Game: RHYTHM THIEF & the Paris Caper

Attention, rhythm game enthusiasts: Rhythm Thief & The Paris Caper is not a straight port of Rhythm Thief & The Emperor's Treasure for the Nintendo 3DS. It's actually a title engineered specifically for mobile platforms, and it apes - curiously enough - the hit card/battle game Puzzle & Dragons.[Audience groans in disappointment]Yeah, it's a bit of a bummer, but it's not a washout. Rhythm Thief & The Paris Caper is certainly interesting, and it has moments where it shines as brightly as a disco ball on Saturday night. Unfortunately, its disjointed pacing, frequent loading times, and panhandling for in-app purchases bust up its rhythm.You play through The Paris Caper as Raphael, a young man who's a shy Parisian student by day and the notorious art thief "Phantom R" by night. Though he lifts art, Phantom R is actually on the trail of his father who vanished several years prior without an explanation."The action in The Paris Caper is carried out via several mini-games peppered in between static story scenes. Most of the mini-games are based on reflexes or luck, requiring you to hit buttons quickly, pop as many balloons as possible, or stop a roulette on a treasure chest. The fun really begins when you play a rhythm game, which requires you to tap or swipe along to the music. Standard stuff for the genre, but catchy nonetheless.