Rhythm Paradise Groove Review: A Successful Comeback? TheGamer's Verdict

If you know how to handle rhythmic frustration and quirky mini-games appeal to you, Rhythm Paradise Groove is almost a must-buy at €39.99. For those of you looking for an easy-to-pick-up rhythm game, and/or a game to experience with friends this summer, get ready to run into some difficulties, says the TheGamer journalist.

A UFO that took its time coming back

Rhythm Paradise Groove is the fifth main installment in a series that had been absent since Megamix on 3DS in 2015. The concept remains identical: a series of short mini-games, all controlled with a maximum of two buttons, but where precise timing is essential. No frills, no endless tutorials - just rhythm, audio cues, and an art direction by Ko Takeuchi, the creator of the WarioWare visual style. As a conclusion to each series of five mini-games, there's a Remix, a wild arrangement of everything you've done previously set to an original composition.

Beatspell: the real surprise

The Beatspell mode is the true novelty of the game. This turn-based RPG turns every spell into a rhythmic sequence that must be executed perfectly. The meeting of the two genres seems to work very well: bosses force you to memorize patterns while keeping the tempo, and the original characters make you want to go further. It's short... too short - but according to TheGamer, it's the best idea in the game, and it would deserve a standalone sequel.

80 mini-games and 30 multiplayer modes

The content remains solid for the price. The 80 solo mini-games display a variety of sound and visual worlds, and the advanced remixes demand real concentration. The 30 modes offered in multiplayer (up to 4 players) are effective and feature distinctive creations designed for versus or co-op, avoiding the simple, somewhat basic two-player solo mode.

Not-so-minor limitations

The trouble with this proposition is that you lose a certain magic... But it's with the campaign that you realize its limitations: it wraps up quickly and doesn't overflow with vitality in its early hours. The game starts off slowly in teaching the basics, and the side content (soundboards, drum lessons) is anecdotal. Worse: the game is merciless for newcomers, says the journalist. The advanced remixes punish the slightest mistake without warning, to the point that the uninitiated will likely fail to see themselves reaching the best moments.

Who is the game for?

Faced with a more accessible WarioWare: Move It! or a more narrative-driven Hi-Fi Rush, Rhythm Paradise Groove occupies its own niche: a pure exercise in rhythmic style, minimalist in its controls, but demanding in execution. A kind of rhythmic soulslike, in a way. If you were hooked on any previous installment, this one is a no-brainer. For newcomers, it will also be the best entry point into the series, provided you accept that the magic comes after the friction. For the launch price of €39.99, the price seems justified by a fair amount of content and the generosity of the multiplayer. Thanks, TheGamer!