I’ve gotten deep into rhythm games that I simply don’t typically have access to from the US. And a playlist of songs can only take you so far. When Arcaea released on the Nintendo Switch I though, “Eventually, my time is here.” Originally released for mobile phones in 2017, Arcaea is an incredibly full rhythm game from lowiro. The Switch version alone comes with over 150 songs, multiple game modes and two distinct ways to play.

Song choice is the most important part of any rhythm game in my opinion. That, and variety, which Arcaea has plenty of. The game has the usual modes. World Mode, Music Play and Story are all available. It’s all par for the course and not really worth explaining.

Going back to the Story mode though, I know unlocking and reading little tidbits (花絮) about the characters in rhythm games is a big deal for a lot of people. The story is incredibly basic and the characters don’t really differ that much in my opinion. It’s frankly dismissible. I never found myself eager to spend currency and unlock new information regarding people or even the world.

The only aspect of the game that Arcaea excels in is its song choice. Like I said earlier, it has over 150 songs, with a few new original ones added. There’s an amazing mix of genre and sound. Arcaea doesn’t give players five versions of the same song with different vocalists or only include songs with different, but still connected, genres. In the grand scheme of things, 150 tracks may not seem like a large number to boast. Still, I genuinely felt as though the Switch versions song library was just as good as any mobile rhythm games’. Especially since all are included with your base purchase.

One of the only questions I really wanted answered when I first opened up Arcaea was, “How does this play with Nintendo Switch controls?” The game is especially keen to let players know it has two vastly different game options. Naturally, my expectations were high. I’ve had bad luck with rhythm games on the Switch. Unfortunately, Arcaea falls into the same issue I’ve found with similar games.

……

Overall, I think Arcaea is a good game, but the problem with the Nintendo Switch port is that a lot of its benefits are found in the mobile version. I didn’t really enjoy playing this on my Switch. It wasn’t fun on the hands or wrists. If your phone can’t handle more games space-wise or isn’t built for rhythm games, I would say get this. Playing with the touch screen requires a little maneuvering, but eventually works. Plus, the music is just amazing.

The Most Important Video Game Ever Made

Time Magazine recently tasked its editorial staff with ranking the 50 greatest video games of all time. The number one spot was taken not by Super Mario, Zelda, or any other worthwhile competitors, but by the oldest and most basic game, Tetris. 【小题1】 It lives on in tablets, laptops, smartphones, and game consoles.

Why is Tetris the game we can’t stop playing? Before Tetris, video games were distractions for teens, personified by Super Mario Bros. Tetris was different. It didn’t rely on the imitation of any cartoon characters. 【小题2】 The game was purely abstract, geometry in real time. It wasn’t just a game. It was an uncrackable code puzzle that anyone could play. Your parents played Tetris, your friends played Tetris, and you’ll encounter the same story in nearly every country on Earth.

【小题3】 It has been included in the Applied Design collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It has been adapted as interactive public art projected onto the sides of buildings. And it is the subject of an annual World Championship competition.

There are plenty of fascinating classic games. Why do we keep coming back to Tetris year after year? Scientists have discovered that Tetris has a unique effect on the human brain, making it the perfect tool for scientific research. 【小题4】 It is a term used in both medical and popular literature. It describes the result of repetitive, pattern-based activity that eventually shapes the thoughts and imagination of an individual. This unique effect has been used in studies at Oxford University to treat stress disorder.

That’s pretty impressive for a few lines of code written by a lone computer scientist at the Russian Academy of Science in 1984. I have no doubt the first game many of us will download on the new phone will be the latest version of the most important game in history, Tetris.

For parents, it seems that a child’s game is empty entertainment (娱乐). 【小题1】 However, for a child, play is the main way of building important life skills.

【小题2】 And if the result of adult work is the produced “product”, for the child the result of the game is new knowledge about the world and a better understanding of how the world works. Interacting with other children during the game, the child develops his own style of behavior and communication.

Through the game, the child learns new skills and develops speech, thinking, attention and other mental functions. 【小题3】 For example, making something from plasticine (橡皮泥), the child develops fine motor skills, learns colors and geometric (几何的) shapes. Also, any games develop creativity and imagination.

A game for a child is also a way to express to an adult their experiences: joys, anxieties, fears, hopes, expectations. Often, through the game, the child tells parents something important about himself and learns something important about his parents. 【小题4】

The role of an adult in play is to support and encourage the child. This helps the baby understand that his opinion is valuable, and his ideas and imagination deserve respect. 【小题5】 If, so, the child feels nervous and confused and may even think that he is doing something wrong and does not know how to play. Joint games best teach parents to understand their children and find a common language with them.