Lost in Harmony

Many rhythm-based video games try to move to their own beat while still keeping a bit of a familiar tempo, but this one seems to be full of bad notes. Lost in Harmony attempts to put together a mash-up, mixing elements of the rhythm genre with some of the play of an endless runner. This formula might have struck a harmonious chord on the game's original mobile platforms, but it quickly goes out of tune after making its jump over to the Nintendo Switch. It can best be described like trying to play a jazz saxophone solo on a snare drum … it's just not the right instrument for the job.

Admittedly, Lost in Harmony's presentation is gorgeous. The art style is visually stunning, and the animations are smooth and fluid. The game's soundtrack is also mesmerizing and easily the best part of the experience. But the minute you actually start to play the game, everything falls apart. The quirky camera angle on the screen, with the characters running toward the player instead of away, makes it difficult to judge distances and anticipating jumps. Add the button mashing rhythm to the mix and you almost need an extra set of hands to play properly. Unfortunately, you quickly realize that playing two different game genres at once simply doesn't work when the styles clash. More than once, trying to dodge an obstacle while timing a beat proved to be impossible. It's an irritating frustration that only gets worse as the game goes on, taking away any chance of enjoying any positives the game has to offer.