Rhythm Paradise Megamix (Nintendo 3DS) Preview

The first thing of note is that there is no reliance on the stylus. Even from the opening training session, it is apparent that the feedback from the sometimes criticised DS version, which was not quite as responsive as its GBA forebear, has definitely been taken on-board. There is still an option to turn them on, but the default is the standard button input of old, which works sublimely. After all, the aim of the very first entry was to get players to follow the beat to the point where challenges could actually be completed even with your eyes closed. For that, split-second accuracy of button presses was required, and it is great to see that, just as in Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise, it returns.

Rhythm Paradise Megamix never gets boring, with a wide variety of rhythm-based events on offer; from plucking strands of hair out of an onion or potato using tweezers, and catching oranges and pineapples as they bounce down the stairs towards the usual batch of quirky Rhythm Paradise characters waiting at the bottom (yes, the characters are from the same team that do the WarioWare titles, as well, so expect plenty of oddities on the character front!), through to hitting perfect returns in table tennis and chopping wood in a forest.

Everything is given a score at the end of the process to encourage repeat plays and improve rhythm skills, and there is now more of a visual helping hand given on the lower screen for those struggling to match the beat via the audio alone. It is all shaping up wonderfully, and it is obvious why Japan loved Megamix so much (sales of over 600,000 in 2015 alone). The European release date of 21st October cannot come soon enough!