My favorite part of Rhythm Heaven is watching white people play.

My intentions with that statement are not racial –I’m simply intrigued with the proposed beat-of-the-drum heard by my Caucasian counterparts. Just saying.

Rhythm Heaven is a vast collection of mini-games that challenge your listening capabilities. Namely, you tap, hold and flick to the sounds of the playful musical beat, which is coupled with happy, smiling robots, frogs and other fascinating creatures. It sounds like a children’s game, correct?

That’s where you’re fucking wrong, motherfucker.

The mini-games are generally easy to learn, but the grading scale is irrationally demanding. In order to advance to the next level, you must receive a score of “OK” or higher. The scoring system is as follows: “Try Again,” “OK,” “Superb,” and “Perfect.” No numbers are provided, so you’re left with no idea of (1) how far away you were from actually attaining a higher rank, or (2) how close you were to being degraded with a “Try Again.” Soon enough, however, you’ll learn that “Sometimes, being OK is good enough.”

Perhaps my favorite part of the game (aside from watching white people play) is how it provides an illusion of how easy it is to complete a level. All of the games appear to be relatively easy, but once you’re put on the spot, you slowly realize that you only bob your head involuntarily and that actually have no idea how to dance. Or maybe it’s just me.

The game would have probably been much more enjoyable if there were a multiplayer function. Seeing as how there is no number-scoring system, it’s hard to judge how much better you are than your friends are. Overall, Rhythm Heaven is ideal for hardcore casual gaming (if that makes any sense).