Once upon a time, I had the Rhythm Heaven game for our Nintendo DS. It was hilarious. The game featured dozens of rhythm-based mini games with head-bopping beats and quirky characters. Now the fun is back in the new Rhythm Heaven Megamix for Nintendo 3DS! Munchkin and I are hooked!
Rhythm Heaven Megamix Review — Story & Style
The DS game lacked any kind of story but Rhythm Heaven Megamix for Nintendo 3DS has one that takes forever to click through. The first few minutes go by slowly as you tap through each dialogue screen. The plot is simple, though. A character named Tibby falls out of the sky and enlists your help to get back to his home called Heaven World. You travel to the tall Lush Tower in hopes of reaching Heaven World from there. To climb the tower, you need to play games and restore the “flow” in each section to move on.
When you FINALLY pass all of the talking, the fun begins as you head into the rhythm games. Each game is different and features funny, off-the-wall characters and accompanying animation. They’re so crazy that you can’t help but smile! After all, in what other game can you be a sumo wrestler, an alien translator, a fruit catcher, a vegetable groomer, a virus stabber, a seal trainer, a monkey sleepover guest, or a robot tango dancer — all in a matter of minutes?! The concepts are unique enough but the art style really seals the deal. Love it! There are more bits of conversation here and there but these are short and fit into the rest of the game well (in a silly way).
Rhythm Heaven Megamix Review — Rhythm Games
There are over 70 rhythm games. Some of these appeared in Game Boy Advance, Wii, and Nintendo DS Rhythm Heaven games. Others were in Japanese versions and are debuting in North America with new music. There are brand new rhythm games too. You’ll also find remixes which combine four games into one for challenging end stages. The catchy music is by Japanese music producer, Tsunku♂, and fits the game perfectly.
Gameplay is simple. While controls may differ a bit on each rhythm game, you basically press one or more buttons to the beat. In the settings, you can choose to use the stylus instead if you prefer. Each game has a little tutorial so you know what to do and when. You can then play each rhythm game as much as you’d like to get that perfect score. Don’t worry about messing up too much, though. Sometimes the animation is even funnier when you make mistakes. 😛
Rhythm Heaven Megamix Review — Timing & Gameplay
There are visual cues on the upper screen but these are tough to gauge the timing. On the bottom screen, starbursts help fine tune your timing. If the stars burst toward the left, you’re too early. If they burst to the right, you’re too late. If your timing is right on the mark, then a rainbow starburst will explode in the center of the bottom screen. The better your timing, the better your score and the number of coins you accrue. Coins are later used for level checkpoints. You do have to hit a minimum score to move on but, if you’re really stuck, sometimes an option will pop up to use coins to pass.
There seems to be no end to gameplay in Rhythm Heaven Megamix. Every time I think the game is over, another level opens up. You can then buy even more rhythm games in the Cafe with Flow Balls, which are earned in yet more games. Lots and lots of mini rhythm games here. Plus, you can play some game with up to four players simultaneously or use StreetPass for 1-on-1 battles.
Rhythm Heaven Megamix retails for $29.99 as a digital copy through the Nintendo eShop. The download does take a while but there’s no lag while playing. There are so many awesome rhythm games and you can play them over and over again. I’m actually shocked at the amount of content this game includes. The game is suitable for everyone yet kids ages 8+, tweens, teens, and adults will enjoy it most. Feel free to try the demo game first if you’re still on the fence. But, trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
I received this item as part of my participation as a Nintendo Ambassador. All opinions are my own.
