Rhythm Thief and the Emperor’s Treasure

Rhythm Thief and the Emperor’s Treasure is a rhythm-puzzle video game developed by Sega and Xeen and published by Sega for the Nintendo 3DS. It was released worldwide in 2012. An abridged port for iOS devices, titled Rhythm Thief & the Paris Caper, was released in Japan in October 2013 and worldwide in January 2014. In the game’s prologue, the casket of former French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is mysteriously stolen from Les Invalides in the city of Paris, and as a result, Napoleon is resurrected.

Three years later, in present day, an 18-year-old boy named Raphael is leading a double life as an art thief named Phantom R, searching for the whereabouts of his father who disappeared around the same time Napoleon’s casket was stolen. Phantom R steals works of art and returns them a few days later for reasons unknown to the public. The game’s main action takes place in the Story Mode, where players follow Raphael as he investigates the mystery surrounding his father’s disappearance and the resurrection of Napoleon.

Throughout the story, players navigate various areas across Paris, conversing with non-player characters and solving puzzles to progress through the story. By touching various areas on the touchscreen, players can find medals, people to talk to, and hidden music scores. Certain areas also record sounds, which can be used to solve puzzles or construct the Master Instrument. Careful exploration by the player can reveal hidden rhythm games and story branches.

Medals earned from rhythm games and found in areas can be spent in a shop to unlock additional minigames and movie clips. During the story, players encounter a series of rhythm games controlled by the Nintendo 3DS’s touch screen, face buttons, or gyroscopic controls. Types of levels featured include swiping the stylus to match up with other dancers, tapping the touchscreen to hide behind statues, pressing buttons to fight off groups of enemies, and tilting the console to dodge attacks.

The game also features tributes to past Sega rhythm games such as Space Channel 5 and Samba de Amigo. Additional medals can be earned depending on the rank players receive. The game also features wireless multiplayer for up to two players to compete for the highest score and StreetPass functionality where players can challenge others to beat a high score.