Rhythm 'n Notes



Nintendo DS
1-2 Players
Reviewed on May 29,2008

Looks can be deceiving, as can names as well. You see the Nintendo box art and you think this game appears to be classy. It has a very composed dignified look. There are no flashy bright colors inducing a childhood induced seizure of Ninja Turtles, Pokemon or Dora the Explorer colors melting your eyes. Instead it creates the illusion of being downright educational. Right there underneath the name it says, “Improve Your Music Skills.” You might just be able to leave this game having learned something! You turn the box around and notice a huge contrast once observing the game screen shots. Apparently there is this tiny beetle girl type character giving the instructions. So the instructor to this composed dignified game that will improve your music skills is apparently 5 inches (12.7 Centimeters) tall. This huge contrast should have been the sign. But hey, when the price is $19.99 you can’t go wrong. Actually, after this purchase, you can definitely go wrong.


Rhythm ‘n Notes is broken into two parts: a rhythm section and a notes sections. Wow, I should have seen that part coming. The first problem is that there is no tutorial for either section. The second problem is that this game is terrible and not worth the effort of every playing. The third problem is that no matter how much you may try to squeeze whatever enjoyment out of this game there is no room for error, which is funny because the game has a grading system percentage that if you do not get anything but a 100% you fail and have to do everything over again. The Notes section has you listen to notes and try to pick which keyboard strokes were just played. (I just randomly guessed and hated every second of it.) The Rhythm section is just that. Match the simplistic drumming. However with no room for error, this stops it from being a game turning it to a sadistic music torture.


Maybe this game was meant to have been just a tool to improve your music skills. Maybe you just need to have enough music background (like 3 beginner lessons) and this game would have improved your skills for about 5 minutes. Or maybe I am trying to justify my purchase when I could have just used the money on some new DS styluses because Ouendan wore out my old ones. Maybe, just maybe, you all should just avoid this game. (If you want to call this a game.)