Game Review: Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure

3DS

Rhythm Thief and the Emperor's Treasure is a neat little rhythm game released by SEGA on the 3DS.

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Premise:

The Emperor Napoleon has been brought back from the dead with a vengeance.  He is on a quest for the Dragon's crown; a source of incredible power which would allow him to conquer Paris, and the world!

You can't let that happen!  Help Raphael, Marie, and Fondue stop Napoleon, and discover the secrets of their own past by playing a large variety rhythm based mini-games!

Visuals:

A reasonably nice looking game.  There are many different ways in which the game presents itself, so i will try tackling them all:

• Cutscenes:

The cutscenes are animated in the style of Japanese anime.  It combines this animation style with some 3D rendered graphics as well, so it isn't entirely flat looking.  As it is on the 3DS, the cutscenes are actually able to be viewed in 3D.

The cutscenes add a nice bit of flavor to the game and helps in getting the player invested in the storyline.

• Overworld sequences:

On the top screen there is a map with Raphael moving around the streets of Paris, and on the bottom screen there is a view of the exact point you are on the map.  It works reasonably well.

• Gamplay sequences:

Character models are extremely low in quality during gameplay.  You can see polygons on characters quite easily in many cases.  It doesn't look bad necessarily, but the slightest bit more work would have made a big difference.  A bit lazily put together.

Sound:

The game generally has good ambiant sound, giving the game a reasonably strong and moody presentation.

Sound effects are somewhat generic, but nothing terrible.

Voice acting is generally campy and not the greatest, but I believe that helps keep the game lighthearted and fun, as the game isn't taking itself too seriously.

Music:

Background music is generally catchy and fun, and portrays the mood of the game quite well.

Soundtracks for rhythm mini-games are really catchy and entertaining, mostly with strong beats to make it easier for the player to hit the moves in time with the music.

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Controls/Gameplay:

The overworld controls decently.  Use the D-pad or control stick to move Raphael between locations on the overworld map.  This can get a little tedious at times, but it isn't too bad.

At every location, you will be presented with a picture to represent the location you are currently at.  Tap the bottom screen to interact with characters and items on-screen.  This would be all well and good, but they want you to press on literally every spot on the screen to find every secret item in the game.  This mechanic requires absolutely no skill or problem solving, and it is entirely cryptic and silly.

During the mini-games, there is great inconsistency.  Certain games are masterfully crafted and make you feel amazing after completing them, but many other levels are very vague about how to complete them and will frustrate you to no end.  Some levels also seem to be off time, and this is very off-putting.  It could be just me, but if you try it, I'd like to know what you think of the timing in this game.

Story:

An entertaining storyline to keep the game interesting as a whole.  Not the most amazing storyline ever, but it engages the player and keeps them on the edge of their seat.

Characters in general are a lot of fun, and it is funny to watch the character's incessant banter.

Summary:

A decent experience with some gameplay issues.  At certain times it shines brightly, but at others it is a little painful to play.

• Pros:
• Some awesome mini-games
• Awesome soundtrack
• Appealing cut-scenes
• Fun and appealing characters
  
  
  
• Cons:
• Some bad mini-games
• Major control issues in some levels
• Annoying item search on every overworld screen destroys flow of gameplay

SCORE:  7.75 / 10

Do you agree?  Let me know what you think in the comments section below!

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