Mad Rat Dead

With its wacky storyline and stylish graphics, Mad Rat Dead would be a confident platformer even without the rhythm mechanics. But with the help of an excellent soundtrack, it’s an experience that feels wholly original, even if it’s not the first game to blend the platforming and rhythm genres. It can be a tricky game at times, but with the help of the rewind function, it’s one that feels relatively breezy overall, letting you just sink into the music and bust out those sick moves.

Mad Rat Dead is a bizarre game in many ways, but also one that executed its concept about as well as could be imagined.

Mad Rat Dead offers an entirely unique rhythm action platformer experience, one that is so good you'll want to surgically attach more ears to your body. Original, addictive and tremendously thrilling, Mad Rat Dead will make you love 2D platformers again.

Mad Rat Dead is a prime example of Nippon Ichi doing what it does best between Disgaea titles: putting out weird games that about five people will play, but then those five people will happily talk enthusiastically about those games to anyone who will listen.

There’s really not much else to gripe about, save for how some of the songs are better than others, and thus having to play a boring one after a few greats can be a real drag, but otherwise Mad Rat Dead is a very fun, very well-made rhythmic platformer that I’m very glad I gave a spin. For $40, this is absolutely a steal for rhythm fans, and while the songs themselves may not convert someone into a new fan of this genre, the charming characters definitely might.

Overall, Mad Rat Dead is the probably the best, as well as only, "Rhythm Platformer" that I'm aware of. It has a kickin' sound track, the gameplay is smooth, the graphics are clean and crisp, and the storyline is strangely endearing. Yeah, Mad Rat Dead may be one of the single weirdest genre mashups I've seen since I played a freeware puzzle/fighting game (that one didn't go over so well), but hey, apparently NIS know was they're doing, cuz this weird genre chimera turned out not discordant, but rocking in style. If you're in the groove for a rhythm game, or just are interested in jamming with a new platformer style, Mad Rat Dead certainly can't be beat.

Mad Rat Dead blends 2D platforming and rhythm elements to create a challenging and unique formula that'll definitely keep you hooked.

Side scrolling platformer with a mix of rhythm genre is a cool concept where you’d be familiar with each of the universes but being able to fuse them both at the same time is a breath of fresh air. Since the basis of a rhythm game forces you to follow the beat which is a bit far from freedom, it’s an adventure that’s worth giving a test drive. Sharp visuals, awesome soundtracks and the story plot are well in harmony. The volume of the contents may not be everyone’s vibe as well as the hefty pricing it chose to perform at. If you’re into completely new things, definitely give this game a go.

Mad Rat Dead offers small amounts of rhythmic gameplay fun, but will quickly grow old for even the most dedicated genre fans.

Not only does Mad Rat Dead succeed as both a rhythm game and a platformer, but it masterfully mashes the two together—creating a new and beautiful Frankenstein’s Monster of genres in the process.