TL;DR: if you have a DS or a Wii, Rhythm Heaven/Rhythm Heaven Fever are definitely tighter games and my preferred way to experience the minigames. But it's a super solid overall package, and a great introduction point. If you've played it and liked it, definitely give Rhythm Heaven (the DS one) a go, as even the games you already know will be completely different due to the unique mechanics that game uses.
The good:
- Challenge mode is awesome. It's so hard. Monster mode is the worst thing to ever have happened to me, I've never been good about getting perfects and never cared to. But it's a lot of fun.
- EVERY rhythm game from the series is here, pretty much. A bunch of awesome side games, plus all the iconic minigames you know and love from DS and Fever. Plus some new versions of old classics, new minigames altogether (albeit few), and new remixes!
- Given the above, it follows that the game is chock full of bangers.
- Just getting new Rhythm Heaven entries is so important to me and I really hope we get one on Switch. I feel like the rhythm game genre is picking steam back up again, so let's hope!
- An easy way to experience all your favorite games on the go and share them to your friends. I'm a Rhythm Heaven evangelist so this is key for me.
The bad:
- I'm a big fan of the unique DS controls, and it saddened me so much to not have the option to use them for DS games. it's a 3DS! You could easily do it!! There's no excuse. The simplified tap is a travesty.
- The story and characters definitely overstay their welcome. They should've taken a page from Rhythm Heaven Wii, where there's characters but they only come in every once in a while between games and even on rhythm games as a fun surprise, and thus remain loved and iconic. This also gives a lot more protagonism to the rhythm games' characters, which is how you get monkeys, Karate Joe, the Ringside characters, etc. to be so iconic. I think this is a big part of the charm of the series and thus is my biggest gripe with this one.
The neutral:
- What is UP with the goat minigame? Serious question, why does it exist???????
The good:
- Challenge mode is awesome. It's so hard. Monster mode is the worst thing to ever have happened to me, I've never been good about getting perfects and never cared to. But it's a lot of fun.
- EVERY rhythm game from the series is here, pretty much. A bunch of awesome side games, plus all the iconic minigames you know and love from DS and Fever. Plus some new versions of old classics, new minigames altogether (albeit few), and new remixes!
- Given the above, it follows that the game is chock full of bangers.
- Just getting new Rhythm Heaven entries is so important to me and I really hope we get one on Switch. I feel like the rhythm game genre is picking steam back up again, so let's hope!
- An easy way to experience all your favorite games on the go and share them to your friends. I'm a Rhythm Heaven evangelist so this is key for me.
The bad:
- I'm a big fan of the unique DS controls, and it saddened me so much to not have the option to use them for DS games. it's a 3DS! You could easily do it!! There's no excuse. The simplified tap is a travesty.
- The story and characters definitely overstay their welcome. They should've taken a page from Rhythm Heaven Wii, where there's characters but they only come in every once in a while between games and even on rhythm games as a fun surprise, and thus remain loved and iconic. This also gives a lot more protagonism to the rhythm games' characters, which is how you get monkeys, Karate Joe, the Ringside characters, etc. to be so iconic. I think this is a big part of the charm of the series and thus is my biggest gripe with this one.
The neutral:
- What is UP with the goat minigame? Serious question, why does it exist???????