RM Jingle Jangle Countdown: EBA and Ouendan

Platform: Nintendo DS

Genre: Rhythm

The Message:

    You don’t need to question society to become important. You just need to be you.

Review:

    For every big, triple-A game that comes out year after year, that recycles the same melodrama; for every small progression in digital multimedia that makes CGI characters look and sound more realistic; for every cynic in the world that believes nothing is original anymore; this pair of games proves that all these concepts are wrong.  Sitting between my mature and nostalgic minds, Elite Beat Agents and Ouendan are some of the most influential games I have ever played in my life so far.  Combining narrative with rhythm-based gameplay, these games offer an experience that cannot be replicated on any other platform.  The games successfully pull off being funny, endearing, and emotional all at the same time by not staying in one extreme.  Bringing in elements of the Men in Black and the Blues Brothers to create heroes that instead of just helping people, they help people help themselves.  Unlike other rhythm games, Elite Beat Agents and Ouendan focuses more on its narratives.  With its music being the vehicle that drives the narratives, each story is full of originality and energy.  This makes my experience with Ouendan (EBA’s japan only counterpart) even more interesting.  Despite me not being able to read or even understand the language of the game, I was able to understand the games’ theme of never giving into the difficulties around you.  Ouendan taught me that underneath all the vices of different cultures, we are all people that are looking to do something good in this world.   In a time when I almost gave into the cynicisms of the world, these games came into my life and taught me not to kneel to the cynical.  That I should just be me and if they cannot accept that, then they are not worth my time.  Just like how Elite Beat Agents pushed me forward, I will continue to create so that I can inspire the people around me.  Not in the way they want me to, but in the way that only I can. 

    Thanks to everyone who took this journey with me this month.  I hope I was able to inspire people to see their world in a different light.  I’ll be sure to continue creating and motivating in ways that only I can.  Just like video games can inspire and teach in ways only they can.                            

Music Double Feature-

Elite Beat Agents:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hAOPB…

Ouendan:

www.youtube.com/watch?feature=…

Starting December 2nd, I'll be counting down my top 20 favorite video games of all time. Each day will bring a new art piece representing the choice for that day. Postings will be on Monday to Saturday with Sunday being a break day. Enjoy the countdown!

derede.deviantart.com/gallery/…