1. No Music Hybrid Games: The games on this list are either focused on you contributing directly to the music (dancing, providing the beat), or are more music based then any other genre (that means no Rez, Lumines, Chime)
2. No Arcade Games: There are tons and tons of arcade titles out there and your opinion can increase/decrease depending on how many tokens you're pumping in. (no DDR)
Keep in mind that these are my opinions and I left off a lot of very popular games because frankly, I didn't really enjoy them. So heres My Top Five Rhythm/Music Games!
NUMBER 5
AMPLITUDE
PS2 ~ 2003 - by Harmonix
Amplitude is the sequel to another Harmonix released game known as Frequency. Frequency popularized the music track scrolling down as the player pressed buttons to play instruments. While Frequency was great, Amplitude improved on most all levels. You played as some blocky DJ (im assuming) as you controlled different tracks with different instruments. You'd transfer mid-song from instrument to instrument to continue the song flow. Songs would have you controlling the guitar, drums, piano, fx, and vocals all while gaining powerups which could help your performance or score. You play the instrument which track you're on for a short sequence and if successful, you capture that instrument for a limited amount of time (meaning you don't have to attempt that specific track for a little while). It might sound confusing, but just check this video out. No..You'll never be that good.
This game looks familiar huh? That's because Harmonix started the Guitar Hero franchise (now under Activision) and because they're also famous for..
NUMBER 4
ROCK BAND 2
2008 ~ Harmonix/MTV Games
You know what game I'm talking about. Everyone knows and/or has heard of Rock Band. The game where you can play the guitar, bass, drums, or sing. It's been ported to all the major consoles including the portable ones like the DS, PSP, and even iPhone. Rock Band was the first of a string of band related games including their rival franchise Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, Guitar Hero: Metallica, Beatles Rock Band, and the upcoming Green Day Rock Band. The band games peaked in my opinion, with Rock Band 2. The selection of music was more varied (and more fun), the tour mode was better, and no other music game out there has done its online features better. With Rock Band 2 you could transfer the entire library of the first game for only 5 dollars! Throw in the fact that there are hundreds (no exaggeration) of albums, singles, and user created songs that are available and you're given the ultimate music party game.
NUMBER 3
RHYTHM HEAVEN
Nintendo DS ~ 2009 - Nintendo
Originally released in Japan as Rhythm Tengoku Gold, Rhythm Heaven showed that not all music games have to be cliche. You practically never control any instruments, yet you are integral to the music and (obviously) its rhythm. If any of you are familiar with the WarioWare series (another great franchise) then just imagine those games slightly modified to include music. For those unfamiliar, in Rhythm Heaven you are given a slew of minigames which require you to do some tasks like karate chopping objects on beat, making a monkey clap along to a concert, or controlling a frog as you dance. Not all games are as fun but as an overall package, the game delivers. Very enjoyable and with a ton of unlockable goodies, this game will have you coming back for more. The game may look too cute for "manly men" but its charm is undeniable.
NUMBER 2
ELITE BEAT AGENTS
Nintendo DS ~ 2007 - iNiS (Nintendo)
This is another game that first became popular in Japan and was later transferred to the US and it truly shows. Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! was the original Japanese name for Elite Beat Agents and roughly translated to Hey! Fight! Cheer Squad! The difference between Agents and Rhythm Heaven is that Elite Beat Agents is almost entirely different from its Western counterpart. Its true that the gameplay is unchanged, but the settings, characters, and songs were completely different from the US and Japan. You play the agents who are on a mission to help the world out with their problems, sometimes involving taking care of babies, escaping an island, or probably the most memorable (also saddest) situation where you're helping a family cope with the loss of a loved one. Its a stylus game which has you pressing buttons on key and sometimes guiding them to the right position. The songs comprise of 3-5 scenes and if you get a good enough score for the scene, you get a good cutscene to watch. Fail and..well..you should try it just for its entertainment. The wacky characters, insane animations, and nice music selection make Elite Beat Agents a great music game even after 3 years. If you have yet to play this game you can pick it up for dirt cheap on amazon or any used videogame store.
I love music games (like I've said before) and as long as developers make them, I'll continue playing them. Many of the games I enjoyed (including my number 2 pick) I was introduced to by family members. My number 1 pick was also introduced to me by my family and sadly, most people probably have never heard of it. If you think that its one of these:
Parappa the Rapper
Gitaroo Man
Guitar Hero
Space Channel 5
Donkey Konga
Samba De Amigo
..Im sorry, but you'd be wrong. Those are all great games (Donkey Konga is kind of suspect) but my pick dates back to the playstation 1..
drumroll please..
NUMBER 1
BUST A GROOVE 1 & 2
Playstation ~ 1998-2000 - Enix
Known as Bust a Move in Japan, Enix couldn't release these titles under their original names because Taitos bubble popping game already claimed that title in America (also known as Puzzle Bobble). Bust a Groove was simply fun. Its songs were catchy, the characters were great, the visuals were nice (still hold up decently today) and to reemphasize, the game was simply fun. You controlled a dancer as they battled against other dancers on different stages. You dictated their movements by imputting a combo of moves with the D-Pad, followed by a button press on every fourth beat. The more of these you do in a row, the higher your "Groove" becomes. The higher your "Groove" is, the closer you are to "Freezing" which makes you invulnerable and gives you the maximum points allowed during a combo. Why would I need to be invulnerable James? Invulnerability is necessary because you're given two weapons which you can use mid song against your opponent to try and throw them off their "Groove." You can dodge these moves or take a risk in trying to reverse them against your opponent. The franchise released 3 games (one was sadly a Japan exclusive for the PS2) and didn't really seem to catch a big enough audience. Due to this reason, the games are now seen as rare and can easily fetch over $30 used! I bought my copy of Bust a Groove 2 back in 2004 used at Gamestop and it was $29.99! If you do happen to come across a copy, I highly recommend you check it out. It may just be nostalgia talking, but I loved this game and would gladly play with anyone who wants to check the game out.
That concludes my top music games. Agree? Disagree? Would like to try one of these games out with me? Let me know in my comment box and thanks for reading!
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