Elite Beat Agents - 9/10
Rant
Every now and then, you come across something that might seem a little odd, a bit "I dunno", a tad queer. But something urges you to just give it try, and that try becomes an obsession that will have you coming back for more.
I never heard of this game, and when a friend of mine chucked it my way explaining what it was about, I raised an eyebrow at him and it sat in my study for about a fortnight unloved. Well, as the gods would have it, there was nothing on TV that night and no paperwork to finish, and I felt the urge to be bitterly disappointed.
I was wrong. Very wrong. And I have now found my new favorite franchise, along with Mario, Zelda and Phoenix Wright. EBA is here, and the second one is on it's way....
Brief
This is a music rhythm tapping game. The easiest way of explaining this is that this is the DS equivalent to those arcade dance music mat games you see people throwing hordes of money at. Except you tap. And there is actual songs that you have heard of before ("Walkie Talkie man", "Jumpin Jack Flash" or Sk8er Boi" anyone?). And it has a storyline. Oh yeah... one more thing... it's damn fun.
It really is one of those things that you need to try before you pass judgement.
Gameplay
You are in control of the EBA, otherwise known as the Elie Beat Agents. Each mission features a song and a storyline, and your mission is to tap to the beat to help the characters in the story and complete the mission.
There are 4 difficultly levels, and the increase of difficulty is raised slightly enough that it doesn't get too hard to start off with, but at the same time, doesn't leave you bored either.
It's a clever tap to the beat game with the occasional drag and drop action that is addictive. Each tap is in number sequence and there is a circle around each number that slowly (at first) draws smaller. When the circle touches your numer, you tap, and then onto the next number. The more you get correct, the bigger your combo goes. If you tap wrong or become out of beat, your meter up the top drops down. Getting the rhythm back and tapping correctly will bring the meter back up again.
It's amazingly addictive.
First level... nice and easy into it...
Actual gameplay of a harder level... but nowhere near the hardest!
One thing that I will warn you about is that there is a section where you have to spin a wheel. How I didn't break my screen doing this I don't know.
Graphics
The 3D Cartoon models drawn are the EBA, and the cartoons compose of the storyline. They cartoons are nice and polished, and the 3D models are very animated, especially on the harder levels.
To be honest, you don't notice the character models or the cartoons during the mission, as your concentrating on doing your tapping, and listening to the song's beat.
Sound
Ah, the corner stone of the game. The missions each have a Top 40 song (not all from this decade mind you....) that has been done as a cover and then reworked as the platform. The songs are extremely well done, and because you will be familiar with most of the songs (and all of them by the end of the game), it makes the tapping that much easier.
Be warned. You need to be in a quiet room, have your audio up full or invest in some decent headphones, because hearing the song is vital to playing this game. On harder difficulty levels, 3 wrong taps can end your game, sound hearing it is essential
Track listing
1. Steriogram - "Walkie Talkie Man" (by Jason Paige)
2. Sum 41 - "Makes No Difference" (by Vinn Lombardo)
3. Avril Lavigne - "Sk8er Boi" (by Angela Michael)
4. Freddie Mercury/Queen - "I Was Born to Love You" (by Paul Vician)
5. Stray Cats - "Rock This Town" (by Mark Latham)
6. Deep Purple - "Highway Star" (by Kaleb James)
7. Village People - "Y.M.C.A." (by TC Moses)
8. Earth, Wind and Fire - "September" (by TC Moses)
9. Jamiroquai - "Canned Heat" (by Jason Paige)
10. Madonna - "Material Girl" (by Melissa Garber)
11. Ashlee Simpson - "La La" (by Laura Jane)
12. Chicago - "You're the Inspiration" (by Julian Miranda)
13. David Bowie - "Let's Dance" (by Delaney Wolff)
14. Good Charlotte - "The Anthem" (by Kevin Ridel)
15. Hoobastank - "Without a Fight" (by Kevin Ridel)
16. The Rolling Stones - "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (by Billy Fogarty)
Replay
Even when your losing a mission constantly, this game has a "One more go, I can finish this level" feel. It's that addictive.
And even when you finish the game, you move onto the harder difficulty levels, and better better high scores unlocks bonus missions. And if your really good, you can play with the Elite Beat Divas instead. And for the super tappers, your Cheif "Kahn" can become a EBA player as well.
Now besides the fact this is highly addictive and has great replay value, it gets better when you play Multiplayer.....
Summary
This has to be one of the few games that constantly had me coming back for more. It's the same pulling power that Zelda had with me. The whole "I MUST do this" feel".
It's addictive fun that features some really good cover songs. It also covers some songs that you've never heard of before (if your like me) If so, this leaves some missions a real challenge until you play it a couple of times and get the general rhythm of the song.
I strongly recommend that you at least try this game. You'll probably end up loving it too.
Submitted by SLVR
27/12/2007
983
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