Elite Beat Agents
© 2006 Nintendo of America
This creative twist on comic books brings the DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) concept to the Nintendo DS. In the game, players tap the screen as the music plays, matching rhythmic patterns and keeping the beat as the story unfolds on the top screen. In order to make it through the story, and to the next level, children must help the the Elite Beat Agents keep "grooving" by matching the beat of a song. The worse a player does, the worse the story turns out. In the adventure we tried, the teen-related theme (hence the descriptors) had to do with a girl who wanted to go out on a date, but was stuck with a babysitting job. In order to help the girl and win the date, the children have to match the rhythm and beat of a song. If a player makes it through the whole song, they will be judged on it's entirety and get one of three endings. There are 25 songs that will be familiar to most, including September (Earth Wind and Fire), Material Girl and YMCA. The game supports up to four players via Local Wireless or DS download play. Whether or not you play drums, you'll develop similar beat matching skills by playing this creative game. This is one of the most interesting DS games we've seen this year.
$35, Nintendo DS
Teaches: rhythm, beat, music, reading (language experience)
CTR Rating: 88%