I've been a fan of Rhythm Heaven since I played its first western release on the Nintendo DS, and it's been a long wait for a proper new entry. The previous release, Rhythm Heaven Megamix, came out a full decade ago (in 2016) on the 3DS, and was primarily a compilation of minigames from previous entries. Fortunately the wait was worth it, as Groove is as good as any in the series.
Rhythm Heaven Groove largely follows the same structure of previous entries. You play through a hearty collection of short, focused rhythm minigames that effectively use clear audial and visual cues to indicate what inputs to hit, and when to hit them. My favorites are still the "Remix" stages: after a set of four minigames, the next one throws all four together in an exciting, rapid-fire WarioWare-esque challenge that feels like a test of what you've learned thus far. Over time you'll encounter second, harder versions of each minigame, which eventually culminate in a final remix stage with every single minigame at once. Past that, if you want to achieve true mastery, you can "Go for a Perfect" in each minigame, by completing them all (remixes included) without missing a single beat. This brings up my biggest frustration with the series, however, which is that you can only achieve a Perfect when prompted; if you are perfect any other time time playing a minigame, it won't count. I don't understand this arbitrary restriction, and why it continues to be a thing. Otherwise, the formula works as well as ever. I especially appreciate how Rhythm Heaven has always walked the line of being very easy to learn (each minigame only uses one or two buttons), yet manages to be surprisingly demanding by the later stages. It keeps the focus squarely on the rhythm, and can be an excellent entry points for rhythm game newbies while also catering to experienced players.
Past the evergreen rhythm gameplay, Rhythm Heaven has always been incredibly charming, and Groove is no exception. Far from being a dry series of rhythm inputs, each stage has you timing button presses alongside a wacky scenario. One has you bouncing fruit off the biceps of a muscular beach man, another sees you control a pair of little weirdos hopping over active windshield wipers, and in another you communicate with aliens in their own rhythmic language. This quirky charm has always been one of the primary joys of Rhythm Heaven, and something its homages have often failed to match. I do think Groove is a (very) slight step down from previous entries on this front though. On occasion the art can look a little flat, and the music is not as consistently catchy to me, those your mileage may vary on these. In a similar vein, the final handful of minigames lack a certain "oomph" that previous entries had. This point is very minor, and is at least partially due to Groove being (in my opinion) on the easier side. But while the final remixes of previous games left a strong impression on me, I'm not sure Groove's final challenges will leave a similar mark.
If that was all Rhythm Heaven Groove had, it would be a very good rhythm game that falls just short of the series' previous heights. But Groove has two modes that lift it right back up: multiplayer and "Beatspell." I did not expect the multiplayer to be something I got into, but it proved to be surprisingly fun. There are a selection of both co-operative and competitive minigames, and they work well for players of varying skill levels; I played with adults and teenagers with different rhythmic aptitudes, and it was a hit with everyone. A standout has to be Cake Wait, a competitive minigame where each players' characters sit around a table eager to eat a single piece of cake on it. Players are prompted to press A after a certain number of seconds, with no on screen countdown or indicator to help. Whoever is closest to the target time nabs the cake, as the screen explodes into a hilarious scene of triumph and disaster. That moment popped every time we played, and it's simple enough that anyone can jump right into it. It's one of the most fun multiplayer experiences I've had in a while.
Beatspell is Rhythm Heaven Groove's main new addition, and while it's not the deepest mode, I still had fun with it. The derivative shorthand is it's a "rhythm RPG roguelike." Each encounter appears like a classic turn-based RPG at first, but you execute spells by tapping to a distinct rhythm tied to each spell. The inputs are simple, but it can quickly become chaotic (in a good way) as you try to strategize while switching between different beats. There's a mix of offensive and defensive spells that can be upgraded, along with a variety of enemies with different strengths and weaknesses. It's a genuinely interesting concept, and I enjoyed what's there. I mainly wish there was more of it. There is a short "campaign," where you move through a set series of encounters and spell options, which acts as a tutorial as much as anything. When you complete it, you can then play randomized runs akin to a roguelike. Unfortunately there aren't enough spell options or enemies to make the runs feel that different once you've done it a couple times. It's easy to imagine a more fleshed-out version of Beatspell, and I hope we do see such a thing in the future. As it exists right now, it is a fun but brief side mode to Rhythm Heaven's main focus.
It's great to have Rhythm Heaven back after a decade-long hiatus. There have been a few solid indie tributes over the past few years -- check out Melatonin and Bits & Bops for some good bite-sized Rhythm Heaven-likes -- but the original series still feels like the one to beat. It has so many fun and varied rhythm minigames, tied together in a charming package, and Groove is another wonderful entry for those same reasons. It does sometimes fall slightly flat compared to previous entries, and Beatspell is interesting but needs more depth. Those are minor gripes at best though, and the excellent new multiplayer minigames are a pleasant surprise that more than make up for any minor dips. And at a lower $40 price point (by Nintendo standards), Rhythm Heave Groove becomes a very easy recommend.