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The Rhythm genre used to be a literal one-hit-wonder. But recently, Rhythm games have been developing in all sorts of interesting directions. We can't wait to see where the genre goes in 2008, mainly because of hits like these.

 

RHYTHM GAME OF THE YEAR!

Guitar Hero II

Publisher: RedOctane
Developer: Harmonix
Platform: PS2

 

We know it's only rock 'n roll, but we like Guitar Hero II. It doesn't reinvent the guitar or enmesh its colorful characters in a bonafide rock opera (if only), it just rocks from start to finish.

And no matter your skill level, that's a long, satisfying jam session (now with Practice!) full of classics like Freebird, Misirlou, and Jessica, plus awesome and random tracks like Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight and Thunderhorse. For those about to rock, we salute this game.

 

 

RUNNER-UP!

Gitaroo Man Lives!

Publisher: Koei
Developer: Inis
Platform: PSP

We’re not sure if it was the unique analog control scheme, the original funky music, or the bizarro story, but something in this little Japanese fighting rhythm game brought us back over and over again.  There are a lot of rhythm games out there, but few this funky and good-natured.

Maybe that’s because while most rhythm games are out collecting sub-par music licenses (come on DS... Ashlee Simpson?), Gitaroo Man’s original score tells a story of its own.  By bridging the often overlooked “music-story gap” in rhythm games, Gitaroo Man Lives! is fully worthy of its extraneous exclamation point.