Loses it's luster...
Graphics: The top screen is home to a comic book-like cartoon for th story. As you play through a level, the top screen animations react to how well you do. One scene from "Y.M.C.A." shows an old captain looking for treasure. If you do normal, he'll walk through slowly. If you do good, he'll run very fast. If you do poorly, he'll be attacked by bats. The touch screen, on the other hand, houses the titular agents; who dance and groove when you do the song well. If you miss, they'll fall down. The zoom in if you do really bad and act tired, and if you do extremely bad, the leader's face will consume the entire screen. It all depends on the Elite-o-meter (see game-play section). The only flaw graphics-wise is when you stand up after falling down and resume dancing, the transition can be a tad bit choppy.
9/10
Sound: When you tap the markers, the make a really neat sound that resembles the striking of a cymbal. This helps the game feel responsive; a must have in rhythm games. A chaka-chaka sound comes out when you draw a Phrase Marker (see game-play section) and a whirring sound emits from the spinner. The sounds add flawlessly to the game's twenty songs.
10/10
Music: The most important part of this game is the wide selection of choice songs. From "Makes No Difference" by Sum 41 and "The Anthem" by Good Charlotte, to stranger songs such as "Let's Dance" by David Bowie or "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by The Rolling Stones. Elite Beat Agents has a little bit for everybody; even parents! I'm sure some adults wouldn't mind jamming to "ABC" by The Jackson Five or "Rock This Town" by the stray cats. Nothing is wrong with the song selections other than the difficulty of later pieces; but that's what practice is for.
10/10
Game-play: Elite Beat Agents has a very unique system: Tap circles, draw lines, spin stylus. You have to tap the "Hit markers" that appear in numerical order and color groups. You clear one group before the next, of course. Depending on the time of the hit, you will get 300 points, 100 points, 50 points, or an "X" if you miss. Getting all 300's in a group awards an "Elite Beat" bonus. Getting all 300's or 100's gives you a "Beat" bonus. 50's wont's help you out a whole lot.
Then you have "Phrase markers". They are basically two Hit markers with a track between them. Tap the numbered side of the marker and hold to make a ball appear, and drag it to the other side of the marker. A U-turn symbol at the end of the phrase marker means to drag the ball back to the beginning. Do this without taking the stylus off the ball to get 300 points. Remove your stylus once, you get 100. Remove it twice, 50. Screw up all together and get the "X".
Next are the "Spinners". When one appears, you must spin the stylus around the screen fast. This can be easy, or make you gasp and wheeze. Spin quickly and fill the spin bar to get bonus points, and an Elite Beat bonus. Fill it with no bonus to get a Beat. Don't fill it to get an "X". X's are BAD.
Finally, I should explain the Elite-o-Meter. This is a meter at the top of the touch screen that acts like a health bar. Do well, the meter will fill up. Miss or take time, and the meter will go down.
My only complaint is that the meter is always going down(other than in cut scenes), which may cause you to rip your hair out if the meter empties and you lose.
What's the problem? WAAAAAY TOO HARD!! The later songs are just plain NUTS! Since the Elite-o-meter goes down automatically, missing a couple of notes could cost you the entire level...
7/10
Videos: Like I said, the top screen videos will respond to how well you do. They are very funny and memorable.
One song, "September" by Earth Wind & Fire, features a news lady named Sophie who promised to take her son on a picnic and finds out that the weather calls for clouds and rain. She then tells a lie on national television that it will be sunny. She then must make it sunny to keep her job, but needs help. Multiple other characters (some apartment folks, tha air force, some animals) help her and each states "We saw the show, Sophie!".
Hilarious moments like these keep you glued to your DS for months on end.
10/10
Other than this, one big flaw is that with all that poking, spinning and dragging; something will eventually die. First, my stylus cracked. Then my touch screen died (thank goodness for Nintendo's repair plans!). No game will destroy your DS like Elite Beat Agents.
Aside from flaws and DS destruction, Elite Beat Agents can be enjoyed by almost anybody and is a must-have. I personally enjoy it even more than Super Paper Mario!