Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure dated for Australia

Sega’s all singing and all dancing rhythm extravaganza is only a couple weeks away.

Sega’s Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure will be available in Australia next month on April 12th. Nintendo Australia will be distributing the title, funnily enough. You’ll need all reflexes set to maximum for this one as you adventure with dance through 50 challenges in the backdrop of Paris. How romantic.

Well, it would be romantic if you weren’t playing as a young Parisian boy who leads a double life. By day he’s a normal young lad, by night he’s a virtuous thief who breaks into some of Paris’s most famous museums. Don’t worry though, he returns everything he steals.

The game is jam packed in the single player department but also comes with local Wireless Play and Download Play. There’s also StreetPass modes in which you can battle people you pass. There’s a demo up on the eShop right now if you’re keen to check it out.

[quote]Prepare to hone your sleuthing skills and tap out some rocking rhythms as Nintendo and SEGA launch the latest rhythm action-adventure, Rhythm Thief™ & the Emperor’s Treasure, on 12th April 2012, exclusively for Nintendo 3DS™. This funky, up-tempo adventure is packed full of over 50 rhythm-based challenges set against the background of a 3D anime style Paris that is waiting to be explored. If you just can’t wait until the game launches, then make sure you check out the playable Nintendo 3DS Demo, available to download from the Nintendo eShop today.

In Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure we meet Raphael, a young Parisian boy who leads a secret double life. He seems just like any other boy, living in the French capital with his trusty dog Fondue. But he assumes the new persona of a virtuous thief, breaking into some of Paris’s most famous museums to steal priceless works of art; only to return them a couple of days later. On his adventure he meets Marie, a violinist with a mysterious past, and clashes with Vergier, the superintendent at the Paris constabulary; all the while hoping to find his missing father.

Help Raphael avoid the museum guards and police by completing rhythm-based challenges and exploring the anime-styled Paris. A range of features on Nintendo 3DS are at your disposal to conquer these challenges. Tap the Touch Screen, push the buttons, work the stylus and control the gyro in time to the music. If you lose the beat, you could empty out your Groove Gauge and it’s game over! But if you complete the challenge you will be rewarded with medals that can be traded for items that make future rhythm games easier to complete, or bonuses such as music or more games to play.

If you’re feeling competitive, then you’ll also be able to challenge your friends in a variety of multiplayer levels through either Local Wireless or Download Play. When you encounter another Rhythm Thief player via StreetPass, a new character appears on the streets of each player’s map. Their character will only stay on your map as a fan if you can beat their high score in a rhythm game battle! You can have up to 90 fans on your map at any one time, and as you begin to accumulate fans, a range of special characters become available.

Check out the playable Nintendo 3DS Demo of the Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure available to download from the Nintendo eShop today, allowing you a taster of the game ahead of its debut on 12th April 2012.[/quote]