Rhythm action games combine the enjoyment that comes from creating music with the challenge of video game scoring. The player is usually tasked with dancing on a mat, tapping a touch screen, pressing a button, singing into a mic or strumming a fake guitar controller in time with the music.
On occasion this tap along with the music style of interaction is used in other games (such as a means of combat in adventure games). But is it only games that solely focus on the players ability to play along to music (without other aims or goals) that are usually considered true Rhythm Action games.
I've been away from the DS for a few months so I've had very little to say about videogames and, to be honest, very little desire to go back to them. But I've been coaxed out of my shell by the most trivial of games, Rhythm Paradise, that has got me re-assessing my take on the meaning of life. The ability of humanity to transform the mundane into something of beauty. And if you think that's just hyperbole, you'd be wrong... read now
Just Dance Kids takes all the best features from the older Just Dance games and wraps them up a younger demographic. Keeping the classic Just Dance play style by choosing songs that suit the younger player make this ideal for young families... read now
Just Dance Juniors takes all the best features from the older Just Dance games and wraps them up in both Nursery Rhythm and Classic Children's Pop. You have the option to see how age appropriate each song is and the dancers are all of the younger variety... read now
I'd say it was Crazy in Love that did it, but the truth is it started a lot earlier than that. It's a slightly odd life for a white girl who wants to be Beyonce (especially after watching her performance in Dreamgirls) - but probably not surprising when you come from the home of Northern Soul. I can't say I ever went to Wigan Pier, except on an educational school trip, and to be honest neither did my mum or dad (too busy getting into Simple Minds in the 80s) but there's something about soul music that reminds me of home. .. read now
Rocksmith is the latest in a line of music-based games which have proved so popular with Guitar Hero, Rock Band and You Rock. While former games never really feel like they are teaching applicable, real guitar technique, FamilyGamerTV looks at Rocksmith and how it actually teaches guitar skills... watch now
Just Dance 4 comes to the Wii U with traditional Wii controls, bolstered by some new modes which use the Wii U control pad. In this FamilyGamerTV, we play this with our children and look at just why Just Dance 4 is the pick of the crop for families... watch now
Just Dance 4 has been around for a while, just getting into its stride with the inevitable Gangnam Style DLC hitting downloads now. Now it's available for the Wii U and comes with a few extras... read now
SiNG is a new party karaoke game launching for the Wii U alongside the new console. The new feature this time around is the handy gamepad. But what's the benefit?.. read now
At the risk of sounding like an infomercial I'm going to say the Dance Central Odyssey just gets better and better. It's a pop Odyssey that speaks to the masses -- if you're brave enough to enter the arena for an online challenge... read now
Rhythm Thief and The Emperor's Treasure always sounded interesting, but turns out to be a fantastic rhythm action game on the 3DS with a great story and engaging side-quests. Perfect for families... read now
Rhythm Thief And The Emperor's Treasure is a narrative-driven music game with a quirky style and innovative gameplay features. Will it charm enough to sell, even without a familiar soundtrack?.. read now
Michael Jackson: The Experience HD promises something of a tangent from the successful dance excursions on other consoles, to delivering a tapping and sliding rhythm action game on the Vita... read now
Elite Beat Agents is a system lover's dream. A perfect match for the DS's input and form factor. This is how I want to play a portable game... read now
Sound Shapes combine music creation and platform gaming. With an accessible editor and level sharing over the internet, this will either be an internet sensation, or a curious oddity in the future history of gaming... read now
Lumines: Electronic Symphony marks a return to the handheld classic with a pounding electronic soundtrack and a variety of game modes on Vita... read now
My dad loved Sesame Street Once Upon a Monster, but I think most five years olds would prefer playing Costume Quest with their parents. The Kinect controls are too fiddly when you are little, and there are not so many things to do... read now
Just Dance 3 turned my serious dancing exercise into something fun and social. Getting eight friends and family dancing on the Wii at the same time (rather than just taking turns) was more important to me than Kinect's full body detection... read now
Just Dance 3 Kinect adds full body dancing and bespoke choreography to what is already my favourite dance game. Sensibly shaped dancers and a great track list make this a great party game for all ages... read now
With so many different perspectives it can be hard to know where to start - a little like walking into a crowded pub. Sorry about that.
But so far we've not found a way to streamline our review output - there's basically too much of it. So, rather than dilute things for newcomers we have decided to live with the hubbub while helping new readers find the columnists they will enjoy.
What sort of gamer are you?
Our columnists each focus on a particular perspective and fall into one of the following types of gamers: