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Elite Beat Agents

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8.9 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 51 critic reviews
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Based on 43 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Inis

Genre(s): Rhythm Action

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)

Release Date: November 6, 2006

Summary

In a jam? Well, all these guys DO is jam! Prepare to rock as these beat masters use their groovy moves to save the day. As the music plays, players tap the screen, trace rhythmic patterns and keep the beat as the story unfolds on the top screen. Every scene is accompanied by rump-shaking tunes, but players have to keep the Elite Beat Agents grooving. The worse players do, the worse the story might end up. Whether they’re helping a lost dog find its way home or helping a babysitter charm a hunky football player, no crisis is too weird. The public knows of government agencies like the FBI and CIA, but little is known of this super-secret agency. Code-named Elite Beat Agents, these men in black are heroes' heroes and the coolest group of guys this world has ever known. Of course, according to official records, they do not exist. Their leader, an ex-CIA agent named Commander Kahn, scans the world for cries of help. When he finds one, he dispatches the agents, who assist their targets by performing a song and dance. The hypnotic nature of their rocking revives the targets with "Groovy" energy that boosts their willpower and helps them overcome their obstacles. Every stage is presented in a storyline fashion. All stages share similar basic elements and game flow: The player gets introduced to the target’s problem in a comical intro. Commander Kahn dispatches the agents to the scene. The agents arrive in a special "Beat Transport" that is tailor-made for the situation. The song starts as the agents and player meet the target. By tapping and tracing patterns that appear on-screen, players play along with the song’s rhythm. The animated story changes depending on how well the player performs. After each section, the player gets judged. Depending on the Elite-o-meter's judgment, the story will go well or poorly. If the player makes it though the whole song, he or she will be judged on the whole thing and get one of three endings. [Nintendo]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan

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Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Modojo

This is simply a winning formula, through and through. Buy it. Love it.

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100

GameShark

If you enjoy this type of genre of games – music rhythm – there’s no doubt you’ll love Elite Beat Agents.

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100

Zentendo

Easily one of the best handheld games to hit us in a long while--it is fresh and addictive, easy to play, and hard to master.

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ZTGameDomain

I love the sound of music blasting into my duo earlobes in the morning, and the soundtrack to this game is super.

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AtomicGamer

It has an addictive quality to it that I’ve yet to really find on the DS and it manages to show off just what the system was built for.

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Game Almighty

All in all, Elite Beat Agents is easily one of the best games on the DS and just about everyone should like it, whether they enjoy rhythm games or not.

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Da Gameboyz

With stylish graphics, a great soundtrack and addicting gameplay, including the multiplayer mode, this game scores top marks and it is a worthy game for any DS owner's library of growing games.

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IGN

But even with new characters, popular Western tunes, and plots that actually make sense, Elite Beat Agents retains the awesome, addictive gameplay core.

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eToychest

Ridiculous. Infectious. Simplistic. Just plain fun. Saddling Elite Beat Agents for the Nintendo DS with any one description is difficult, as the game marries absurd comedy, entertaining music, and classic rhythm mechanics in a way that is both new and altogether different from anything else available for the platform.

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Nintendo Power

So, go forth, help the Elite Beat Agents save the world one step at a time, groove to the music, and hit the beats. Just don't forget to breathe. [Dec. 2006, p.106]

GameZone

There were a lot of times I was laughing out loud while playing this game. The cut scenes truly are great, and the gameplay itself keeps getting better and better as you progress.

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IC-Games

Elite Beat Agents is wonderfully original in its own right and features some of the best presented and lavish comic strip animations seen in some time.

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N-Insanity

If you enjoy the genre like me, or if you like handheld games with 'a lot of tapping', you simply can't go wrong with the quirky troupe that is the Elite Beat Agents.

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Digital Entertainment News

Elite Beat Agents is a ridiculously silly music-rhythm game with a wacky song list, a laughably bizarre story, and fantastic gameplay. In other words, it’s just about everything a music-rhythm game should be, really.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

No game makes more creative use of the Nintendo DS touch-screen. Where many milk the technology for gimmicky distractions or Palm Pilot-style input, Elite Beat Agents bets the farm on precision touch-screen play, and wins big.

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Gaming Target

While the multiplayer modes were fun, I found that the main game was much more compelling and ultimately what kept me booting up my DS.

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Pocket Gamer UK

Not even dodgy tunes stop Elite Beat Agents being one of the most entertaining and accessible games on DS.

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Console Gameworld

You'll be hard pressed to find a game that's as fun and as addicting as Elite Beat Agents can be. It's unique; it has a great sense of humor; and if you take the time to get good enough at it, you can rest assured that it will be in your DS for a long time.

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AceGamez

A quirky, imaginative title that is exactly the reason why the Nintendo DS is dominating the market currently.

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Armchair Empire

If you only buy a handful of games each year Elite Beat Agents should be among them. It’s fun, plain and simple.

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Gamestyle

EBA performs admirably, making improvements where needed and retaining the same charm, humour and enthusiasm as its imported cousin. It's a more accessible entry into the franchise, but there's nothing to stop anyone from picking up both.

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NintendoWorldReport

The designers did a great job converting the Japanese Ouendan into an equivalent Americanized Elite Beat Agents.

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Thunderbolt

A blend of entertainment and fun. Forget about epic RPGs that force you to endlessly level up your characters. Take a break from that puzzle game you’ve been drooling over for the past four hours. Never mind the platformers, the action games, and anything else that you happen to have in your DS right now. Despite its crazy concept, this game is a force to be reckoned with.

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Deeko

If you're into J-Pop, import "Ouendan!," because it's a great game, but Elite Beat Agents is slightly better and that's not solely based on the fact that it's longer - it's just more fun.

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Games Radar (in-house)

Elite Beat Agents captures that rare quality, that pure joy, that makes Nintendo's own games special. It just makes you feel good with its sing-along songs, memorable characters and laugh-out-loud story.

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GameSpy

If "wacky," "quirky," or "freaking bizarre" turn you off, you may not pick up what this game is laying down, but unless you have something against having fun, you really ought to try.

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1UP

Very few games can truly claim to be for all players of all ages, and this is one of them. With a delirious mix of slapstick humor, comic storytelling, infectious music, and tons of replayability, Elite Beat Agents is one of the best music-oriented games to date and stands among the cream of the DS's impressive library. Don't miss it.

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Sydney Morning Herald

Those looking for something unique to enliven a dull commute should definitely call on the Elite Beat Agents.

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VideoGamer

For a DS title Elite Beat Agents looks and sounds great. The agents are animated brilliantly (although you might not notice their dance moves due to your level of concentration) and the cutscenes are often hilarious.

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Eurogamer

Overall, sure, Elite Beat Agents has trouble making the same impact as the unexpected brilliance of Ouendan, but it does a miraculous job of avoiding the constraints of the culture it arrives in, and infuses the player with the same borderline prescience of tap-judgement that rendered the original's level design so inspired.

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Nintendojo

The title just has some sort of magic to it, in spite of its humor and deliberate cheesiness, that encourages good vibes, especially by the time the over-the-top finale is completed.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

Sod all the talk of the Japanese original – Elite Beat Agents is a truly superb title that’s a joy to play from start to finish.

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GameSpot

You won't find a stranger and more addictive rhythm game on a handheld system than Elite Beat Agents.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

Minor complaints, though--this is the most creative and entertaining music game this side of "Guitar Hero". [Dec. 2006, p.151]

GameTrailers

It can be digested in small chunks making it perfect gaming for the on-the-go types, and there’s honestly no other handheld game like it.

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Official Nintendo Magazine UK

Addictive. [July 2007, p.92]

GamePro

While it's true some of the quirkiness of the humor is better conveyed in the Japanese counterpart, Elite Beat Agents is no slouch, and is an overall very fun game.

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Pelit (Finland)

A hilarious and reasonably original bemani game. Too bad the sound quality is so low. [Sept 2007]

Games Master UK

Loses its oddball way slightly in the translation, but this is still great. [Aug 2007, p.71]

The New York Times

Agents is a great mix of purposely nonsensical story and engaging gameplay.

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Yahoo! Games

On the easiest level, you can knock out all the game's songs in an evening. But then you'll see how gratifying it is to do the same song on a harder level. At that point, Elite Beat Agents pretty much has you.

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games(TM)

A sequel that ticks all the right boxes. All the original’s most important facets remain intact. [Jan 2007, p.115]

Total Video Games

A near-perfect example of the rhythm/action genre on the DS. Elite Beat Agents is stylish, fun and engaging from start-to-finish, and a highlight in the DS unique catalogue.

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G4 TV

Dodgy track list aside, this is a consistently fun and often funny title that keeps the charm and oddity of the Japanese original intact. It's also one of those games that could only work this well on the Nintendo DS, and it's difficult to resist these Agents' combination of charm and dance prowess.

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NGamer UK

The crappy songs don't help, but this remains a decent rhythm action game for the DS. And it makes no more sense for being in English. It's no "Rhythm Tengoku," of course. [January 2007, p.73]

Game Revolution

Elite Beat Agents is a wonderful DS game, entertaining but wound up a little too tightly.

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netjak

The idea behind Elite Beat Agents is one of the best I've seen. The story is told with near-perfect timing, and the engine itself is solid. However, the song choice is incredibly spotty, and the multiplayer modes are a disappointment.

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Edge Magazine

It's the music that's important here, and Elite Beat Agents delivers. [Jan 2007, p.86]

Extreme Gamer

A one of a kind game that is original and fun.

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GameDaily

The Americanized version has lost something in translation, but for those who don't know any better; Elite Beat Agents delivers a fresh portable gaming experience with far-reaching appeal.

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Game Informer

Something always felt a little off when using the touch screen. I just don’t think this kind of touch interface is well suited to the rhythm game genre. After awhile I actually did start to enjoy myself a little, but Nintendo was never able to convince me that the game works well.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 43 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
This is possibly the most addictive game I've ever played. not only is it accessible for all ages, but It can get so difficult that you feel very challenged, but it never loses it's fun. Everything is hysterical, from the characters to the cut scenes to the wacky dance moves. This is easily the best game on the Nintendo DS.

Ready? Go! gave it a9:
Elite Beat Agents has the rhythm, the soul, and the style of a fantastic rhythm game. Nothing to ridiculous is experienced so even novice players can enjoy it, while there are higher difficulties for people with the needed skills. The selection of songs may have been my only real problem, I realize this is a major aspect, but it is truly nothing to severe. There was really only 1 or 2 songs I truly wanted to kill myself to whilst playing. EBA is a definite buy.

Valerie B gave it an8:
This is a good game, it's my favorite and the one thing I hate about it is when you are waiting for the things you hit to come, your meeter goes down so you fail. Other then that, awesomeee gamee.

J-Wolf gave it a10:
This game is undeniably one of the best out there. If you don't care for rhythm games, this one will surely get you in the groove. Plus, when I say this game is hard, you better believe it. Even though you might feel silly playing this game, it's still fun, even if the mission you're playing is just plain odd. This game really deserves the title of "IGN's DS Game of the Year 2006."

Bob F. gave it a10:
AWESOME! This game is great to just pick up, and play a level of. Love the stylus controlls, and the comic book style! 5 stars!

Donkey Kong gave it a7:
>Mr. Anonymous You're missing the point. Stop changing my words around. No, I don't want you to go back in time and kill my father nor turn me into a dog and throw me in the desert. You make it sound like it's my obligation to help the characters in the game otherwise I'm cruel or something -_-...I'm saying that the frustration of some songs/levels cause me to think in the way I said earlier simply because after failing so many times and seeing the bad endings, the game makes it out like it's all your (YOU the player) fault when actually you're just trying to help right? So it can pi** you off. I finished the game anyway and sold it. Like I said, gameplay was awesome, story and presentation sucked. Lame looking characters. If they made a NINTENDO themed version, I would buy it in an instant! Noone would complain about songs either since all Nintendo songs are awesome.

Mr. Anonymous gave it a9:
This is just a slammin game! A bit pricey, but worth it. I'm trying to get As or Ss on EVERY SONG. It is frustrating, especially trying to get the divas, which I have not gotten, but all brings in the replay value. Lets look at what people have said... *Who cares about a girl who lost her dad and a lost dog...Shall I go back in time, kill your father, turn you into a dog, and throw you into a desert? Sk8r B0i? cammon!...If you don't like the song, don't play it. This was to appeal to all people. What if I replaced that with "We fly high"? Wowserz. Now for the songs. The song I dislike the most is Canned Heat, and a small portion of Highway Star. Want to know why? You tap the instuments, not the voice. Didn't I remember people complaining about how they want to tap the instruments, not the lyrics, and that just SUCKED. I was born to love you phailed also. They force you to do the songs, and just live with it. It pays off. You don't have to repeat it, unlike Ghost and goblins, or Kingdom Hearts II. Options? Yup! you can play multiplayer, and you can use replay save! There's nothing to complain about, except if you tap too soft, it won't press, and sometimes you will get a very high score, but get a B or something. So lets see the results! Graphics..1.8: It is sorta pixelated, but no biggie. Storyline..1.5: Sorta like Zelda, you are just thrown in. Its just not perfect. I would love to have a screaming face appear while I'm playing BioShock :D. Innovation..2: The first american tapping game :D Buggy..1.9: I've only gotten a bug ONCE. New Characters..1.9: Carrington sisters >_< Vertict: 9.1.

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