While the music/rhythm genre has become somewhat stagnant on consoles, it?s been alive and well on mobile with ports of classics along with new twists to enjoy. Still, it?s been awhile since I?ve enjoyed a tried and true classic take on the rhythm genre. Pianista [Free] is an excellent new title that offers that exact experience with the added benefit of a treasure trove of classical music. In fact, when you combine the well-designed rhythm system with an interesting freemium system, there?s really no reason not to at least check it out.

As a rhythm/music game, Pianista harkens back to the classic lane-based gameplay in which you tap notes to the tune of a rhythm. Specifically, there are six lanes to keep track of with taps, single-lane holds and multi-lane holds. While the move-set is limited, Pianista makes up for it with an incredibly responsive engine that is synced perfectly with the music and has no slowdown. It?s a good thing too, because these songs are pretty damn difficult. Of course, when you consider the classical nature of the song selection combined with the fact that you?re playing the piano sections for each of those songs, it?s really no surprise that Pianista would be difficult. Sure, there are some easy tunes such as Bach?s Minuet, but once you get to Beethoven?s Moonlight or Rachmaninoff?s Flight of the Bumblebee all semblance of easy gets thrown out the window. Thankfully, Pianista?s two-tier difficulty works for the most part, with Normal offering mos...