Rhythm just might be my favorite genre; Elite Beat Agents, Rhythm Heaven and 'that game that I keep talking about' are some of those game that I've played and really enjoyed for a long time. Adding to that list is HarmoKnight, which is a rhythm game for the Nintendo 3DS.
The main gameplay consists of the Tempo (the main character) running automatically to the right, and it's up to you to make get him safely to the end while gathering up as many purple notes as possible. Press A to attack with your musical staff and B to jump. Holding A will allow you to charge your staff; when it glows, you can unleash it on an enemy or the Percussiplants in the background to gain an extra note. Notes determine the rank which you get at the end; there's Great, Good, and So-so.
The boss stages are different, however; it's a Simon Says game where you repeat the inputs that the game gives you, whether it's HIT!, JUMP! or any direction with an exclamation mark at the end. You need a perfect run in order to attain Great rank, which is far stricter than the normal running stages.
If you collide with any hazard in any stage, you lose one of your hearts (your hit points). If you lose all your hearts, then you're forced to start over as there are no checkpoints in the game. Bottomless pits, as well as missing any boss inputs that flash red, will instantly kill you no matter how many hearts you have.
The game's main story is the usual save the princess fare, and you get to meet up with a generic brute named Tyko (with his cymbal monkey companion Cymbi) and a generic classy action girl named Lyra. Whoopee. The characters are about as flat as you'd expect, but we're not in it for the story. As far as I want to know, they're just there to freshen up the gameplay, as occasionally Tempo will switch out with either of them and they do whatever. Tyko and Cymbi smash enemies up with a mallet and cymbals respectively, while Lyra shoots them with arrows from her harp.
It will take about 2-3 hours to get through the main story, which may be a bit disappointing to some. But for completion's sake, you could try to get all Great ranks in all the stages, including all the fast stages, which are basically the same stage sped up. Doing so will unlock concept art and personal satisfaction.
As this game was created by Game Freak, we get to see some obligatory Pokémon stages ranging from the Bicycle theme to the Trainer battle theme of Black/White. It's a really neat crossover, and I'm wishing they'd make a full crossover if they ever make a sequel.
If you're a 3DS enthusiast looking for a rhythm game, then HarmoKnight is a good option along with Rhythm Thief and the Emperor's Treasure and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call (I do not own either of these, only their demos). It can be occasionally frustrating (remove 'occasionally' when you get to the final world), but just running, hitting and jumping to the music is so very satisfying.
You can buy this game (or download the demo) from the 3DS eshop.
And with that, see you in the next stage!
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