Rhythm Heaven Megamix

Gameplay

Like the previous three entries in the series, Rhythm Heaven Megamix is composed of several rhythm-based stages, requiring players to play in time with the music in order to clear each stage. The game uses the traditional control scheme featured in the original Rhythm Tengoku, which uses the A, B, and directional buttons on the Nintendo 3DS. The game can be optionally played with the stylus, though controls are more simplified compared to Rhythm Heaven. The game features over 100 stages, including about 70 taken from previous entries in the series (including the GBA release, which was never released in the west) and about 30 brand new ones, as well as new Remix stages based on the game's Rainbow Towers which combine the previous rhythm games in the tower (or more rhythm games) into one song. Tower-themed elements are incorporated into the remix while every character in the present rhythm games get to wear special tower-themed Props (except for the Left-Hand, Right-Hand and Final Remixes). Ratings for stages are now awarded based on a score meter indicating how well the player performed. Each stage also features a special Skill Star point, which awards bonuses for hitting a certain part of the level with precise timing. Playing through songs earns Medals that can be used to unlock bonuses such as additional rhythm games.

Megamix features a Story Mode in which players try to help a character named Tibby reach Heaven World, his home. The mode has players play through stages in a linear format, which is broken up by challenge minigames, before allowing players to tackle various towers in any order they choose. Some of the game's stages have two or three variants. The first is the "Story/Prequel" version that has an much easier challenge. These variants feature new graphics and new age/futuristic/electronic/techno themed music incorporated into the stage. The second is the "Returns/Sequel" version, which is the original version of the stage that has music taken from the Rhythm Heaven title it first appeared in (except for the new games exclusive to Megamix, in which they feature their own music). Only three Rhythm Games (Figure Fighter, The Clappy Trio and Rhythm Rally) have "Triquels", which are much harder versions of the Sequel versions. One of the new rhythm games (Catchy Tune) was originally going to have a triquel version, but the idea was scrapped during development.

There are also 10 updated versions of older games that feature new graphics, and some of the returning rhythm games from Tengoku and Heaven (DS) feature new music and redesigned graphics. Outside of the Story Mode, players can attempt Perfect Campaigns, which require players to clear selected stages without making any mistakes, or take on challenges on the Challenge Train, which can be played with up to four players via Download Play. The Challenge Mode in the game also has two WarioWare crossover challenges named as "Wario... Where?", which replaces some of the rhythm games' main characters with characters from the WarioWare series (This is due to both the WarioWare and Rhythm Heaven franchises being made by the same developers). The game also features bonus rhythm games (all from previous entries in the series) and a Figure Fighter V.S. challenge that uses the 3DS' StreetPass functionality.

Development

Masami Yone, the director of Rhythm Heaven Fever, assumed the same role for Megamix. He was assisted by Takumi Hatakeyama, who previously worked as a programmer and designer for WarioWare D.I.Y. and Rhythm Heaven Fever. Ko Takeuchi returns as the art director, and Yoshio Sakamoto as the general producer. The music is done by Tsunku♂, who also serves as the game's producer. Megamix was the final game developed by Nintendo SPD1 before it was merged into Nintendo Entertainment Planning and Development.

In 2016, Nintendo announced that the game would launch in North America, Europe and Australia "later" that year. The game was released as a Nintendo eShop exclusive in North America on June 15, 2016 during Nintendo's Treehouse Livestream presentation at E3 2016. The game will receive a physical retail release in Europe on October 21, 2016. Like the European release of Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise, the English versions of the game feature both English and Japanese audio.

Reception

Rhythm Heaven Megamix received favourable reviews from Famitsu reviewers, scoring 34/40 (8/8/8/10) in Famitsu Score, and praised for various aspects including its great variety in gameplay despite the simple controls, and supportive feedback from input timing effects.

The game debuted at No. 1 in Japanese charts maintained by Media Create, recording 158,000 copies sold in its first week of release. As of 26 February 2016, total Japanese sales reached 650.000 copies.