Well, one thing I REALLY used to be into was Japanese game design.  Not to say that I don’t like it anymore, but I feel differently about Japan than I used to, but it doesn’t come from disliking it at all.  I’ve just grown out of the charm of being obsessed with anything that Nippon could offer, from music, games, movies, and subtitles only to just letting it be there, and be good if it’s good, and bad if it’s bad, and it does offer plenty of both.  However, in all times, the good is fun to recognize and the bad doesn’t need to weigh me down, so one of my favorite Japanese games is a little GBA gem that never got localized, but had a DS sequel that did.  The DS game is amazing in it’s own right, but the GBA one felt much more complete and enjoyable to me.  Welcome to Heaven.


Day 3 – A game that makes you really happy
Rhythm Tengoku – GBA
Nintendo


So, there’s a reason this game makes me happy, and it has to do with the wonderful amount of simplicity this game requires.  There’s really not much to it, save for the presses of a few buttons.  The game functions much like a Wario Ware game, and as it’s made by Intelligent Systems, the same team behind the WW series, it should bring the same amount of joy.  Basically, the entire game can be played with your eyes closed, because audio cues will tell you exactly when you are to press a button to respond.  Of course, the visuals can definitely help as it gives it a more ‘physical’ feeling to know you are controlling an element in the game, but sometimes, your eyes will deceive and the devil will take hold, so trust your ears and reflexes!

The game is made up of many, many short games, again like Wario Ware, but there are fewer games and they last a bit longer, generally the duration of a whole song.  After you’ve completed a set of 4 or 5 minigames, you will do a Remix, which will throw the challenges into one game with a new song and require you to switch back and forth to different games to complete the remix.

What brings me joy in these games is the presentation.  The music is really well written, catchy, and ridiculous, and the visuals that accompany it are ridiculous and appropriate.  Whether you’re shooting ghosts in front of a mansion with arrows, cutting demons in half, or pulling chin hairs out of an onion, the level of charm this game provides is unparalleled.  The sequel provides much of the same feel, but something about this one stood out to me the most and I enjoyed using the A button instead of the touch screen.

The poor mans way of shaving is to rhythmically gut an onions goatee.

If you can hunt this down, do so.  It’s very easy to figure out and requires no knowledge of Japanese at all.  Or, if you can find Rhythm Heaven on the DS, it’s just as worth playing, and either way, you will see the magic that these little bastards can bring to put a simple smile on your face.

Share on Facebook