Rhythm Heaven Megamix
| Rhythm Heaven Megamix | |
|---|---|
|
Japanese boxart | |
| Developer(s) | Nintendo SPD |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Director(s) | Masami Yone |
| Producer(s) | Tsunku |
| Programmer(s) | Takafumi Masaoka |
| Artist(s) | Ko Takeuchi |
| Composer(s) |
Tsunku Shinji Ushiroda Asuka Ito Yumi Takahashi Megumi Inoue |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 3DS |
| Release date(s) | |
| Genre(s) | Rhythm game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
Rhythm Heaven Megamix, known in Europe as Rhythm Paradise Megamix and in Japan as Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus (リズム天国 ザ・ベスト＋ Rizumu Tengoku: Za Besuto Purasu), is a rhythm game developed by Nintendo SPD for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the fourth game in Nintendo's Rhythm Heaven series and compiles stages from the series' previous entries; Rhythm Tengoku, Rhythm Heaven, and Rhythm Heaven Fever. The game was released in Japan on June 11, 2015[1][2] and will be released in North America, Europe and Australia in 2016.[3]
Gameplay
Like previous entries in the series, Rhythm Heaven Megamix is composed of several rhythm-based stages, requiring players to play in time with the music in order to clear each stage. The game uses the traditional control scheme featured in the original Rhythm Tengoku, which uses the A, B, and directional buttons on the Nintendo 3DS. The game can be optionally played with the stylus, though controls are more simplified compared to Rhythm Heaven. The game features over 100 stages, including about 70 taken from previous entries in the series (including the GBA release, which was never released in the west) and about 30 brand new ones, as well as new Remix stages based on the game's Rainbow Towers which combine the previous rhythm games in the tower (or more rhythm games) into one song. Tower-themed elements are incorporated into the remix while every character in the present rhythm games get to wear special tower-themed Props. Ratings for stages are now awarded based on a score meter indicating how well the player performed. Each stage also features a special star point, which awards bonuses for hitting a certain part of the level with precise timing. Playing through songs earns coins that can be used to unlock bonuses such as additional rhythm games.[4][5]
Megamix features a Story Mode in which players try to help a character named Tebri reach his home. The mode has players play through stages in a linear format, which is broken up by challenge minigames, before allowing players to tackle various towers in any order they choose. Some of the game's stages has two variants; an "Story" version that has an much easier challenge. These variants feature new graphics and new age/futuristic/electronic themed music incorporated into the stage, and a "Returns" version, which is the original version of the stage that has music taken from the Rhythm Heaven title it first appeared in (except for the new games exclusive to Megamix, in which they feature their own music). There are also 10 updated versions of older games that feature new graphics, and some of the returning rhythm games from Tengoku and Heaven (DS) feature new music and redesigned graphics. Outside of the Story Mode, players can attempt Perfect Campaigns, which require players to clear selected stages without making any mistakes, or take on challenges on the Challenge Train, which can be played with up to four players via Download Play. The Challenge Mode in the game also has two WarioWare crossover challenges, replacing some of the rhythm games' characters with characters from the WarioWare series (This is due to both the WarioWare and Rhythm Heaven franchises being made by the same developers). The game also features bonus rhythm games (all from previous entries in the series) and a StreetPass Figure Fighter challenge that uses the 3DS's StreetPass functionality.[4]
Development
Masami Yone, the director of Rhythm Heaven Fever, assumed the same role for Megamix. He was assisted by Takumi Hatakeyama, who previously worked as a programmer and designer for WarioWare D.I.Y. and Rhythm Heaven Fever. Ko Takeuchi returns as the art director, and Yoshio Sakamoto as the general producer. The music is done by Tsunku♂, who also serves as the game's producer.
Megamix is the final game developed by Nintendo SPD1. Following its release, the game development arm of Nintendo SPD would be merged into a new division known as Nintendo Entertainment Planning and Development.
The game was first revealed near the end of a japanese Nintendo Direct on January 14 2015, showing gameplay footage of seven returning rhythm games and two new ones.
Then, the game returned again in another Nintendo Direct on April 2 in Japan, with more footage showing five rhythm games and one of the new remixes.
After that, a trailer was released in Japan at a time in May, showing more rhythm games, both new and classic ones. And, on June 15, commercial shorts featuring Yoko Gushiken, Kanako Yanagihara, Sho Ayanokoji and Fumika Shimizu playing various minigames was released periodically before the initial release in japan.[6]
In 2016, Nintendo announced that the game would launch in North America, Europe and Australia "later" that year.[7]
Reception
Rhythm Heaven Megamix received favourable reviews from Famitsu reviewers, scoring 34/40 (8/8/8/10) in Famitsu Score, and praised for various aspects including its great variety in gameplay despite the simple controls, and supportive feedback from input timing effects.[8]
The game debuted at No. 1 in Japanese charts maintained by Media Create, recording 158,000 copies sold in its first week of release.[9] As of September 2015, total Japanese sales reached more than 400,000 copies. As of December 6 2015, total japanese sales reached 510.000 copies.[10]Total japanese sales reached 610.000 copies sold at the end of December 2015. As of 26 February, total japanese sales reached 650.000 copies.
References
- ↑ Michael McWhertor (January 14, 2015). "New Rhythm Heaven coming to Nintendo 3DS in 2015". Polygon. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ↑ "3DS「リズム天国 ザ・ベスト＋」が6月11日に発売。新旧合わせて100種類以上のリズムゲームが楽しめる". 4Gamer. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- ↑ http://kotaku.com/rhythm-heaven-fans-have-been-patiently-waiting-for-the-1762747046
- 1 2 "「リズム天国 ザ・ベスト＋」は，「ベスト＋」の名に恥じないボリューム＆クオリティで，いつでもどこでも持ち歩きたい一本だ". 4Gamer. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- ↑ "『リズム天国 ザ・ベスト＋』ボタン操作が基本、過去作のリズムゲームでも新曲が用意されることが明らかに". ファミ通.com. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ↑ "『リズム天国 ザ・ベスト＋』の魅力が詰まった紹介映像＆テレビCMが公開 協力プレイを動画でチェック！". ファミ通.com. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ↑ "Rhythm Heaven Megamix Announced For 3DS". Gamespot. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ↑ "Rhythm Heaven: The Best Plus gets first review in Famitsu". Nintendo Everything. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
- ↑ "【週間売上ランキング】首位『リズム天国 ザ・ベスト＋』15.8万本、『ドラゴンボールZ 超究極武闘伝』7.4万本で2位(6/8～6/14)". インサイド. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
- ↑ http://nintendoeverything.com/media-create-sales-1130-126/
External links
- Official website (Japanese)
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