Rhythm Heaven Groove is a return to the Rhythm Heaven games of old—i.e., Rhythm Tengoku, Rhythm Heaven, and Rhythm Heaven Fever. Gone is the attempt at story in Rhythm Heaven Megamix, and instead you simply work your way up columns of mini-games, clearing each to unlock the next.

Rhythm Heaven Groove is massive compared to the previous games (excluding Megamix as the majority of its mini-games were ported directly from previous titles). In the main single player mode, it has 30 brand new mini-games which you play twice each. The first time is a simple, bare-bones version of the mini-game, while the second adds new mechanics on top of the previous ones. On top of this, the game comes with a staggering 20 remix stages that combine previously learned mini-games to make new songs.

That said, there is a bit of a caveat which needs to be addressed. Calling all the mini-games in Rhythm Heaven Groove “brand new” is a bit of an exaggeration. While some are exactly that, for others, the “newness” feels skin deep. The visuals, songs, and rhythm patterns may be new, but the underlying rhythm game mechanics are straight out of previous games in the series. For example, Germ Aerobics is basically just Micro-Row from Rhythm Heaven Fever and Slice N Dice Kitchen is nearly identical to Karate Man from the very first stage of the original Rhythm Tengoku on the rhythm side of things.

Out of the 30 mini-games, there were only two that I didn't enjoy: Spirit Slasher and Soda Hop. For the first, I had issues picking out the beat in the background music—which, admittedly, may have been a non-issue had I been using headphones. For the second, I'm just generally terrible at switching from beat to off-beat and back again.

Moreover, these two mini-game types made me feel certain about something lacking in the back of my head as I played through the game: Rhythm Heaven Groove is dramatically easier than past titles—or rather, the grading system is exponentially more forgiving. While I may be an old hat at the Rhythm Heaven games, the idea that I cleared 28 stages straight on my first try before encountering even one I needed to work on a few times feels crazy. And I'm still shocked I got a passing grade on either of the Soda Hop levels considering how many mistakes I still made.

However, this change in the grading method might be for the best. It allows people who are weak at one mini-game or type of rhythmic expression to have a chance to play all the subsequent mini-games that would be blocked off if they were unable to clear a single level. I mean, there are some seriously fun mini-games in the back half of Rhythm Heaven Groove—especially considering that the last 6 levels are all remixes.

Beyond the main single-player mode, there are several other rhythm-based mini-games included—from one that turns rhythm into an RPG battle system to a variety of multiplayer levels to enjoy with your friends or family. There's even a set of mini-games that teach real-life drumming patterns. When it comes to bang for your buck, there's a ton of content to keep you playing even outside of the main game mode.

Of course, the mini-games themselves are only half the story when it comes to Rhythm Heaven—the actual music is also a major selling point. It's on this front that I was left disappointed—if only slightly. Though many of the songs are simple, instrumental beats, some of the songs kick things up a notch with vocals. These songs are easily the highlights of these games. On the plus side, instead of localizing these songs for each language this time around, we get songs in Japanese, English, French, Italian, and Spanish (with Japanese songs being the most numerous).

While these vocal songs range from forgettable to fantastic—with Ado's “Love Me Forever” taking the top slot—the issue I have is with the placement of these songs. Of the twelve of them, only four are in the back half of the game—and none of those are remix stages. It really makes the game feel like it's ending anticlimaxically when you do six remixes in a row without a single vocal line between them.

Visually, the cute animation style from past Rhythm Heaven (not to mention WarioWare) games is back and full of charm. In this game, the visuals are decidedly a double-edged sword. They are both designed to help you with your timing in general and mess you up at key moments in specific. The only thing I disliked about the visual presentation of the game is the real-world photos that appear in some mini-games—namely A for Effort and High-Five Fever 2. It just felt so cheap and in contrast with the rest of the game's visual style.

All in all, Rhythm Heaven Groove is an above-competent Rhythm Heaven game. Do I think it's the best in the series? No. (That would be Rhythm Heaven Fever.) However, I'd have no issue giving it the runner-up spot. With a main mode nearly double the size of the classic games in the series—and none of the mini-games directly ported over—Rhythm Heaven Groove is a breath of fresh air. In the end, any complaints I have are minor gripes in comparison to all that this game does well. It leaves me with the lingering hope that we won't have to wait another decade before seeing Rhythm Heaven again.