Playing Rhythm Heaven Fever reminds me of the dozens of iPhone games I’ve tried over the last three years. It contains the same type of simple challenges and single tap mechanics as Canabalt or Groove Coaster. Despite the responsive touch provided by an iOS device, somehow an experience like this feels better with buttons — the sense of feedback is much more tactile and provides less room for error. It probably helps to remember that this single button idea is something Nintendo put to use a long time ago — specifically in Rhythm Heaven’s GBA debut back in 2006 — and its sheer simplicity, attractiveness, and execution make Fever a notable representation of the idea.
For those unfamiliar with Rhythm Heaven’s charms, the series combines a fun and flexible minigame setup with a lot of catchy tunes — offering a playful approach to playing a music game that’s inspired, unique, and surprisingly simple. All mechanics revolve around the A and B buttons of the Wii Remote — a move that returns the series to its original GBA roots versus the slightly awkward tap, hold, and flick mechanics of the DS game.
