Rhythm Heaven

Overview

Rhythm Heaven is the Nintendo DS sequel, and the one that took the series worldwide. It launched in Japan on July 31, 2008 as Rhythm Tengoku Gold, then came West in 2009 — North America on April 5, Europe on May 1, Australia on June 4. In PAL regions it is called Rhythm Paradise, and in South Korea it is Rhythm World. This was the first time most players outside Japan could play a Rhythm Heaven game at all.

Gameplay

The DS version is built around the touchscreen. You tap and flick the stylus in time with the music instead of pressing buttons. There are fifty rhythm games, split into ten sets of four games plus a themed Remix level that stitches that set together into one track. You hold the DS sideways like a book to play.

What's New

The big change is the control scheme: stylus tapping and flicking replaced the GBA buttons. That, plus the first-ever localization, made this the series’ breakout. It also locked in the ten-set structure with Remix capstones that later games kept.

Reception

Reviews were generally favorable — Metacritic 83/100, Famitsu 34/40. It is the best-selling game in the series: 3,040,000 copies worldwide as of December 2014, and the sixth best-selling game in Japan in 2008.

Notable Minigames

See all minigames in the database →

Trivia

• The Japanese title is Rhythm Tengoku Gold (リズム天国ゴールド), literally "Rhythm Heaven Gold."
• It was the first game in the series localized outside Japan.
• It remains the best-selling Rhythm Heaven game, at over 3 million copies.
• You play holding the DS sideways, like a book.
• Developed by Nintendo SPD with TNX; Tsunku produced and Ko Takeuchi handled art.

Gallery