Rhythm Fighter for Nintendo Switch is an interesting side-scroller action game set to music, with players able to take on evil vegetables while timing beating them to a pulp to the beat. Rhythm Fighter, developed by Echo Games and published by Coconut Island Games, brings another experimental title to the indie rhythm game genre, but there are a few things that the game could polish to make the experience less frustrating.
Players will find that the primary goal of this indie game is to engage in combat in segmented portions of a side-scroller map. Players move through the map, battling minor enemies in exchange for 'Beat Cards' that give them bonuses to combat as well as better weapons and tactile items that boost damage against enemies. The higher the level the items they collect, the better chance they have at beating the boss at the end of the map. Rhythm Fighter also encourages players to move their avatar to the beat, hitting enemies in time to the music for a bonus to the damage their attacks deal.
Players collect coins and trophies as they work their way through each map. Coins can be used to purchase Beat Cards while working through a map, or to buy items from dealers the player may encounter as well as from coin fountains. Trophies are used to unlock different features and fighters on the space ship that acts as a menu for players between rounds. However, the menu and trophy system is difficult to decipher, feeling more like a crowded mobile app game interface than a full game for a console.
While Rhythm Fighter is a rhythm game, one of the bigger issues it struggles with is how the music mechanics work on Nintendo Switch. The movements seem to lag when the avatar is moved across the screen, making it hard to get on beat. Even if the player is hitting the bumpers in time to the music, the game seems to take a moment to register the commands, making it so players actually need to be slightly off rhythm for the game to register they are hitting the beat.
Rhythm Fighter also tries too hard to help the player find the rhythm in the first place. The screen pulses in a steady, unchanging beat, as well as the characters and background while the edges of the screen flash blue light. This makes the side-scroller style format feel overwhelmingly busy and difficult to follow. The screen also pulses when the player attacks the enemy, which can make following other targets moving across the battlefield difficult. Rhythm Fighter could benefit from dialing back the overall noise related to the music enough to make the visual more stable.
The other issue that impacts a player's enjoyment in the game is the narrative dialogue. The text in the dialogue boxes moves too quickly, making reading what the player is supposed to be doing difficult. This is especially frustrating during tutorial areas, where the text blasts through before the player can understand everything they need to accomplish, leaving them to stumble through figuring out things like the Beat Card system and combat. While Rhythm Fighter has a simple story, players may not be able to fully grasp the narrative if they are missing half the content.
Rhythm Fighter is a simple, fun side-scroller that is great for players who enjoy a music element to their games. While there are some issues with its Nintendo Switch control mechanics, getting to obliterate vegetable monsters with a salty fish as a weapon is satisfying and amusing. Rhythm Fighter might not be the best choice for players who have a sensitivity to flashing light and unstable motion on the screen however, limiting those who might enjoy picking it up. Rhythm Fighter could benefit from a setting that limits the screen motion and lets players find the beat on their own, giving them a cleaner combat experience, but for now its a solid niche title with a few glaring flaws.
Rhythm Fighter is available now on PC and Nintendo Switch. A Nintendo Switch code was provided to Screen Rant for the purposes of this review.