From Konami’s earliest Bemani rhythm action to modern day Guitar Hero, scrolling coloured visual prompts have been the key to music-based gaming.

The touchscreen interface on the Nintendo DS has played host to a few musical exploits in the past, but none quite like Maestro! - a platform game in which you guide a pink duck with a great orthodontist through a series of lush and attractive cartoon worlds.

Truth be told, Maestro hasn’t entirely managed to innovate beyond its music action forebears, it still consists of a forced scrolling screen and a number of visual prompts for you to trigger in rhythm, but it’s the imagination and implementation that sets it apart.

Maestro’s wacky cast of 1950’s Harveytoon inspired characters and smart stage progression are backed by a terrific musical accompaniment that goes beyond standard pop fare. Recalling disco classics from the Jackson 5, some well known movie scores and even a smattering of up-tempo Beethoven, the game boasts a thoughtful selection of tracks.

The developers have made sure that the music never feels tacked on, ensuring it fits the atmosphere of the stage, whether deep in jungle territory or in the dreamy reaches of starry space.

What works best is the way in which the stylus is used to create sounds. Maestro the duck inhabits each stage as Mario does in his 2D world, and it’s up to you to guide him as he runs from left to right by plucking strings in time with the music, bouncing him to higher levels, or twanging him back down to earth. As the stages progress, you’ll be whipping up clouds, strumming giant harps, and dragging sea bubbles to create the perfect musical harmony.

The worlds are nicely themed and interspersed with boss stages that, although disappointingly similar, neatly break up the action with a slightly different type of challenge.

Maestro is a beautifully made little game, one that has come from nowhere but surprised with its innovation. It’s certainly the best original music based title for the Nintendo DS and, being the first real musical platform game, a fresh slant on the genre. It’s a little too easy first time through, but its addictive qualities will woo you back for the harder difficulty settings – the pace of which can prove very taxing indeed.

Maestro is a title with appeal on many different levels, and its appealing, humorous presentation and toe tapping antics come highly recommended to anyone looking for something to get them in the groove.

7 out of 10 Out Now Price: £24.99
Contact: www.pastagames.net