Review: Maestro – Conducting Greatness in VR

A Humble Prelude

I’m going to open this review by stating that I have extremely limited knowledge of classical music and its intricacies. I absolutely have compositions I enjoy, but I’ve never taken the time to truly educate myself. Most of my exposure comes from pop culture — Bugs Bunny cartoons and the brilliant scene in Die Hard where “Ode to Joy” plays as the Nakatomi vault opens.

That being said, I couldn’t possibly enjoy Maestro more.

From developer Double Jack and publisher Creature Label, Maestro is a VR game where players conduct orchestras, performing classical symphonies from composers such as Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, and more. Recently, the game received DLC expansions featuring music from Star Wars, Harry Potter, and The Lord of the Rings.

Learning the Baton

The game opens with a tutorial — but thankfully, it’s far from painful. Thanks to Maestro’s lightly humorous tone and overall accessibility, it eases you in effortlessly. Get the basics down, and you’ll be leading an orchestra through Flight of the Valkyries in no time!

🎻 “Maestro’s mix of charm, accessibility, and performance drama hits all the right notes.”

The tutorial does a solid job of introducing the game’s controls and mechanics. You’ll keep tempo, emphasize accents, guide crescendos, command silence, let notes ring out, introduce individual sections, and more. Thanks to intuitive controls, all of this is a cinch. I moved from Easy to Normal difficulty during my first session — and I can’t wait to attempt Hard.

Lightsabers and Liberettos

After completing the tutorial, you’re free to perform any unlocked song. Only a handful are available at first, but more unlock as you complete tracks, earn five-star ratings, and meet other performance milestones.

There are also unlockable costumes for the orchestra, different baton styles, and even customizable player hands.

The first time I played Maestro, I found myself smirking at its humor. The mentor character guiding you through the tutorial is particularly entertaining. Finish a song and he’ll present you with rewards and champagne on a silver platter. The first time I tried to set my glass down, I missed the platter and smashed it on the floor. The mentor rolled his eyes and let out a groan as if I’d embarrassed him.

At other times, you’ll hear him humming to himself while you browse the menu. It’s a small detail, but it gives real personality to what could have been a lifeless hub. Double Jack clearly put thought into every corner of this experience.

Showtime

The first time you perform in front of a sold-out theatre is honestly incredible. A mix of awe and intimidation, I found myself grinning as the camera panned across a packed audience, all eager to hear the orchestra’s performance.

Since the game starts out easy and I’m no stranger to rhythm games, I only made one minor mistake during my first show. That performance earned five-star reviews, raucous applause, and roses tossed onto the stage.

🥂 “I bowed in appreciation — proper etiquette, after all.”

From there, I had to try the Duel of the Fates DLC. If you have any appreciation for Star Wars, John Williams, or orchestral music in general, you’re going to love it. The intensity of the choir, the depth of the composition, and the drama of the arrangement are made for an epic experience — one that only Maestro can deliver.

Encore, Please

It looks like Maestro will be my new go-to VR rhythm game. With more updates on the way — including custom song support — I’ll be waving my baton daily, hoping for DLC featuring Hans Zimmer, Metallica with the San Francisco Symphony, or iconic video game soundtracks.

Conclusion

Maestro is enthralling, rewarding, and perfectly suited to fans of classical music. Even if you’re not typically a fan of the genre, I implore you to check it out. It’s accessible, fun, and something truly unique in the VR space. I can’t wait to see what Double Jack adds next.