Rhythm Heaven's marketing might indicate that if you can tap your foot, you can play the game. But if that's all the rhythm you have it'll be a long, punishing road to completing the game. Even if you have the grace of a professional choreographer Nintendo's latest series of quirkily designed mini-games is gonna take some practice. On the other hand, its madcap blend of "tap 'n flick" games are some of the best seen on the DS. For every frustrating moment that makes you slam the DS shut, there are at least two more moments that will make you grin.

The game is based on a Japan-only GBA game that came out a few years back, and is a joint venture between Japanese pop star Tsunku and the minds behind the WarioWare games. If you've played any of those insane microgame compilations then you'll have some idea of how Rhythm Heaven works. If not, here's the basic idea: Each level is a series of brief mini-games. You work to master each mini-game, and at the end of each level you encounter a "remix," which shuffles the mini-games into a megamix of five- to 10-second-long microgames. At the end of each remix, you unlock the next level of diversions.


Each mini-game is based on two simple movements: Either you tap the touch screen with a stylus, or you make a flicking gesture with it. It's all you need to play, and yet it's also tough as nails to grasp. Rhythm Heaven is unforgiving, so don't be surprised when you receive low marks on the first try. Whether it's stomping to uproot veggies then flicking to toss them into a basket or carefully tapping the touch screen on beat with a dance troupe, you'll have your hands full with some really difficult mini-games.

In many cases it's an issue of timing, but in other cases it's a problem with the game. In some mini-games, the objectives aren't clearly laid out, and you'll find yourself frustrated before you figure out the missing step. In other instances, the touch controls aren't responsive enough, and you'll fail by narrowly missing some crucial pattern. Fortunately, the game can intervene if you fail a mini-game enough times. Then there's the Rhythm Lounge, a small section where you can play unlocked microgames, or more importantly, ask the game to let you leapfrog problem areas. It's a relieving compromise for when you've thrown your stylus across the room one too many times. Without it, I believe many people would likely give up.