It has been several years since we have been gifted with a new Rhythm Heaven title in North America. In fact, the last release was back in 2012 when Rhythm Heaven Fever saw release for the Nintendo Wii. With four years now having passed, the rhythmic game that challenges you to keep the beat has made its triumphant return for Nintendo 3DS. Rhythm Heaven Megamix for 3DS is as the name implies: a heavenly mix of rhythm-based mini-games. Longtime fans of the franchise will recognize some of the challenges highlighted in the game, but there are brand-new musical tasks to perfect.
Rhythm Heaven Megamix is a wonderful collection that combines the best of the old games with rousing new content to create a divine melodic symphony for 3DS.
If you are new to this rhythmic series, your task to essentially act as a human metronome. To put it in simple terms: tap the A-button or 3DS’ touch-screen in perfect synchronization to the beat and rhythm of the song. Rhythm Heaven takes this simple concept and applies it in ways that create fun and rewarding challenges. The game contains a series of ‘Acts’, of which contain four unique mini-games. During your rhythmic conquest, you may find yourself struggling to successfully complete some of these mini-games with the necessary score needed to advance.
As is the case with any rhythmic-based game, practice makes perfect. Rhythm Heaven Megamix does a good job at keeping you motivated and doesn’t discourage you after failed attempts. When you fail to keep the beat in some of the mini-games, the game injects a bit of humor and almost seems to encourage failure so that you can discover these moments of lighthearted wit. Don’t be afraid to fail in the game. It will happen, and you’ll learn from it.
To assist you in this learning process is the touch-screen and the visual feedback it provides. The touch-screen will indicate whether you are late or too early in your timing when trying to keep the beat with a burst of color. If you are too early, the light will emanate from the left side, while being too late will come from the right side. If you are perfectly in sync, there will be a burst of rainbow colors from the center of the screen.
The game gets more challenging as it introduces new songs and remixed versions of mini-games. Remixed mini-games blend together four different style mini-games to a single musical track. These are among the most demanding challenges found in the game due to the constant changes, but they are also the most fun.
In terms of music delivery, the soundtrack of Rhythm Heaven Megamix is memorable and wonderfully conducted. The music is catchy and pleasant to listen to. You will find yourself tapping your foot or bopping your head to the fantastic musical scores. I’d recommend you use headphones so that you can enjoy the full range of musical delight supplied with this game.
After completing a few of the game’s ‘Acts’, you will be challenged to complete a trial – or the game’s equivalent of a boss battle. These trials lack the flare and appeal of the other mini-games, and can hinder your advancement through the game. One of the early trials is to catch a coin to a silent beat, and to participate in this challenge you must pay coins. You earn coins upon completing the aforementioned mini-games. If you fail to complete the trial, you have to buy back in, and then try again.
If you fail often, you may find yourself having to return to the previously completed mini-games to earn enough coins to retry the challenge. This style setup throws the beat of the game off and feels like an unnecessary step.
Verdict
Rhythm Heaven Megamix is an excellent summer 3DS game. It’s well-suited for quick play sessions during summer road trips or during moments of downtime at the beach. Fans of music or those who enjoy a great rhythm game shouldn’t miss out on this heavenly mix of musical greatness.
[Editor’s Note: Rhythm Heaven Megamix was reviewed on 3DS platform. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]
