POSTED 18/9/12


BEAT THE BEAT: RHYTHM PARADISE

Nintendo
Wii

“...and the Oscar goes to ‘Mole Getting Hit by Football’!”

A worthy winner, certainly, but hardly the only slapsticktical joy to be beholden to in BTB:RP, the third Rhythm Tengoku experience, the second to escape Japan and the first to assail the Wii. Whee!

You’d have to be dimmer than a dim sim factory awaiting a backorder of sims to not glean from the title that rhythm’s somehow involved. We’re not talking a Rock Band-esque all-there-on-the-screen-for-you kinda thang, though. This is a much sneakier assault on the beatiness inherent – or glaringly absent - in each single solo individual’s personal (and, apparently, tautological) makeup. Sure, the only controls are stabs variously at the ‘A’ button or ‘A’ and ‘B’ combined, but audio and video hurls curveballs – literally and figuratively, thank you Mr Mandrill - that often make nailing jelly to walls a more confidence-inspiring prospect than nailing a beat to the game’s satisfaction.

That last bit’s important, too. You start with one level unlocked, and have to beat it to get another to pop – or wait for pity progress. Whoo! Still, ace a spot of golf and you’ll unlock a café, in which you can chill – read calm the fuck down - upon being adjudged a miserable failure for the umpteenth time. or when you don’t even find moles hit by footballs funny anymore.

Yep, humour’s big here, with some brilliantly timed and – as we’ve kind of alluded to already - titter-inducing visuals ranging from conga lobsters to piggy executives, with a whole lotta WTF in-between. Plus, unlike those Yankee types, we get English AND Japanese soundtracks. Nyahh-nyahh!

Two player options are flimsy, but chuck this on with a group handy, pass the baton freely and piss yourselves. It’s also a handy way to be reassured that you’re not necessarily the only Don ‘No Soul’ Simmons amidst your friendular types.

CLICK THIS!



CLICK THIS!