Thanks to "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band," I had the impression that I had some sense of rhythm.
However, Nintendo’s "Rhythm Heaven" taught me otherwise.
The new E-rated game for the Nintendo DS features more than 50 mini-games that let you tap or flick your stylus to the beat. For example, you flick the stylus to send a dowel through holes in moving blocks or tap it to make monkeys clap.
The graphics are simple but usually very pleasing and effective. However, it’s sometimes best to close your eyes and let your fingers find the beat by themselves.
The music, created by a Japanese pop producer, ranges from simple beats to more complex songs. Unfortunately, some of these can become annoying when you’re forced to play a level over and over.
And over and over was how I heard most of the tunes. While the concept is pretty simple, the game demands a good deal of precision. It would have been nice to see a "rhythm-challenged" setting, because I actually enjoyed most of the levels before the frustration crept in.
Platform: Nintendo DS
On the Web:www.rhythmheaven.com
