I don't know why I have this game in my library, but I gave it a try. I only played the core game, leaving the expansion behind because it is not that it is a bad game, but it isn't particularly interesting in its gameplay.

The graphics are basic but enough, while the background music is complementary to the theme. The best thing I found about this game is how it invites you to experience different kinds of not-so-common music by playing an instrument typical of the genre at the end of a planet and giving information about the instrument, and the genre in general, in between levels. I think that the main purpose of the game was, yes, to entertain, but also to serve as a platform to further explore the music genre, providing even links to enrich the cultural spot of the game. I, in particular, was very attracted to the 80's japanese ambient music and I will give it a look.

That being said, most of the background music, although, again, enough and superficially similar to the genres they are trying to portray, it is not really what it sounds like in the real world. I know a little about Ethiopian jazz, Hawaiian steel guitar, German electro and 8-bit music and the emulation of these genres in-game is not that great. But, again, the way in which it drives you towards searching for the genre due to its cultural and historical value is the ultimate goal of the game, so mimicking the actual genre in-game in absolute detail may not be that important.

It is not a difficult game: most of the levels are quite straight forward, with the occasional level that takes more than three minutes. As I see it, the gameplay serves more as means to let you know about the music rather than an actual challenge. The ideas behind the puzzles are good ones and I really liked the mechanics. I think this has potential to be a good puzzle game with some additions and changes.

I had some issues with the interface and sometimes it was difficult for the geometry of the level to do what I wanted it to do. Not that big of a deal, but uncomfortable.

At the end of the day, I think it serves it's purpose: an entertaining way to get to know music. Is it very entertaining? Not quite. Does it portray the music in an accurate manner? Not really. Does it gives you the tools to know more about the music genre? Yes. Is it interesting? Yes. So, I'd call it mid as in average and not as in mediocre. 4/10