Nintendo's eclectic music mini-game compilation Rhythm Heaven (NDS) will arrive at United States retailers alongside the Nintendo DSi the hardware on Sunday, April 5.

Word of the release date was tucked away within today's Nintendo DSi announcement.

Having sold some 1.6 million copies since its Japanese debut last July, the game tasks players with keeping their rhythm across numerous musical mini-games, periodically combining all of the various stages into a delightful and surprisingly catchy tune.

Developed by the team that created the WarioWare series and its eccentric fast-paced mini-games, Heaven is the sequel to the Japan-only GBA release Rhythm Tengoku.

Tucked away within Nintendo's recent financial documents was a tentative release schedule for the next year, revealing that the forthcoming Punch-Out!! Wii will hit North America and Europe within the first half of 2009.

The schedule also reaffirms that Wii Sports Resort will hit North America within the first half of the calendar year, with Treasure's shooter Sin & Punishment 2 still due this year.

On the Nintendo DS side of things, music-centric mini-game compilation Rhythm Heaven is due in North America by July, Mario & Luigi RPG 3 is coming by the year's end, and the latest Nintendo DS hardware, the Nintendo DSi, is expected between spring and summer--a target that coincides with rumors of its launch in early April.

The listing further reveals that Kirby Wii, previously expected last year, is now expected to hit Japan this year, though there are still no screenshots or details on the project.

The rest of the North American release dates match an earlier Nintendo schedule.

As we near the tail end of Nintendo's onslaught of announcements and media, we present new screenshots and artwork from the eclectic music game Rhythm Heaven.

Created by Nintendo's WarioWare team, the DS title challenges players to keep their rhythm across numerous song-based mini-games, occasionally mixing all of the various stages into a delightful and surprisingly catchy tune.

The sequel to the Japan-only GBA title Rhythm Tengoku, and already available in Japan as Rhythm Tengoku Gold, Rhythm Heaven hits North America in the first half of 2009.