Haunted Rhythm
A few months ago, I completed Rhythm Paradise: Beat the Beat for Wii. It was good, but there were loads of references to the previous game for DS, Rhythm Paradise, which I didn’t play (I know there was a GBA Rhythm Heaven game, but it was only released in Japan).
Unfortunately, after checking many game stores (e.g. GAME, Gamestation, Cex etc.) I couldn’t find a copy, so I simply gave up, because I wasn’t dying to play it. When I came back home, my parents asked why I went out. I told them about the game I wanted, and they said I should forget about it.
However, I knew what they were going to do, as it was my end-of-year exams shortly. I studied hard, and got over 80% in all of them. And just as I guessed, my reward for getting good grades was a copy of Rhythm Heaven for DS. After I thanked my parents, I started playing the game, and found it really good.
It was a pretty short game, and I got perfect on all the games within a few days of solid gameplay. I carried on playing, and felt as though I just couldn’t stop, like the game was almost pulling me in. I carried on playing Rhythm Paradise on my DSi, and that’s when I first met it.?
I was playing one of my favourite games on Rhythm Paradise, Shoot ‘Em Up, but halfway through, my brother asked for help on a crossword. I forgot to pause my game and let a few enemies go past, so I knew I wouldn’t get a superb rating, but when it showed how I did at the end one of the comments was ‘You let enemies get past whilst helping your brother’.?
When I saw that screen, I had mixed feeling of shock and intrigue, but I wasn’t afraid. It wasn’t as though it was going to manifest itself into a doll and horribly mutilate me and my brother. Anyway, after this happened I stopped playing the game for a few days, but when I played it again I went on Shoot ‘Em Up again. Halfway through the game I said out loud ’How did you do that?’ At the end of the game there were no results, just the message ‘This console has a microphone and camera.’ I played the game again and said ‘My name is Alex. What is your name?’ and it said ‘You can call me Howard.’ I played the game one more time and asked ‘Is there an easier way to talk to you, Howard?’ Once again, at the end of the game, it said on the screen ‘Go to the Café’s Read Something section’.
I went to the Café and went to the Read Something section. I scrolled through the different books and at the bottom was a new book, entitled ‘Our conversation’. I tapped on it and said ‘Hello’. His reply was ‘Hi there. Welcome to the game’.
‘Are you part of the game?’
‘No. As far as I’m concerned I am a ghost. I died about 65 years ago now.’ This scared me, but I pressed on with the questions.
‘How did you get inside?’
‘Well, after I died, I felt as though I was watching the world from an elevated view. Suddenly I found myself being sucked towards something, but I forgot what it was. I blacked out after that and woke up in an orange room looking through the camera whenever this game is put in.’
‘Who were you before you died, Howard?’
‘Again, I don’t feel comfortable telling you.’ I sighed.
‘I’m talking to a ghost in a computer game. I think I can bear what you used to be.’
‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Alex. I was a mass murderer, who lived in this area of England. I killed people for fun, until I was caught and executed.’ I was shocked by this, and I felt scared, but I carried on asking questions.
‘Do you feel like killing me?’
‘No. I am satisfied with my memories.’ I breathed a sigh of relief, but was stopped halfway through because of a new message.
‘Hey! Do you want to see my memories?’
‘No, thank y-‘
‘Here you go!’
At this my first reaction was to close my eyes and turn off the DSi. When I turned it back on there was no home screen, but it went straight to the Read Something section of the Café. I scrolled down, and saw that ‘Our Conversation’ was replaced with ‘Why?’ I tapped it, unsure of what I would see.
‘Why did you close your eyes and turn off the DSi?’
‘I’m sorry, Howard. I don’t think I could bear seeing someone being killed.’
‘But it’s beautiful, Alex! The warm blood soaking into the bed-sheets, the assortment of colours from freshly cut intestines. How could you not appreciate that!? I am deeply offended. Never talk to me again!’ The game shut itself off, and I felt sad at how badly I hurt Howard. I looked at my reflection in the screen, and I said ‘I’m sorry, Howard.’
Epilogue
After this happened, the game worked normally, but in the end I sold the game to Cex for £6.00. Who knows, maybe Howard can find a friend that appreciates his sick, twisted sense of entertainment. If you happen to stumble on to this game, please resell it. I want to make sure that Howard finds a friend better than me.
Credited to Triforce72O
Originally uploaded on November 25, 2012
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