Which games allow or require you to hold your DS system sideways like a book?

I've got a problem.

OK, so I've got lots of problems--especially when it comes to this lovely little hobby of mine that some folks refer to as "gaming."

Only one of those problems is relevant to this particular blog post, though, and that would be that I'm currently kind of obsessed with games that allow or even require you to hold your DS system sideways (like a book) while playing them.

The thing is, I can't think of many DS games that fit this description. Obviously Hotel Dusk is one of them, as is its sequel, Last Window.

Aside from that wonderful pair of visual novels, though, the only examples that come to mind are Square Enix's intriguing Sigma Harmonics, Rhythm Tengoku Gold (Rhythm Heaven in North America and Rhythm Paradise in Europe) and the Brain Age games.

Do you fine folks know of any other DS carts that let or force people to play them "book-style"? If so, I'd really appreciate it if you'd share their names in the comments section below.

See also: 'Nice Package! (Last Window: The Secret of Cape West, Nintendo DS)'

Wubbadubbadubba, it's true: a Rhythm Tengoku 'Ringside' theme just hit the Japanese 3DS eShop

An alternate headline for this post, if you're the kind of person who gets a kick out of that sort of thing: "If Nintendo doesn't add this Rhythm Heaven 'Ringside' theme to the North American 3DS eShop, and soon, somebody's probably going to get hurt."

After all, who wouldn't jump at the chance to replace their 3DS' generic menu screen with a theme that features the iconic--and more than a little homoerotic--wrestler who appeared in Nintendo's last Rhythm Heaven (Rhythm Tengoku in Japan) title?

Speaking of Rhythm Tengoku--or Heaven, depending on which way you swing--the latest entry in this fabulous series, Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus, just hit Japanese store shelves (as well as that region's 3DS eShop).

Here's hoping it's announced for release in other countries and territories soon. (You can count on me to chat about it even if it isn't, by the way, as the Japanese copy I pre-ordered ages ago should find its way into my grubby paws within a week or so.)

On or around June 11, I'm going to be all over Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus like dust on an OG 3DS screen

You could say I'm a bit of a fan of Nintendo's Rhythm Tengoku series. After all, not only do I own a copy of its first entry, a Japan-only GameBoy Advance title, but I also own three different copies of that game's DS sequel--its European, Japanese and North America releases, basically--as well as a copy of the back-to-its-roots Rhythm Heaven Fever for Wii.

Considering how much joy all of the above-mentioned games have brought to my life over the years, there's pretty much nothing that could keep me from adding the next iteration of this technicolor triumph to my collection as soon as it hits Japanese store shelves on June 11.

As you've probably already gathered from the beautiful piece of cover art seen above, this fourth entry, which will go by the name Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus in its home region, is being prepped for the good old 3DS.

Amazingly, The Best Plus' in-game graphics look to be even more gorgeous than its box art. Don't believe me? Take a gander at its most recent trailer:



Sadly, Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus wasn't even mentioned in yesterday's European or North American Nintendo Direct broadcasts, so it probably isn't going to see the light of day in either of our necks of the woods this spring or summer.

Here's hoping Nintendo's Western arms bring it up at E3 2015 or some other upcoming event, because this really isn't the kind of title that should only be enjoyed by people who own Japanese 3DSes.

(Cover art via japanese3ds.com)

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the Nintendo DS' release: 10 of my favorite DS games

Rather than refer to the following titles "my 10 favorite DS games," I've decided to call them 10 of my favorites. That's because I love so many DS games that choosing absolute favorites would be like choosing a favorite ... beer? Candy? Diva?

Actually, I think I'd have a far easier time selecting and writing about a favorite candy than I would settling on 10 titles I consider to be my all-time favorite examples of the DS' wonderfully varied game catalog.

As such, you may want to take the following list with a giant grain of salt--or, rather, you may want to read it knowing that if I were to update this post tomorrow, and the next day, too, and then again the day after that, each iteration likely would include a few unique entries.

For this exact moment in time, though, I can somewhat confidently state that the games discussed below are 10 of my favorites for the now-10-year-old Nintendo DS system.

Daigasso! Band Brothers--You know how I mentioned in last Friday's post that I wasn't all that impressed with the early-2004 reveal of the DS? The one part of Nintendo's DS reveal that did impress me was this game. Sadly, it never made it to our shores, so I wasn't able to experience it until a good couple of years after its Japanese release. Was it worth the wait? I sure think so. Mind you, it's a very basic rhythm game--although calling it a "music" game may be more accurate. Regardless, I think Daigasso! Band Brothers' simplicity is a big part of why I enjoy it as much as I do.

Dragon Quest IX--I was pretty sure I was going to like this one before I ever got my hands on a copy of it. It just looked like something I would enjoy, if that makes sense. And you know what? Not only did I enjoy it, but I fell in love with it and played it until I'd wrung every last ounce of enjoyment out of it. (I believe I put just over 80 hours into it before calling it a day, but don't quote me on that.) I know some folks who are long-time fans of the series were a bit disappointed by this entry, but it captivated me completely with its engaging battles and touching storylines.

Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime--Do you want to know why I ignored Rocket Slime, a game that's been called a classic from one end of the Internet to the other (whatever that means), until a couple of years ago? Because I didn't like how it looked, for starters. Also, I didn't much like the idea of its gameplay. I guess I wanted it to be a more traditional RPG, a la its "mainline" namesakes. Boy, was I an idiot. I know I suggested earlier that it would be impossible for me to set aside a single DS game as being my absolute favorite, but if I were forced to engage in that kind of tomfoolery, it's quite likely Rocket Slime would be one of the top contenders for that title.

Etrian Odyssey--I was a late comer to this DS title, too, although that had nothing to do with me initially finding it unappealing in any way. Instead, it had to do with the fact that for some time new copies of it were pretty pricey. It finally got a reprint a couple of years ago, though, which caused prices to drop to far more acceptable levels, and that's when I jumped on board. It quickly earned both my admiration and respect thanks to its demanding gameplay and delectable soundtrack.

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light--If I were forced to pick a favorite between this game and Dragon Quest IX, I'm honestly not sure which one I'd go with in the end. That said, I prefer most what's found in The 4 Heroes of Light--battles, graphics, overall art style, story, soundtrack (this last one's kind of a toss up, admittedly), chief among them--to the same elements that are showcased in Dragon Quest IX. Two noteworthy exceptions: the latter title's optional quests and visible-from-the-overworld enemies. So, I guess you could say I consider both games to be standouts in one way or another.

Detana!! TwinBee x Loopop Cube: Lup ★ Salad x Rhythm Tengoku stickers

Scanning Loopop Cube: Lup ★ Salad's instruction manual last weekend--for yesterday's "Manual Stimulation" post--reminded me that stuffed inside of said manual was a small sheet of stickers featuring  this PlayStation puzzler's characters in a number of adorable settings and situations.

It also reminded me that I owned a few other sheets of stickers that were packed inside import games I purchased long ago--namely the PC Engine port of Konami's Detana!! TwinBee and Nintendo's Rhythm Tengoku (for the GameBoy Advance).

Detana!! TwinBee's sticker sheet can be seen below. I think my favorite is the one in the upper-left corner, showing Pastel cleaning WinBee's windshield, although the one in the opposite corner is awfully sweet, too.

And here, of course, is the sheet of stickers that came with my copy of Rhythm Tengoku:

Being the huge Rhythm Tengoku (aka Rhythm Heaven) fan that I am, I love all of these stickers, although I can't help but love the onion ones a bit more than the rest.

As for the Loopop Cube: Lup ★ Salad stickers: they're nice, too, aren't they? They're probably my least favorites of all the stickers shown here, but that doesn't mean I dislike them. In fact, I find the one's at the very top of the sheet to be really adorable. I'm not sure what you're supposed to do with the little labels in the lower-right corner, though. Any ideas?

See also: 'Manual Stimulation: Loopop Cube: Lup ★ Salad (PlayStation)' and '12 import games I bought in 2012 but didn't tell you about until now: Loopop Cube: Lup ★ Salad (PlayStation)'

I think I'm in love (again)

With whom? Or with what?

Interestingly, both questions are applicable in this case, since I'm both in love with a what (the flute-and-trumpet-centric cover of Rhythm Heaven's "Munchy Monk 2" that can be found below and here) and a who (the adorkable guy who created it).



Don't worry, I'm not seriously considering leaving my husband for this guy (who calls himself The 8-Bit Dreamer, by the way). For the sake of our marriage, though, let's hope he doesn't decide to take things down a notch, so to speak, and cover Rhythm Tengoku's "Bon Odori."

(Via tinycartridge.com)

I'm not sure what I think of Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise's box art

Although I'm not planning to buy a copy of Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise after it hits the streets of Europe on July 6, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit envious of my European compadres who are planning to pick up a copy of this Wii game (which goes by the name of Minna no Rhythm Tengoku in Japan and Rhythm Heaven Fever in North America).

That's mainly because Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise, unlike Rhythm Heaven Fever, will feature both English and Japanese vocal tracks.

Is Beat the Beat's box art (above) also responsible for me feeling a bit envious of Euro Wii owners? Not really. Although I'd hardly call it ugly, I also wouldn't call it beautiful. (I much prefer Rhythm Heaven Fever's wildly colorful cover illustration, which can be viewed in this previous post.)

What do all of you think? Does Beat the Beat's packaging get you all hot and bothered, or does it leave you feeling limp?

The Great Gaymathon Review #54: Rhythm Heaven Fever (Wii)

Game: Rhythm Heaven Fever

Genre: Music/Rhythm

Developer: Nintendo, TNX

Publisher: Nintendo of America

System: Wii

Release date: 2012

Is it really possible that the folks who make up Nintendo's SPD Group No.1 and TNX have been able to produce three Rhythm Heaven (aka Rhythm Tengoku) games in just six years? I don't pose that question because I've had enough of these titles; rather, I pose it because I can't believe they're so full of creative juices that they could create the 150 or so mini-games that have been crammed into each release. Are the ones that were made for Rhythm Heaven Fever--which returns the series to the Simon-esque, "press the A button (and sometimes the B button, too) to the beat" gameplay of the original--on par with those made for its predecessors? Yes, for the most part. As is often the case in such games, some are better and some are worse. The ones I consider to be the best--Air Rally, Double Date, Flipper-Flop, Flock Step, Launch Party and Samurai Slice--share a number of similarities: Charming and colorful graphics, a catchy-as-hell backing track and a sense of momentum that not only grabs the player's attention but also helps him or her quite literally feel the beat. Rhythm Heaven Fever's least appealing and successful mini-games, most of which look and even sound nearly as good as the mini-games I just mentioned, tend to fail when it comes that final bullet point. (I'm looking at you, especially, Love Rap--although Cheer Readers, Exhibition Match and Shrimp Shuffle are getting a bit of a side-eye from me, too.) Thankfully, the standouts outnumber the duds by quite a wide margin, and even the less-than-stellar mini-games tend to be enjoyable enough to keep you coming back for more. All that said, I don't consider this game to be the best point of entry into the Rhythm Heaven/Tengoku series. Although Rhythm Heaven Fever's graphics are both clean and cute, for instance, they lack the minimalist charisma that's present in pretty much every one of the first title's mini-games. Another thing keeping this iteration from reaching the heights of its precursors, in my eyes: It's far too lenient, not to mention inconsistent, when it comes to the rewarding of medals. So, I'd personally suggest starting with the import-only original, Rhythm Tengoku, or its cheap-as-sin, DS-based follow-up, Rhythm Heaven, before moving on to Fever if you want to get the most milage out of this toe- and finger-tapping trilogy. If you've already played one or both of those titles, though, by all means drop the $19.99 needed to pick up this one, too.

See also: Previous 'Great Gaymathon' posts

And now it's time for a posedown

In case you're wondering: Yes, the headline above is a not-so-thinly-veiled reference to that En Vogue chestnut of yesteryear (1992), "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)."

Amazingly, the oh-so-fabulous video for the aforementioned tune has nothing on the following video (of two people going crazy while playing the "Ring Side" mini-game in the Japanese version of Rhythm Heaven Fever), in my humble opinion:



Although I've already pre-ordered my copy of this wonderfully weird looking (and sounding) Wii game, I'm quite certain that I'm going to have to bite the bullet (and drop some cash) on the Japanese version, called Minna no Rhythm Tengoku, at some point--especially since it was revealed in this recent Iwata Asks column that one of Minna no Rhythm Tengoku's mini-games (this one) won't appear in the North American release.

Rhythm Heaven Fever hits store shelves in the States today, by the way. Buy it here, if you haven't done so already.

See also: Previous Rhythm Heaven Fever posts

Reason #403 I could be considered an 'eccentric' (aka bat-sh*t crazy) gamer

Thanks to the North American copy of Rhythm Heaven that I picked up on the cheap a few weeks ago, I now own three copies of this wonderfully wacky music game.

Why on earth did I decide to buy three copies of this DS title? Well, I didn't set out to own three copies of it, for starters. When it was first released in Japan--as Rhythm Tengoku Gold--three-and-a-half years ago, I doubted it would make its way to the West, so I picked up a copy via play-asia.com.

After the folks at Nintendo of America announced that it would, in fact, be brought stateside, I added it to my to-buy list ... and promptly forgot about it, especially after a I read a number of negative comments about its English vocals.



Later, I came across a cheap copy of the UK version--renamed, for some strange reason, Rhythm Paradise--and purchased that one instead. (In part because it was cheap, and in part because I wanted another Euro DS game. See this post for more on that.)

At that point, I pretty much gave up on adding the North American release to my collection. When I saw that a sealed copy of the game was being sold via Amazon for less than $5, though, I couldn't help but snatch it up.

See also: Other reasons I could be considered an 'eccentric' (aka bat-sh*t crazy) gamer

Five DS games you should have played, but probably didn't

I hate to start posts like this with a disclaimer, but in this case I really feel I have to do so.

You see, although I've played a ton of DS games over the last few years, I've yet to play a number of the titles that tend to be included on lists such as this--titles like Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure, Kirby Mass Attack (which is on its way to my doorstep), Solatorobo and The World Ends With You (which I'll be picking up shortly).

Still, I've played and enjoyed enough of the system's releases that have been overlooked by the masses that I'm fairly confident the following list--which is organized, for once, in reverse alphabetical order--will be helpful to at least a few game-starved DS fans.

1. Rhythm Heaven--Sure, this is hardly an unknown game, thanks in large part to Nintendo's use of Beyonce in its TV ads, but it also hardly lit up the charts. That's too bad, because it's one of the funnest, wackiest games I've ever played. It also includes one of the best soundtracks you'll ever hear in a handheld title. It's horrendously cheap these days, so you may want to pick it up now if you've yet to give it a try.

2. Retro Game Challenge--This one has received a lot of press since it was released in 2009, but even then it didn't make enough for the folks at Xseed to translate and release its much-wanted sequel. Why is that unfortunate? Well, Retro Game Challenge is chock-full of witty writing, which ties together a bunch of well-made retrotastic titles that call to mind the classics of old (like Dragon Quest and Galaga). If you're a fan of such games, you're sure to quickly become a fan of this one, too.

3. Kirby: Canvas Curse--For me, this was one of the first games to really show the potential of Nintendo's dual-screened handheld, thanks in large part to its intriguing stylus-only control scheme. Sadly, I seem to be one of just a handful North Americans to feel that way about the game, as it was all but ignored by my brothers and sisters despite the fact that it bore Kirby's name (usually an attention-getter in the States, as far as I'm aware). Used copies can be found on eBay for a song, though, so it's not too late to snatch one up if you're at all into innovative platformers.

Just in case anyone cares: Here's a teaser trailer for Rhythm Heaven Fever

I know most of you aren't all that interested in the North American release of Rhythm Heaven Fever, but those of you who are interested in it should get a kick out of the following teaser trailer, which I believe is the first to shine a light on the game's English translation.



As much I like it, I wish it included clips of a few more mini-games (especially those featuring vocals). Of course, maybe the marketing wizards at Nintendo of America are saving them for a second, even wackier teaser trailer? After all, the game isn't due to hit store shelves until Feb. 13. (Pre-order a copy of it here.)

(Via gonintendo.com)

Let's Play: 'Which Box Art is Better?' (Rhythm Heaven Fever edition)

I've been looking for a reason to publish a post about Rhythm Heaven Fever ever since I read (a few days ago) that the game was going to be released in North America on February 13 with a so-low-everyone-who-owns-a-Wii-had-better-buy-it-or-I'll-scream price tag of $29.99. (Pre-order it here. Don't worry, I did so on Tuesday.)

Well, Nintendo of America gave me that reason on Wednesday night, when it unveiled this wacky Wii game's official North American box art.

Is it possible for a piece of box art to induce a seizure? I wouldn't have thought so before I saw Rhythm Heaven Fever's cover (above), but now I'm not so sure. Regardless, it's certainly busy, isn't it? And colorful. Both of which make sense, I guess, based on what I've seen of and read about this crazy music game.

Anyway, moving along. We can't play "Which Box Art is Better?" without comparing the cover above to its European or Japanese counterparts, can we? Unfortunately, the game isn't due to be released in Europe until the second quarter of next year, so no box art is available for that region yet. Thankfully, it was released in Japan--as Minna no Rhythm Tengoku, or Everybody's Rhythm Heaven--long ago (on July 21, to be exact). Here is that version's less-cluttered cover:

I'll be honest: I initially hated the North American art. Like I said earlier, it's really busy--almost too busy, in my opinion. Also, I'm not a fan of mixing fonts, and seeing that bubbly "Fever" butting up against the angular "Rhythm Heaven" sort of makes me want to slam my head into the nearest wall. Oh, and that band of screenshots and text along the bottom? I tend to despise that tactic, too.

All that said, I actually think I prefer the North American cover to the Japanese one. Don't get me wrong, I love the latter art's simplicity, as well as that lovely rainbow banding, but it's a bit barren, isn't it? Also, those three little ... things beneath the logo seem out of place to me. I'd rather see more of them or none of them, you know what I mean?

Do you guys and gals have a preference for one version's box art over the other? Also, will you be buying a copy of this game when it's released in your neck of the woods?

See also: Previous 'Which Box Art is Better?' posts

Mark your calendars, folks!

Rhythm Heaven Fever will hit store shelves in North America sometime in February, according to latest issue of Nintendo Power.

The third game in Nintendo's vaunted Rhythm Heaven series--the first one, Rhythm Tengoku for the GameBoy Advance, only saw the light of day in Japan, while the second, DS-based one was released around the globe in 2008 and 2009--hit the streets in Japan back in July and has sold somewhere around 600,000 copies since.



Will the North American and European versions--the latter of which has yet to receive an official name or release date--of the second Rhythm Tengoku sequel sell anywhere close to that amount? I doubt it, but who cares? All that really matters is that those of us who want to play yet another iteration of this wacky game will be able to do so in our native languages (and without spending an arm and a leg on an import), right?

Anyway, while we wait for Rhythm Heaven Fever to "drop," as they say in the record business, may I suggest watching the video above, which turns a spotlight on the mini-game I'm most looking forward to experiencing?

(Via joystiq.com)

The wait for Rhythm Heaven Wii's North American release just got a whole lot tougher

Although Japanese gamers have had access to Minna no Rhythm Tengoku since late July, the rest of the world's gamers are still waiting to experience this latest entry in the Nintendo- and TNX-developed series.

Anyway, considering it's been four months since Minna no Rhythm Tengoku (aka Everybody's Rhythm Heaven) hit store shelves in Japan, why am I only getting around to complaining about the wait now? Well, I just came across the following, rather hilarious video of one of this Wii title's mini-games:



Obviously someone with way too much time on his or her hands (and thank goodness for that!) decided to have a bit of fun and replace the mini-game's masked wrestler with a muscle-bound stripper. As much as I appreciate that, what I appreciate even more is that the video above made me aware of the real version of this mini-game (yes, I've somehow kept myself from watching every video ever posted to YouTube about this title since its Japanese release), which seems to be just as hilarious as the altered one.



As much as I'm willing and planning to wait for the release of the North American version of this game--which will be called Rhythm Heaven Fever, by the way--I'm also seriously considering picking up the Japanese version sooner rather than later, as I have a feeling some of the vocal tracks (like the one in the video above) are going to be mangled, if not altogether ruined, while being translated into English.

See also: Previous Rhythm Heaven Wii posts

Screw waiting, (I think) I'm going to buy Minna no Rhythm Tengoku, too

I was planning to wait and buy Rhythm Heaven Wii when it arrives on North American shores sometime later this year, but after reading these impressions and seeing these videos of the just-released Japanese iteration of the game I'm seriously considering changing those plans and buying the Japanese version now and the North American one this fall.



Another reason I'm considering altering those plans: You just know the folks at Nintendo of America will screw up the vocal tracks when they go to localize them--just as they did when they localized the tunes that appeared in the North American version of the DS-based Rhythm Heaven title. (Don't believe me? Watch this video and then this video. Yikes!)

(Photo above courtesy of true-gaming.net)

Two reasons tomorrow will be the best day of 2011

Good news for those of you who lack patience: Both of the above-mentioned reasons are covered by and in the following video:



Yep, tomorrow will be the best day of 2011 because that's when Minna no Rhythm Tengoku (aka Rhythm Heaven Wii) will hit the streets in Japan.

Real talk: Based on what I've seen of it thus far, I fully expect Rhythm Heaven Wii--which has yet to receive a European or North American release date (harrumph!)--to compete with the GBA original for the title of "Best Rhythm Tengoku Game."

Admittedly, it'll only be competing against two other games--the first of which was released for the GBA in 2006 and the second of which was released for the DS in 2008/2009--but both of those titles are among the best rhythm games ever released, so the winner of said contest shouldn't be considered chopped liver.

(Via tinycartridge.com)

Five more commercials for Rhythm Heaven Wii

My first thought upon watching the five commercials--for Minna no Rhythm Tengoku (aka Everyone's Rhythm Heaven, aka Rhythm Heaven Wii)--included in the video below: Man, that monkey game looks fun!

My second thought: The lady playing the monkey game looks like a Japanese version of my aunt Joanne!



My third and final thought: This game is going to sell a ton of copies (in its homeland, at least) thanks in large part to these commercials, isn't it?

Minna no Rhythm Tengoku hits the streets in Japan on July 21, by the way, while it'll hit the streets elsewhere in the world ... sometime later this year? Early next? Sigh.

(Via gonintendo.com)

July 21 can't come quickly enough

What will happen on July 21, you ask? Why, Minna no Rhythm Tengoku (aka Everybody's Rhythm Heaven, aka Rhythm Heaven Wii) will hit store shelves across Japan on that date, that's what.

In order to increase awareness about the soon-to-be-released title, the folks at Nintendo of Japan cobbled together the following commercial, which shows off a number of Minna no Rhythm Tengoku's wacky mini-games.



I'm especially looking forward to playing the ones that involve dancing crawfish (or are they shrimp?), mustachioed pigs spinning in chairs and shirtless wrestlers with odd-looking six-packs. Oh, and of course I'm looking forward to playing that Kid Icarus-esque mini-game shown at the 1:25 mark, too.

Two more Minna no Rhythm Tengoku commercials--the first of which is centered around the wrestler mini-game mentioned above while the second focuses on a mini-game that involves rolling seals--can be watched on the game's official Japanese site.

(Via gonintendo.com and tinycartridge.com)

More like Rainbow Tengoku, amirite?

Before you ask, yes, this is the third post in a row that includes the word rainbow in the header. Also, no, that isn't an indication that this is "Rainbow Week" on The Gay Gamer.

With that out of the way, let's move on to the subject of this particular rainbow-focused post: The art that will grace the cover of Minna no Rhythm Tengoku (aka Rhythm Heaven Wii) when it's released in Japan on July 21.

I found out about said cover art yesterday morning after the folks at importer NCSX announced that they were accepting pre-orders for the TNX-developed title.

I'd take them up on their offer in a heartbeat if: 1) They weren't charging just over $80 (not including shipping) for the game and 2) If it hadn't been announced--during the recent E3 event--for North American release.

Will the art that appears on the cover of the US version of Minna no Rhythm Tengoku be as colorful as its Japanese counterpart? I sure hope so. That said, I wouldn't mind at all if Nintendo of America's designers got rid of those odd-looking alien people parading across the bottom of the box before the game hits the streets in the states.

See also: Other Rhythm Heaven Wii posts