Elite Beat Agents DS | A Great DS Rhythm Game

Title	Elite Beat Agents
Released	November 8, 2006
Developer	iNiS corporation
Publisher	Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Platform
Genre	Music, Rhythm
Rating	E10+

Completed on Nintendo 3DS on Breezin’

HowLongToBeat Time: 4h | My Clear Time: 3hrs 35m

Elite Beat Agents Background

Released on November 8, 2006, Elite Beat Agents DS is the Western adaptation of the Japan-only Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan. Directed by Keiichi Yano, the game was designed for a casual audience, aligning with the growing popularity of touchscreen-based rhythm games.

To appeal to Western audiences, Elite Beat Agents replaced Ouendan’s Japanese pop songs and cultural humor with a new cast, Western hits, and over-the-top narratives. Despite this shift, it retained the quirky humor and emotional depth that made its predecessor beloved. Yano noted, “They’re the same game, essentially, but with very different graphics and song choices.”

While its commercial performance was modest, Elite Beat Agents DS gained a cult following for its innovative rhythm gameplay, engaging narratives, and catchy music. The development team includes notable talent such as Koji Ito (Scenario), Atsushi Saito (Character Designer), and Satoshi Tani (Sound Design), all of whom contributed to creating a vibrant, memorable rhythm experience on the Nintendo DS. (Nutt, 2007).

The development team for Elite Beat Agents includes:

Elite Beat Agents Experience

Before playing Elite Beat Agents DS, I had extensive experience with rhythm games including Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Beat Saber, and Persona Dancing. These titles shaped my understanding of rhythm mechanics, controller feedback, and player engagement.

Elite Beat Agents DS stood out with its touchscreen-based tap, slide, and spin gameplay, translating rhythm challenges into a handheld format. Unlike typical rhythm games relying on peripherals or instruments, Elite Beat Agents DS offers an intuitive yet precise system that requires careful timing and focus, even on its easiest difficulty.

From the first mission, where agents help a babysitter calm crying children, to motivating a washed-up athlete, Elite Beat Agents DS combines quirky storytelling with rhythm gameplay, creating an immersive and entertaining experience. Its unique integration of storyboards, music, and interactive touch controls demonstrates how the game innovates within the rhythm genre, offering both challenge and replayability for players on the Nintendo DS.

Elite Beat Agents Impressions

Introduction

Elite Beat Agents isn’t your typical rhythm game. Released for the Nintendo DS in 2006, it combines quirky humor, heartfelt storytelling, and an eclectic soundtrack with tap-and-swipe gameplay that takes full advantage of the touchscreen. At its core, the game is about an elite group of secret agents who solve people’s problems through dancing rather than brute force or gadgets.

Whether it’s helping a babysitter calm crying children or motivating a washed-up baseball player to make a comeback, Elite Beat Agents turns every mission into a music-fueled adventure. For fans of rhythm games and those looking for a uniquely charming experience, this cult classic holds a special place in the genre’s history.

Gameplay and Mechanics

At its core, Elite Beat Agents shares a familiar goal with other rhythm games: syncing your timing to the beat of the music. However, it stands apart from titles like the Guitar Hero series or Persona Dancing games by using a unique gameplay style akin to Osu!, tapping and sliding on the Nintendo DS touchscreen in rhythm with numbered circles and markers. This tactile approach feels intuitive but demands precision, offering a deceptively challenging experience even on the easiest difficulty, Breezin’.

The game features four main difficulty levels: Breezin’, Cruisin’, Sweatin’, and the unlockable Hard ROCK! Each level increases note patterns and introduces more complex sequences, providing a progressively steeper learning curve. Even in Breezin’, players must stay focused, as the life meter steadily drains and only refills when notes are hit with proper timing. This balancing act keeps every stage engaging and tense, regardless of skill level.

I started on Cruisin’ difficulty, easily clearing the first few songs. However, when I reached tracks like September, Canned Heat, Let’s Dance, and the final song, the difficulty spiked significantly. After struggling through these tracks, I dropped down to Breezin’ to continue, only to find myself still facing tough challenges as the game neared its conclusion.

Even on the easier setting, the final songs pushed my reflexes, requiring multiple attempts to pass, especially due to songs burying multiple taps under each other. This difficulty curve kept the game engaging, as each success felt earned, but the need to retry certain stages added both frustration and satisfaction, making the game’s progression feel rewarding.

To reward player mastery, the game includes a ranking system that scores performances with letter grades, from D to the coveted S rank. Clearing stages and hitting specific score thresholds unlocks bonus songs and extra content, encouraging replayability. Players can also save replays of their performances, a welcome feature that lets them revisit or share their best runs.

As the stages progress, the game ramps up in complexity, requiring sharper timing and quicker reactions. Unlike rhythm games that rely on physical peripherals or flashy dance mechanics, Elite Beat Agents thrives on its precision-focused, touchscreen-driven gameplay. Combined with its quirky storytelling and escalating difficulty, it delivers a rhythm experience that’s equally rewarding and addictively challenging.

Art & Audio

Elite Beat Agents boasts a diverse and memorable tracklist that spans multiple genres and eras. From pop-rock anthems to timeless classics, the song selection keeps every stage fresh and engaging:

• Madonna – Material Girl
• Sum 41 – Makes No Difference
• Earth, Wind & Fire – September
• Queen – I Was Born to Love You
• David Bowie – Let’s Dance
• Avril Lavigne – Sk8er Boi
• Chicago – You’re the Inspiration

While all the tracks are covers, the vocals and instrumentation are impressively close to the originals, far exceeding the “as made famous by” quality of earlier Guitar Hero covers.

The music isn’t just there for rhythm gameplay, it’s deeply tied to the game’s storytelling. Each song corresponds to its own quirky narrative, brought to life through vibrant, cartoon-style storyboards. These sequences unfold in a comic book panel layout, with exaggerated expressions and dynamic scenes that match the energy of the music. The art style is colorful, charming, and perfectly suited to the game’s over-the-top tone, making each mission feel like a self-contained, musical episode.

This seamless blend of music and visuals creates a unique experience where every song feels like a journey. Whether you’re helping characters overcome personal challenges or achieve their dreams, the combination of lively artwork and a varied tracklist amplifies the emotional impact of each stage.

Unique Features and Mechanics

• Story-Driven Gameplay: Unlike most rhythm games, where the focus is solely on the music, Elite Beat Agents integrates its songs into quirky, self-contained stories. These narratives are visually represented in comic book-style panels that evolve based on your performance, creating an emotional connection between the gameplay and its outcomes.
• Touchscreen Mechanics with a Twist: While the use of a touchscreen for gameplay is similar to Osu!, Elite Beat Agents distinguishes itself with its mix of tap, slide, and spin mechanics, offering a more dynamic and physical interaction compared to traditional rhythm games that rely on buttons or peripherals.
• Visual Feedback in Storyboards: Success or failure in gameplay directly impacts the comic-style visuals, with scenes changing based on how well you perform. This interactive storytelling element adds a layer of immersion rarely seen in rhythm games.
• Humorous and Heartfelt Tone: The game leans into humor and exaggerated scenarios, like helping a dog reunite with its owner or assisting a weatherwoman in stopping a storm. This blend of comedy and sentimentality makes it a uniquely charming experience.
• Rewarding Replayability: While many rhythm games focus purely on skill mastery, Elite Beat Agents incentivizes replaying with unlockable songs tied to higher difficulties and performance thresholds.

Elite Beat Agents Verdict

Elite Beat Agents is a memorable DS rhythm game, thanks to its unique touchscreen-based gameplay and quirky storytelling. The difficulty curve escalates quickly in later tracks. Passing songs like September and Let’s Dance on Breezin’ requires multiple attempts, making each success feel earned. Its touch controls, catchy tracks, and memorable characters make it rewarding and engaging for rhythm fans.

Elite Beat Agents TLDR

References

1. Wishroom. (2006, October 30). Elite Beat Agents Commercial. YouTube.
2. Nutt, C. (2007, September 14). Feeling The Elite Beat: Keiichi Yano On Crossing Over.