History VideoGame / InisDSRhythmGames

Welcome to the wacky world of the Creator/{{iNiS}} DS rhythm games, where [[ThePowerOfRock the power of music]], for no apparent reason, can change anyone's day with well-choreographed dancing. The way to do it is quite ingenious for any RhythmGame. You watch the touchscreen of your UsefulNotes/NintendoDS for circular numbered markers, paying close attention to the fast-shrinking rings that close onto the edges of each one, and then do your very best to tap each marker in order right when a ring shrinks right on the edge. Some markers may have a track that you have to drag the stylus along, keeping pace with a ball that moves back and forth from the marker. And then there may be an occasional moment where you have to make a rapid cranking motion with the stylus to spin a giant wheel to fill up a meter before a circle shrinks onto the spindle. All without letting your constantly shrinking LifeMeter reach zero.

This collection of games began and ended in Japan, where iNiS, looking to work on their next big rhythm project after the AcclaimedFlop that was ''VideoGame/GitarooMan'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, eventually came up with the idea of making a rhythm game about oendan to help raise flagging developer morale after several failed pitches, which began taking a life of its own once founder Keichi Yano learned about the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS and how its dual screen layout and touch input could be a perfect fit for the game. The end result was the smash hit ''VideoGame/OsuTatakaeOuendan'', published by Creator/{{Nintendo}} exclusively in Japan that drew upon fifteen J-pop hits and sparked clamors for a more international take on the game. After realizing that the concept of oendan would be too foreign outside Japan, iNiS began work on a brand-new IP that had the same engine and gameplay as ''Ouendan'', titled ''VideoGame/EliteBeatAgents''. In this game, the player leads a team of TheMenInBlack instead of oendan to pull off killer dance moves to raise the morale of people in need of help around the world, to the tune of more popular Western hits. This game repeated the critical success of ''Ouendan'' and incorporated new improvements, which also found their way into an ''Ouendan'' sequel, titled ''Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii - Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2'', which also included limited-time DownloadableContent that allowed players to obtain {{Crossover}} skins for the Agents. [[AcclaimedFlop None of these three games were commercially successful despite receiving rave reviews]], and as a result, [[OrphanedSeries ''Ouendan'' just got one sequel and ''Agents'' was relegated to a standalone, one-hit wonder]].

This collection of games began and ended in Japan, where iNiS, looking to work on their next big rhythm project after the AcclaimedFlop that was ''VideoGame/GitarooMan'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, eventually came up with the idea of making a rhythm game about oendan to help raise flagging developer morale after several failed pitches, which began taking a life of its own once founder Keichi Yano learned about the UsefulNotes/NintendoDS and how its dual screen layout and touch input could be a perfect fit for the game. The end result was the smash hit ''VideoGame/OsuTatakaeOuendan'', published by Creator/{{Nintendo}} exclusively in Japan that drew upon fifteen J-pop hits and sparked clamors for a more international take on the game. After realizing that the concept of oendan would be too foreign outside Japan, iNiS began work on a brand-new IP that had the same engine and gameplay as ''Ouendan'', titled ''VideoGame/EliteBeatAgents''. In this game, the player leads a team of MenInBlack instead of oendan to pull off killer dance moves to raise the morale of people in need of help around the world, to the tune of more popular Western hits. This game repeated the critical success of ''Ouendan'' and incorporated new improvements, which also found their way into an ''Ouendan'' sequel, titled ''Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii - Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2'', which also included limited-time DownloadableContent that allowed players to obtain {{Crossover}} skins for the Agents. [[AcclaimedFlop None of these three games were commercially successful despite receiving rave reviews]], and as a result, [[OrphanedSeries ''Ouendan'' just got one sequel and ''Agents'' was relegated to a standalone, one-hit wonder]].

* BareYourMidriff: The cheerleaders that replace your dance team if you play on expert difficulty in any of the games. They're not too scantily clad for obvious censorship reasons.

* ExcitedTitleTwoPartEpisodeNames: The official names of almost every mission in all three games are examples of this trope. Yes, even ''Agents'' does this!

The three games [[FollowTheLeader inspired various clones]], including the FanGame ''VideoGame/{{Osu}}''. A 30+-minute summary about the games' development history can be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-kubb640w8 here]]. A series of side-by-side videos showing similarities between ''Agents'' and ''Ouendan 2'' can also be seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQA3crV2_cQ&list=PLUVIr9uwKaYR4wWLjMvlH9DL4kg5_VKau here]].

** In ''Agents'' and ''Ouendan 2'', [[spoiler:it takes loud three-syllable chants to free the heroes from being [[TakenForGranite petrified]] or [[HumanPopsicle frozen]] after their HeroicSacrifice in the face of a global-level threat in the penultimate mission.]] It becomes [[RuleOfAwesome more awesome]] to [[https://youtu.be/PDuwn5XAHNU?t=115 hear the chants from both games overlapping in a side-by-side video of both games' finales]].

Welcome to the wacky world of the Creator/{{INiS}} DS rhythm games, where [[ThePowerOfRock the power of music]], for no apparent reason, can change anyone's day with well-choreographed dancing. The way to do it is quite ingenious for any RhythmGame. You watch the touchscreen of your UsefulNotes/NintendoDS for circular numbered markers, paying close attention to the fast-shrinking rings that close onto the edges of each one, and then do your very best to tap each marker in order right when a ring shrinks right on the edge. Some markers may have a track that you have to drag the stylus along, keeping pace with a ball that moves back and forth from the marker. And then there may be an occasional moment where you have to make a rapid cranking motion with the stylus to spin a giant wheel to fill up a meter before a circle shrinks onto the spindle. All without letting your constantly shrinking LifeMeter reach zero.

* DamnYouMuscleMemory: Can happen across songs, difficulty levels (particularly between the upper two you have to unlock) and games.

* HardModePerks: Hard mode displays multiple markers simultaneously, while expert mode shows them all one by one. The advantage you get in the latter is that this can take out the guesswork on how you are supposed to tap through a long chain of rapid-fire hit markers, which you don't have much time to figure out on your first go. One example of this in ''Agents'' is in [[spoiler:the very last mission's third phase, where there is a series of ''four'' long rapid-fire Hit Marker chains (each followed by a Spin Marker). [[GuideDangIt You're going to need a guide]] to easily and quickly understand how to tap through each of them on Sweatin', which you don't have to do that in Hard ROCK! because of how the markers display one by one]].

* HardModePerks: Hard mode displays multiple markers simultaneously, while expert mode shows them all one by one. The advantage you get in the latter is that this can take the guesswork on how you are supposed to tap through a long chain of rapid-fire hit markers, which you don't have much time to figure out on your first go. One example of this in ''Agents'' is in [[spoiler:the very last mission's third phase, where there is a series of ''four'' long rapid-fire Hit Marker chains (each followed by a Spin Marker). [[GuideDangIt You're going to need a guide]] to easily and quickly understand how to tap through each of them on Sweatin', which you don't have to do that in Hard ROCK! because of how the markers display one by one]].

* TetrisEffect: Take care around polka-dots or circles after playing any of the three games.

* AnthropomorphizedAnatomy / WombLevel: "One Night Carnival" in ''Ouendan'' and "La La" in ''Agents'' involve leading your dance team to rally anti-viral troops inside the human body against viral invaders that sicken the host. Played more straight in ''Agents'' as the titular team, with special technology, uses a special machine to shrink to microscopic size and go directly into the bloodstream's battlefield, compared to how the ''Ouendan'' remain outside at normal size to help their target fight a stomachache.

* TimeTravel: "Neraiuchi" in ''Ouendan'' brings the heroes ancient Egypt to help Cleopatra, while ''Agents'' has "I Was Born To Love You", in which the titular team travels back in time to Renaissance Italy to help famous artist Leonardo Da Vinci win the love of Mona Lisa.

** The ending to "I Was Born To Love You" ''Agents'' skips over one month after Leo and Mona Lisa start a romantic relationship, in which he gets to work painting the famous picture.

* AnthropomorphizedAnatomy / WombLevel: "One Night Carnival" in ''Ouendan'' and "La La" in ''Agents'' involve leading your dance team to rally anti-viral troops inside the human body against viral invaders that sicken the host.