Rhythm Heaven
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.
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.
How it plays
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 set it apart
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.
Rhythm Heaven DS minigames
The rhythm games that appeared in Rhythm Heaven. Marquee stages link to a full guide.
| Minigame | Notes |
|---|---|
| Big Rock Finish | In this game |
| Blue Birds | In this game |
| Blue Birds 2 | In this game |
| Built to Scale (DS) | In this game |
| Built to Scale 2 (DS) | In this game |
| Cosmic Rhythm Rally | In this game |
| Crop Stomp | In this game |
| DJ School | In this game |
| Dog Ninja | In this game |
| Drummer Duel | In this game |
| Fan Club | In this game |
| Fan Club 2 | In this game |
| Fillbots 2 | In this game |
| Fillbots 2 (DS) | In this game |
| Freeze Frame | In this game |
| Frog Hop | In this game |
| Glee Club 2 | In this game |
| Glee Club 2 (DS) | In this game |
| Jumpin' Jazz | In this game |
| Karate Man 2 (DS) | In this game |
| Karate Man Kicks! | In this game |
| Lockstep | Marquee stage — guide |
| Lockstep 2 | In this game |
| Love Lab | In this game |
| Love Lizards | In this game |
| Moai Doo-Wop | In this game |
| Moai Doo-Wop 2 | In this game |
| Munchy Monk | Marquee stage — guide |
| Munchy Monk 2 | In this game |
| Rhythm Rally 2 | In this game |
| Rockers | In this game |
| Rockers 2 | In this game |
| Shoot-'em-up 2 | In this game |
| Shoot-'Em-Up 2 (DS) | In this game |
| Space Soccer | In this game |
| Space Soccer 2 | In this game |
| Splashdown | In this game |
| Splashdown 2 | In this game |
| The Dazzles | In this game |
| The Dazzles 2 | In this game |
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.
Good to know
- ◆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.