Mad Maestro! Lets you use your playstation 2 to become a world famous conductor. All you need is reflexes and a love of music!

A tutorial helps you understand just what a conductor does - control the volume, tempo, and parts of the music. There are child and normal gameplay modes, as well as an easy and normal difficulty level. The game makes it very easy for players of all ages to feel comfortable.

The game can be found very cheaply from many locations, and is actually very fun. Apparently the local concert hall is being demolished, and you, a young conductor, are the only hope. You have to perform well to build up support for the concert hall.

There are many famous classical pieces in the game including The Hungarian Dance No 6 in D Major by Brahms, Swan Lake, Ode to Joy, and more. You really get to know each song while you play along with it, so it's both fun and educational.

However, even on easy mode, it's extremly hard to make it to a "perfect" score which is needed to move along to the next level. You almost want to go down to "child" mode where you're able to move on through the games even if you only get 99% perfect rather than 100% perfect on a level.

There are often interesting graphics going on in the background, going well if you do well and falling apart if you do poorly. However, most of the time you are paying close attention to your circles and your pressure gauges and can't look at all at the 'background images'. You are trying to pay attention to the rhythm of the music, the strength of each button press, and watching for any 'part changes' that you have to do with the left directional.

In general, compared to the many violent games on the market, this is a game that involves no competition, no violence, and a great exposure to gorgeous classical music. The hand-eye coordination is great for anybody to work on, and the basics of musical theory that are taught can benefit anyone who has any interest in music. Highly recommended for any age!

Buy Mad Maestro from Amazon.com