To put it simply, Nodame Cantabile is classical music’s answer to Ouendan and its ilk. From what I can garner from the game, most of the action takes part in different portions of a school. The game is abit text heavy when it comes to talking to characters, but gamers are only face with choices whether to accept, or decline a challenge.
Once accepted, gameplay can consist of either two types, both of which should be easy to pick up by Ouendan veterans and first timers alike. The first one involves hitting the Japanese drum on time, ala Taiko no Tatsujin. The second style is a twist on one of Ouendan’s various gameplay techniques, where you have to hit the notes at the appropriate time and position.
A different classical piece will be heard playing in each challenge, and like other rhythm games, its best to get into the mood in order to fare better. The game even has my favourite piece from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Passing each challenge unlocks even more challenges but since they have an easy vibe to them, gamers should be able to blaze through them pretty quickly.
Would I recommend this game? The answer is yes! Forget about the Japanese text, as you can go through the game quite easily without being encumbered by it, and classical music fans are in for a treat!
