For fans of classical music, this game is sure to please, but the clunky and unforgiving gameplay will drive others away
It's a simple idea: keep the beat and press the button hard or soft to keep the right volume. The problem is that the controls are not as responsive as they should be. Players can find it difficult to control how hard they hit the buttons, although this can be overcome with practice. Tempo changes can throw you for a loop as well, causing a string of badly timed button-presses which can seriously hurt your score. The only strategy for overcoming this is to become familiar with the tune and be able to anticipate such changes. Stages will take a few tries to beat, even on easy mode. Part of this difficulty is the fact that the controls don't respond well sometimes to your button presses. Exact timing is almost impossible, and trying to hit the button just right will result in hitting the buttons too hard or too soft.
The presentation is rather unimpressive. The graphics are of PS caliber, and most of the backgrounds used for settings in previous song levels are reused in future levels. The story is simplistic and can be skipped once you get past it's basic premise, which is good since the voice acting is grating on the nerves.
The brightest and best feature of Mad Maestro, which sets it apart from all other games, however, is the soundtrack. A great deal of classical and romantic music is represented, from Beethoven, to Wagner, and Brahms. Many songs are recognizable to most people, and the songs which most people probably haven't heard are great as well. Moving from piece to piece is what keeps you going through this game, and when you finally get the hang of things and are able to do well, directing this music can be a lot of fun. There are even some unlockable tracks that music buffs will spend time trying to uncover.
If you like music, then Mad Maestro is a good pick out of the bargain bin in your local game store. If you like rhythm games, then you can safely pass on it.