"I educated the Japanese public about rhythm with that game," said Japanese musical producer Tsunku, speaking about Rhythm Heaven.
Tsunku was responsible for the musical score to Nintendo's rhythm games Rhythm Tengoku and Rhythm Tengoku Gold, the latter released here as Rhythm Heaven. He attended a panel in Los Angeles to talk about his musical career, and it was there that he alluded to Americans having more rhythm than Japanese gamers.
"Rhythm is something that hasn't really been valued in Japanese culture or in Japanese music," Tsunku said. "That's something that I took exception to. I really wanted to educate musically oriented people as well as the Japanese public on that."
He said that while Japanese gamers enjoy Rhythm Heaven, they don't seem to move near as much as American gamers do: "I respect the American public as people who are very oriented towards music, but they do that thing with their whole body." [Tsunku does an awkward dance with his shoulders while air tapping] "I think it might be somewhat of an unnatural confinement to limit yourselves to fingertip rhythm making as opposed to your entire body dance routines."
Concerned about our apparent need to dance while playing his game, Tsunku said "I hope you get to enjoy Rhythm Heaven without busting your DS. "
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site
Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
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Contest:
6:40 PM on 07.08.2009
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Only 3 more perfects left (Remix 6,8 and Rhythm Rally 2) and I'm the king of Rhythm Heaven.
And yeah, I tend to at least tap my foot while playing. USA! USA!
If White men cant jump,
And Japanese people have no rythem...
Then you should be in a mosh pit.
-Cecil
Rhythm Rally 2 is fucking bullshit.
I barely have any medals, let alone perfects! I think i'm on seventeen of the former and seven of the latter right now, with five more games yet to complete. It's so very hard, but i'll strive to at least gold everything before I put it down in that hand-shaking frustration brought on by the three-goes-or-you're-done system!
The English dub just doesn't sound right after playing through Idol and Box Show.
and hell a box
then let me tap to the beat.
-Cecil
I suck.
If Rythem is a heaven
and hell is a box
then let me tap to the beat.
Based on Tsunku's response, I partially felt a vibe like the idea for a more active Rhythm Tengoku game (where you move your whole body) was brewing. Maybe Wii?