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Rhythm Paradise
Nintendo's wacky music game makes a welcome debut in the west - but can it match the winning craziness of the Japanese original?
Written by Chris Schilling, 03 July 2009
It's an unlikely poster-child for the Touch! Generations label, though Rhythm Paradise doesn't seem to have been a tough sell to Beyonc, who seems to genuinely enjoy a bit of Japanese-flavoured rhythmic weirdness. That, or she's a really good actress. But surprise celeb endorsements aside, there's a beautiful simplicity to Paradise's gameplay which perhaps makes it less of a surprise casual-pleaser than it would seem at first glance.
And then you play the game and realise that its hardcore edges have not been sanded down one bit. This is a fearsomely tricky game in places, thanks partly to requiring a genuine sense of musical rhythm, but also because it is occasionally a little too exacting, particularly on games where you're required to slide rather than tap the stylus. Sometimes the flicks don't seem to quite register, and given the precision each game needs for players to earn a medal, it's disappointing that you feel the controls can genuinely be blamed for some of the mistakes you'll invariably make.
But then you'll play an incredibly sweet game where a girl and boy mix a love potion together, or another with hip-shaking frogs or Moai statues crooning doo-wops at each other which will raise a few chuckles and all problems are (just about) forgiven. And, as if realising how difficult it can be, there's a coffee bar icon which allows you to skip a game if you're finding it too tough. Though it's imperfect enough to stop you from achieving rhythm perfection, when it's at its best, the game's title doesn't feel like a hollow boast, but a statement of fact.
