Game of the Week – Rhythm Heaven

Even if you’re not a music fan you’re going to love Rhythm Heaven. It’s completely off the wall and unlike anything you’ve ever played on the Nintendo DS.

You control Rhythm Heaven using nothing more than your stylus. There are only a few moves to learn but, because of the variety of scenarios, the game rarely gets repetitive. Most of the time, you need to either tap the screen, following along with the beat like a drummer, or keep your stylus on the screen to hold a longer note. There is also a flick move, which is used to finish off a set of commands with a flourish. For the most part, the touch screen commands work well, giving you nothing to blame if you're too awkward to follow along with the beat!

There are six sets of five mini-games and a "Remix" option, which takes the five games you just played and crams little bits of them into one extended song, so you have to remember all five different control schemes. Once you've finished the mini-games, there's still lots more to do. You can go back and try to win "Medals" in each game, which open up even more mini-games and bonus content.

One drawback of Rhythm Heaven: It’s gets really hard! Once you pass the basic learning stage every game is a challenge, even if you have musical talent and can keep a beat in real life. The rhythms become increasingly complex and the graphics – which are quirky but hugely entertaining – become part-helper, part-distraction.

Despite its demanding nature, Rhythm Heaven is exceptional fun. The visuals that accompany each level have their own unique touch and the music is outstanding, providing catchy beats that will stick in your head long after you tear yourself away from a truly addictive experience.

Publisher: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo DS
RRP: $29.99
ESRB Rating: “E” for Everyone