Rhythm Paradise Megamix (Sir Megamix-a-Lot)

How did I miss this newsflash?! *faints a bit*

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/01/a_new_rhythm_heaven_game_on_nintendo_3ds_is_music_to_our_ears

I really hope we get it and seeing Mr Iwata doing a Karate Joe impression was superb!

(side note: Hey Nintendo, how about a compilation of warioware next?)

I got all excited for this when I saw it in the direct then forgot all about it

That's a lot of old minigames. I mean, 30 is the same amount as were in the Wii version (assuming none of them are repeats), but I hope we don't have to plug through 30 of the bastards to get to the new ones.

Essentially we're getting a compilation of two old games and a brand new one mixed in for good measure. I'm happy with that, even if the handful of remade games did nothing for me in the Wii version.

They'd better pick their revamped games carefully, though. I don't want Love Rap and the shite pinball/people game from the GBA version making the cut.

That sounds perfect for me to be honest - not played any of the old games so this should be a solid jumping on point for me.

The big worry here is that it wasn't mentioned on the European Direct. I need this game SO MUCH; the GBA game was almost mythological as far as NGamer were concerned.

I cannot wait. New levels aside, I hope the majority of remade stages on this come from the GBA/Wii games, I was quite disappointed with the DS game.

Jimbob wrote:

The big worry here is that it wasn't mentioned on the European Direct. I need this game SO MUCH; the GBA game was almost mythological as far as NGamer were concerned.

This. And it's nearly two years since Band Bros. P, so I'm guessing we aren't getting that one either.

fronkhead wrote:

I cannot wait. New levels aside, I hope the majority of remade stages on this come from the GBA/Wii games, I was quite disappointed with the DS game.

Jimbob wrote:

The big worry here is that it wasn't mentioned on the European Direct. I need this game SO MUCH; the GBA game was almost mythological as far as NGamer were concerned.

This. And it's nearly two years since Band Bros. P, so I'm guessing we aren't getting that one either.

You're right to be excited, Jimbo. The GBA outing is still my favourite GBA game of all time. They've gotta give us this one, right?

I said I was "quite" disappointed with the DS game?

I think only the post-game disappointed me, the controls weren't reliable enough for the quick-fire actions the games expected from you. Guilt over!

---

I pre-loaded this onto my 3DS over the weekend, a first for me! It's out now, and I've spent a few hours with it. I was originally going to post here about how it's a bit disappointing, but after playing a few more hours it's actually really good. But my complaints still stand.

The name "The Best Plus" is a bit misleading, it's a lot more than that. They've added a lot of cool new things which also improve the core fundamentals of the game, but they've also added new music and remixed a lot of the old rhythm games.

I think this is both good and bad. It's good because you don't play the game on autopilot, but it's bad because the new compositions just aren't as good. I don't think it's a matter of the music not growing on me either, the songs just don't fit the themes very well -- the music could have come from any game. Where before the rhythm games' music would complement the action really well, here the games feel less like elaborate setups.

Here are some examples from early on in the game. If the videos don't timeskip remove the ? at the end of the URL.

Air Rally:
Wii: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMPf9jvLSdM&feature=youtu.be&t=12
3DS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAUBLMfrGVI&feature=youtu.be&t=192

Shoot'em up:
DS: https://youtu.be/AUBC13cxu7o?t=12‏
3DS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU2D_B63kv8&feature=youtu.be&t=105

And here's a more successful translation, Micro-row:
Wii: https://youtu.be/0a4eIecSkKg?t=13
3DS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU2D_B63kv8&feature=youtu.be&t=208

It's a mixed bag, then. I wonder whether Tsunku's (the music producer who works with Ninty on the sound and music of the games) throat surgery had something to do with this. If so, that's quite understandable.

But the good news is that all the originals are still in the game, and the new music and setups for the 30 new rhythm games is generally very good, and on par with what came before it.

As for the mechanics, I like how they've used the second screen as a means of feedback on your button presses. Because it's out in your peripheral vision, it's very subtle, so it works whilst not obscuring what's up on top. They've also added in "chance time" sections, where you can earn a star for accurately being on time during a particular beat of each song. They've picked some great segments for these, which I don't want to spoil! All of this really does improve its replayability -- they've even quantified your score. I've yet to achieve 100 on any stage.

Oh, and there's a much larger emphasis on narrative this time around, I hope it gets localised!

So it's good, it's just a shame some of those new compositions aren't up to the high standards the series is known for. I want to fall in love with every rhythm game like I usually do, but some of the remixed versions of old stages have been unremarkable.

Hmm..while the new songs do work on a technical level they just aren't as catchy & that for me is probably my biggest issue with them.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... I think you're both right. A little sad

Bear in mind it's only like that for the first 20 or so minigames (out of 100). Then you unlock these towers which either remix the excellent new new games, or give you the original versions of the new old games. It wasn't until I played a good 25 games that I did my first remix!

Basically, the first two hours are a bit disappointing but it's all deceptive, and the game finds its rhythm (sorry) sooner rather than later. I think I'm 2/3 of the way through it now and I've been struggling to put it down. One of the new rhythm games made me cry, I was not expecting that!

Oh god, now I'm scared about proceeding

That Air Rally remix...

Still, you sound a lot more optimistic than you did earlier, Fronk.

Whilst I do see the obvious disparity in quality based on the clips Fronky linked, I'm not going to notice any difference in the levels in this game having not played the originals. I'm assuming it's worth picking up as a newbie to the series, Fronky?

Jay: Absolutely. This game definitely justifies its name as "The Best Plus", it just has a pretty tame introduction. I couldn't recommend it more than enough, for the new content alone.

Balladeer: Yup, definitely. The first few sets of stages are pretty deceptive, I'm not sure why they even did that. Once you get past that first fifth it's as good as the series has always been.

If anyone's interested here are a few of the brand new minigames. Posting the earliest ones (which Nintendo has featured in commercials) so I don't spoil anything:

Two Sumos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRY494v95w8

Pillows and pyjamas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNceBoFNbYE

Rolling fruit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAUBLMfrGVI&feature=youtu.be&t=192

Remix 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glwe3ZMf17A&list=PL_tDs6Q8f52FzszUxRuWu3pOtjvINFCcp&index=1

Enjoy!

shanks wrote:

Oh god, now I'm scared about proceeding

It could just be me, I just thought that rhythm game did a very good job at building up the sadness, and then I couldn't stop the tears from coming out.

A TRUE MAN IS NOT AFRAID TO CRY!!!



I'm not touching those links, in the hope that the game will still get a UK translation.

fronkhead wrote:

As for the mechanics, I like how they've used the second screen as a means of feedback on your button presses.

Feedback? Feedback! The lack of feedback on the Wii game was my biggest reason for hating it - that, and your later fulsome praise, fronkster - has changed my opinion on this. Let's get it to the West!

It's pretty useful, you get rainbow sparks on the bottom screen if you're bang-on time, and two other, smaller flashes if you're a bit far off.

I ended up turning it off after I got a feel for things, I found it hard to concentrate 100% on the action up-top, but it's certainly helpful to see where you're going wrong!

Finished this last night, too, I highly recommend it, the new rhythm games are all really quite good (bar one or two), and it feels fresh enough despite mostly being a compilation. E3 announcement please!

I loved that hover board game song

I was surprised that this wasn't at E3. I guess previous games didn't sell that well in the west, so Nintendo went for their biggest announcements instead. Devil's Third and Fatal Frame were barely at the show, for example.

A future Direct it is, then! Right?

Here's hoping.

Knew we had one of these! In short: fronky will be pleased.

Are we psyched? I'm keeping an eye on it without getting hyped: the Wii game, my only Rhythm experience so far, was the third most frustrating game I played on the console (Sin & Punishment 2 and Mario Strikers Charged, for the record fans). That said, I have fond memories of the silly scenes it produced. All together! "Wubba dubba dub - is that true?" *grunt*

I've not played a lot of RH, but I've always liked the idea
A big compilation like this is music to my ears.