Elite Beat Agents

When the Nintendo DS first came out, critics called its touchscreen interface a gimmick and predicted that few games would put it to good use. We now know that this feature is actually one of the centerpieces of gameplay for many DS titles. Elite Beat Agents, a rhythm game that is played solely on the touchscreen, shows yet again how much fun the interface can be.

In EBA, you control three Agents who work for an organization whose job is to help people. Yes,

it sounds quite abstract but the missions that you go on are so off-the-wall that there’s really no better way to describe it. Your trio will go from helping a teenage girl ask her boyfriend to go steady with her to helping a dog get back home and even changing the weather. How do you go about completing your missions? Through the power of dance, of course! Just watching the antics during each level is hilarious with over-the-top Anime expressions that really get you into the mood to swing your body along with the beat.

There are basically three different types of steps: a tap, a sweep, and a spin. The tapping steps show up as numbered circles of different colors which must be tapped with the stylus in the correct order at the proper time. Sweeps require a tap and then a continuous drag of the stylus to follow a ball’s path. The spin requires you to draw circles as many times as possible on the screen. Like most rhythm games, EBA requires that you can hear the music in order to time your beats properly so playing in noisy environments won’t be possible unless you have the DS headphones. Most of the song selections are great and range from punk and trendy pop like Good Charlotte and that-other-Simpson-girl to soft-rock and even 80s tracks. There are a few weird song selections that don’t quite match  their associated mission but they’re still fun to dance to.

The premise is quite simple and ridiculous but the execution is top-notch. The easiest difficulty

level is a good way to familiarize yourself with the gameplay but it will eventually feel too slow once you get the hang of it. In contrast with most games that I play, I actually found the game to be be more fun as I increased the difficulty level. I also noticed that I rarely became frustrated no matter how many times I had to repeat any mission and watch the poor oil tycoon wallow in poverty over and over. No, I’m not a masochist but the tougher challenge levels actually motivated me more.

In terms of multiplayer, EBA offers challenge mode in which you and a friend can duke it out to see who reigns supreme on the dance floor. There is also a cooperative mode for up to two other friends but this option is not supported over single-cart play. I have to warn you though that if your friends have not played the game, they will think you’re loony when they see you bobbing your head or swinging your body as you tap-tap-sweep to victory.

There is very little to complain about in EBA and so much to enjoy. The fun, off-beat style of gameplay coupled with hilarious visuals and an engrossing musical experience is too much to miss out on.