Rhythm action games are common these days but, despite their universally appealing concept, they can potentially alienate the wider audiences they target with complex controls. The likes of Guitar Hero and Rock Band may seem ideal for a family multiplayer session, but Granny is unlikely to be able to handle the World Tour slide bar.
While developers continue to innovate the genre, Sega’s Let’s Tap is by far and away the most accessible rhythm action game to date. There are no complex controls involved, no expensive peripherals, no mind-boggling array of buttons, switches and pedals – just the Wii Remote and a cardboard box.
The key to Let’s Tap is that players don’t even have to hold the controller to play. Instead, the already user-friendly Wii Remote is placed on top of the special cardboard box that comes with the game. When the controller is lying flat, it can detect much subtler movements (without the need for the imminent MotionPlus add-on), so all of Let’s Tap’s activities have been designed around tapping the box the Remote is resting on.
TAP’S ENTERTAINMENT
The game will detect light, medium and heavy taps and translate these into the relevant in-game movement. It’s a simple and innovative concept that fits perfectly with the Wii’s audience and ethos, and Sega is confident that this will translate into strong sales when the game hits retail.
“Let’s Tap is a very unique gameplay experience and we believe that consumers will receive the game with the same enthusiasm that we have seen both online and in print press,” says Sega’s product manager Jo Fawell.
“The game won best Nintendo Wii title of last year’s Tokyo Game Show and has already reviewed really well in specialist press, getting 8/10 from Edge and Eurogamer.”
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Rather than sticking to the increasingly stale genre of rhythm action games, Let’s Tap treads the line between this musical genre and mini-games, another vein of entertainment that has prospered particularly well on the Wii. Whether you are a hardcore skill-centric gamer or a more casual fun-seeking player, the game is certain to have something that appeals to you.
“Let’s Tap has an exceptional minimalistic game design that allows anyone to play,” says Fawell. “The tap-controller mini-games begin at an easy entry level and gain complexity as you move through the various gaming modes.
“There are five gaming modes, which are each very different. Tap Runner is made up of sixteen obstacle courses in which four players can compete, while Rhythm Tap allows four players to control songs by tapping to the beat. The innovative design has removed any barriers to entry and with the multiplayer aspects too, this game really does have a universal appeal.”
Other game modes include Silent Block, where players use light and hard taps to strategically remove blocks from a column without causing it to topple over, and Visualiser, in which players’ taps are translated into special visual effects such as fireworks displays.
Finally, Bubble Voyager sees players don a space suit and navigate a range of hazard-filled mazes. A single tap keeps the character afloat, while a double tap unleashes a missile that can take out an obstacle.
All of these game modes can be played with up to four players, making Let’s Tap as much a party experience as it is a solitary distraction. Sega is keen to promote the multiplayer appeal of the game, as can be seen by the boxed product’s contents.
“The game comes with two tap boxes within an oversize box to encourage the multiplayer aspects of the game,” says Fawell. “Let’s Tap not only offers great value for money but it’s a fun collection of party games for all the family this summer.”
DRUMMING UP TRADE
Sega is focusing a large proportion of its media spend on television advertising, with supporting campaigns in print, online and in stores. The TV campaign will run for two weeks from July 16th and will comprise 20- and 30-second ads heavily targeting housewives and children.
There will be print ads running in children’s magazines for two months, starting in June, while a bespoke microsite developed with Nickelodeon will run for three weeks from June 16th.
Let’s Tap has all the necessary ingredients to make it a retail success. The colourful visual style and accessible gameplay will appeal to the Wii’s demographic, while the simple but addictive concept broadens the appeal to include both casual and hardcore gamers. Throw in the game’s impressive developer pedigree – Let’s Tap is the brainchild of Sonic creator Yuji Naka – and the game’s value for money, and it safe to say Sega’s toes will be tapping with joy come release.
