Visuals aren't a particularly strong area for Makin' the Cut, though they take a backseat to music, which is High School Musical's big draw. All of the songs from the first movie are included in the game along with two songs from the recently released sequel. Although this makes for a healthy selection of music, you will hear every song multiple times - so non-fans picking up the game based on novelty should consider themselves warned.
The upside to hearing the songs over and over again is that it helps to give you a good feel for the songs. I only recently saw both movies, so going into the game I had no clue what the songs even sounded like. After making it through the first section, I had a good feel for the music, making later sections (which require a good dose of rhythm) easier. Still, some of the songs do wear thin after a while. While I'm sure there is a logical reason (my guess is memory limitations), it would have been great if more songs from the second movie were included.
The quality of the music is pretty good and on par with the quality heard in the Tony Hawk games or Elite Beat Agents. The confirmation sounds, which include an array of bleeps and instrument sounds, are kept low-key; they are loud enough that you can hear them, though not so loud that they interfere with the music.
What's here as far as visuals isn't that hard on the eyes. Stylized, low-polygon versions of the movie's main characters dance on the top screen. As you complete combos, the characters dance; though if you screw up, they begin flailing around or falling down. Locations from both movies are included, as are a few added ones, like Broadway. While in Quickplay, you can customize performers using accessories unlocked during Story Mode. In the end, though, visuals aren't that important since you'll spend most of the game staring at the bottom screen.
