Let’s face it. The life cycle for the Nintendo 3DS started out a little on the rough side. To counter the initial lackluster sales and releases in the early half of 2011, Nintendo really came out swinging at the end of last year with the drastic 3DS price cut worldwide and the release of a number of key titles that solidified the new handheld in the public’s eye as a worthy successor to the Nintendo DS. In Japan, this trend is continuing in the early months of 2012 with a number of significant releases from third parties. Sega’s Rhythm Thief is one of these titles 3DS owners should get excited about. I had a chance to sit down with the Japanese retail version of the game to get a feel and can honestly tell you this is one to watch out for.

Use the touch screen to make your boy dance

Rhythm Kaitō R: Kōtei Napoleon no Isan, or Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure, as it is know in English-speaking territories, is a rhythm-based game with puzzle elements that is reminiscent of past Nintendo-published rhythm games Elite Beat Agents and Ouendan. The setting for Rhythm Thief is present day Paris. The main character, Ralph, seems to be an ordinary guy. However, early in the game you find out he has a secret—he is actually the infamous Kaitō R (Thief R), a thief who is known for stealing various works of art throughout Paris and returning them days later. In the game, you take control of Ralph as he navigates the streets of Paris with his trusty hound, Fondue, as they work to pilfer artwork and escape the authorities.

Controls in Rhythm Thief are very easy to get the hang of. For the rhythm-based stages, players must either swipe the touch screen in certain directions (i.e. left, right, up, down, in a circular motion) or press face buttons or the D-Pad in accordance with the music and prompts on the upper screen. When you are progressing through the story and not inside of a rhythmically based stage, you are controlling Ralph on an overworld map around the different locales in Paris. You enter the spots on the map to take a closer look around. Once inside one of these spots, you have the ability to talk to various townsfolk for information and check the area for hidden items, though not just for the usual things like money; you are also scouring the environment for sounds. The sounds in the game are then “recorded” to your inventory and can sometimes be used to progress through a level. For example, at an early area of the game, I needed to get into a security room but was unable to access it because the security for the door relied on voice recognition from one of the security guards. After sneaking around, I managed to find a sleeping security guard, capture the sound of him snoring, and use it to enter the room. It’s an interesting concept that is pretty unique to this game.

You can traverse Paris and talk to locals on the map

The visuals in Rhythm Thief are extremely sharp and aesthetically pleasing. The 2D sprite work looks crisp and the short animated clips found throughout the game are a really great showcase of the 3D effect. When playing through the actual rhythm-based stages themselves, the developers implemented a cel-shaded graphical style that matches the aforementioned sprites and animation. During the gameplay, the 3D effect does not add anything to the gameplay, but rather is simply an impressive addition to an already top-quality visual experience. To top it off, the music is refreshingly catchy and fun to play along with.

The animation in the game is top notch

Rhythm Thief is one of many great titles to appear on store shelves in Japan in the early part of 2012. If you are a fan of rhythm games or things distinctly Japanese, this game will be right up your alley. Fortunately, Western markets don’t have to wait much longer for this title to arrive, as it is set to release in North America in early 2012 and March 30 in Europe.