17. rhythm heaven groove
this was the first nintendo game i have loved with my whole heart since...i want to say metroid dread.
the things i disliked about rhythm heaven groove, in order of relevance:
i initially struggled to calibrate the timing when playing docked, and spent a long time ignoring the game's main side content - a bonus mode where the timing is much stricter than the main game - until i could eventually play it handheld, where i had no issue. if it's a game issue, nintendo fix your game, and if it's a my tv issue, nintendo still fix your game because i should be able to play it on a modern oled tv without having game-breaking delay.
as has been the case since the wii's rhythm heaven fever, the series relies too heavily on 2d artwork in comparison to the eclectic variety of the ds title. this one was better about it than fever, but i would hope in a potential follow-up they finally return to the blend of 3d models, pixel sprites, and 2d drawings with a wide variety of fun and surprising art styles.
i liked everything else about groove. the music is perhaps the series' best. i'm simply too rhythmically inclined to be able to accurately assess the game's challenge, but it felt like a step up in difficulty from previous entries. the amount of content on offer was staggering, as the game's singleplayer campaign just refused to end day after day.
ultimately rhythm heaven groove did not bring me the joy that i have spent more than half of my life imagining a new totally original rhythm heaven entry to bring me, but that's less to due with the game and more to due with where i am in my life. despite enjoying all of its content and being happy in theory with its length, i started to wish the game was over again and again. i became exhausted and frustrated with myself. i should have been able to enjoy the game more, but, as with everything, i couldn't will myself.
the goal in writing these is to be as honest as possible. there are still some places where i've failed at that but overall i'm trying. that is to say, i only mention my inability to fully engage with the game so as to maintain that honesty. if i were writing a more objective review, i'd call nearly everything about rhythm heaven groove a slam dunk, the most polished and feature-rich entry in the series, and absolutely worth your time.