Play Mini Games And Put On Great Performances In The Show Must Go On

You have four shows to choose from: The Marriage of Figaro, Swan Lake, Carmen, or the Nutcracker — two operas and two ballets. Once you complete one, the next show will unlock, giving you a change of scenery. You can even play the same ones over and over again, without getting bored, because there is always a different outcome.

You must help out with everything for the show so that the performance goes off without a hitch. The five mini games are based on the things you would do to prepare for a play and each game tests a different set of skills.

Although the cute graphics made me think this would be a great game for kids, too, playing the mini games proved me wrong. They were actually pretty challenging. But the fact that they were each very unique and engaging definitely kept me interested.

In the first mini game, you must drag the characters across the screen, and allow them to collect their costumes (which are falling from the sky). But they must be the correct costumes — the outfits the costume designer has already chosen — or else the actors won't be dressed appropriately for the show.

Next, you must make sure the lighting is positioned just right, without running out of juice for the generator. You must also remember which props go where and when. Collect the sheets of music in a Canabalt-like game. And lastly, you must collect blocks using a lift and carefully place them where specified by the set manager.

I don't know whose big idea it was to have me do all the work, but it got pretty shaky at times. I had people falling from the rafters, dogs pooping on stage, and other such disasters.

Nevertheless, the act of getting everything ready and watching the show you put together performed, is very cool, even if the performance itself only lasts about 30 seconds.

The other gameplay mode is Score Attack. This is your chance to play the same mini games, but in more of an endless or unlimited way. It's all about getting the best score.

In Score Attack, you are able to play the costumes mini game for free, but unfortunately, the other four cost $0.99 … each. I consider this to be quite a ripoff. I think that either the mini games should all be free or possibly cost $0.99 to unlock them all, not $0.99 each. This means that to be able to play every game in this app, with the original app price, would cost you $5.99. I just don't think it's worth that, and it definitely rubbed me the wrong way.

However, I do still think this game is worth the $1.99 (or its current sale price of $0.99) even without being able to solo-play all of the mini games. I really love the concept of this game; it was something fresh, something new. Being able to get my act together — ha, ha — and perform the shows was enough for me. After all, you get to play the mini games in Performance mode anyway.

The Show Must Go On is available in the App Store for $0.99 which is 50 percent off its original price. It has Game Center and OpenFeint support.

The graphics are cute and the characters snarky; so if you want to perform, now is your chance. Get it while it's cheap — but beware the intestinally-challenged dog!