Review – Rhythm Heaven Groove

Rhythm Heaven holds a special place in my heart, as I’m sure it does for many fans of Nintendo’s more niche and quirky corners. That this is the first all-new entry in the series in 15 years (though we did get the excellent Rhythm Heaven Megamix in the meantime) is criminal, particularly with how filled out the Nintendo Switch’s library is with familiar franchises. 

Getting the band back together for Rhythm Heaven Groove is certainly welcome, no doubt about it. After so much time away from the stage, though, I was worried some of the magic may’ve worn. Renowned for simple but challenging gameplay, its signature visual style, and infectious music I’d be content if Groove lived up to those expectations. There’s definitely parts of the experience that are as superb as ever while others end up just okay. Read on to see what made the grade in what may end up the Switch’s swan song.  

 

Lots of Funny Little Rhythm Games

 

If you’ve never seen (or heard) these games in action, I highly recommend taking a moment to see it from Nintendo itself:

 

 

Like it said, pretty simple, right? If you feel like you’re musically challenged I’d still recommend the series. Everything it presents is fairly forgiving and encouraging (the game finds ways to complement you even when you don’t do so great), letting you get into the groove and really find your footing.

Structurally, Rhythm Heaven Groove is the same as it ever was. Minigames are divided into groups of four, tasking you with clearing them one by one. After each quartet you’ll be hit with a “Remix” that brings the games you just played together into a single song, testing how well you remember the distinct cues from the previous games. After that you’ll unlock the next batch, with the pattern holding throughout Groove’s 80 minigames. 

Despite relying on one or two buttons per game, as usual Rhythm Heaven finds ways to keep things fresh across its collection. What it lacks in control complexity it makes up with its catchy catalog of tracks from series Creator and Composer Tsunku♂. This includes several tracks from guest artists – Japanese singer Ado gets a particularly excellent feature in one of those remixes, and guitarist Haruki Matsumoto. Unlike past Rhythm Heaven titles, none of the songs have been redubbed in English, perhaps a sign of changing tastes, increased faith in the series, or both.

 

 

Often Superb, Sometimes Just Okay

 

Of course, it’s not just good music you can play along to that makes a Rhythm Heaven. These games are funny and weird by design, and Groove keeps that tradition alive as well. Not to spoil it, but I haven’t stopped laughing about the game’s occasional use of stock images alongside Art Director Ko Takeuchi’s signature style. Tutorials and flavor text also get in on the fun, playing up the importance of conveying pudding or escaping the gaze of a sneezy moon. 

 

 

So much of Groove is business as usual (and that’s not a bad thing, mind you) that it makes its few falters that much more prominent. Despite a high number of Remixes, they don’t always land the way they have in the past. Those and many of the second versions of minigames (a common practice for the series) don’t really deviate in the visuals, giving more of a sense of repetition compared to past entries. When replayability is a big part of your design, a lack of variety can be that much more damning. 

Perhaps this is an unfair metric, especially since the game hasn’t even been out for a week as I write this, but I can’t help but feel like Groove’s soundtrack doesn’t hit the highs of past games either. Rhythm Heaven Fever on Wii (perhaps the best the series has ever been) was almost all bangers. I’ll still be playing and listening to Groove for a while, but at least after the first few listens it doesn’t have Fever’s all-around greatness nor the benefit of Mega Mix’s greatest hits approach.

 

Chasing Perfection

 

What it does have, is an abundance of extras for both solo songsters and multiplayer ensembles. An additional 30 multiplayer rhythm games can be found in Groove, though that’s really closer to ten with three difficulty levels each. These are a delight with local like-minded friends, and are full of callbacks to past Rhythm Heaven games. 

You’ll also find extras like multiple soundboards, endless games, and a full digital drum kit (a nice call back to the series’ origins). These round out the package well, though it’s hard not to see them as extraneous to the core solo package, even though engaging with them does have some rewards for you more completion-minded players. 

 

 

Speaking of, just like past Rhythm Heavens, the real challenge here isn’t clearing each game. It’s the multiple layers of mastery that the game tracks, which are at an all time high. Getting a medal on each song is a mark of excellence, sure, but chasing Perfect clears under pressure is the greatest high for most fans. For the real die-hards, you can now go for sequential perfects and even Night Mode, which strips away all visual cues to truly put your rhythm to the test.

 

Beep♪

 

Rhythm Heaven has always been an irregular cut gem of a game. This odd but beloved cousin of the Nintendo family tree might not come around much but when it does it’s the life of the party for a while before slipping out the back all too quickly. Despite it taking just a weekend to “complete,” I know I won’t be putting down Rhythm Heaven Groove for a while. The addictive gameplay, infectious music, and abundant charm keep me coming back for more. 

Still, after this long of a wait for something new from the series I can’t help feel like this one’s playing it safe. This is certainly the prettiest Rhythm Heaven, and I sincerely hope a generation of Switch owners fall in love with it the way I did Fever. I’m not sure what it would take to evolve the series beyond its winning base formula, as the kind of the upgrade from DS to Wii just doesn’t exist anymore. Whatever it takes, just please don’t keep us waiting another decade.

 

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