PixlBit

Get in on this Game Freak gem before Nintendo cuffs them back to Pokémon.

Pretending to be a rock star with mini-guitars was pretty cool for a few years, but we’ve thankfully moved past that fad and can start getting music-based games that aren’t just for fulfilling your leather pants wearing fantasies.  We’ve had a few highlights in the rhythm genre here and there as those plastic instruments made their way from Best Buy to Big Lots, but now that they’re completely gone it looks like we should get more innovative and quirky music games like we used to.  If HarmoKnight is an indicator of the upcoming rhythm game onslaught, then I say “bring it on.”  Mixing platforming with call-and-answer beat matching, HarmoKnight is a wonderfully cute and addictively fun journey that will keep you on your (tapping) toes.

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I'm tripping out of my skull!

I’ve often said that simplicity is underrated, especially when it comes to video games.  Growing up there wasn’t much you had to learn to play a video game.  With only two buttons and a d-pad, there were only so many control schemes you could cram into an NES game.  Some may think that’s limiting, but I think it’s more inviting.  Anyone can pick up an NES game and be able to figure out the basic controls right away.  Mastering these controls, well, that’s a different thing all together.

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The party’s over.

Probably the worst part of playing alto sax in middle school band (besides having to play on braces-tightening days) was rhythm practice.  If you’re not familiar, there are entire books of rhythms written out – no notes, just the rhythms – which kids have to sit and verbalize.  “Ta ta tee tee tee tee rest ta-a-a-a-a tee tee tee tee ta ta” can be heard coming from the mouths of dreary band halls across the country as kids prepare for that next chair test or concert.   This despised exercise is what is at the core of Rock Band Blitz, and somehow they almost made it fun. 

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