Electroplankton

Does Electroplankton live up to its hype or is it merely lyrical pond scum?

The DS is often criticized for not having games that fully takes advantage of its unique capabilities. So it comes as a nice surprise to encounter a DS game brimming with originality and imagination.

Musical Microbes
Of course, Electroplankton has been one of the poster children for the new brand of gameplay the DS is supposed to offer ever since the game was unveiled at the Game Developers Conference early last year. Its bizarre yet charmingly upbeat art direction and ever-smiling "plankton" were mysteriously alluring, and the concept of creating music by interacting with these cheerful photosynthetic organisms made it all the more appealing. Finally, this long-anticipated title has arrived in the U.S., faithful to its Japanese origins. But is it truly as unique and enjoyable as first thought? The answer is a resounding "yes!" Electroplankton can only loosely be called a game, since it has no real objectives, story, or characters. Rather, it's a musical experience controlled, in large part, by the player. No single element of the game makes it so creatively deft, it's the combination of the colorful and minimalist art style, the intuitive methods of "controlling" the plankton with the DS stylus, and the beautiful patterns of music it can create that make the ten mini-games included so enjoyable.

Slightly Out of Tune
Unfortunately, for all the creative genius behind the game, there are some shortcomings. Initially, as you generate your first melodic chords, you're taken aback by the simplicity with which they are produced. However, as you continue to play, and your desire to play specific tunes increases, you come to realize the relative lack of control you have over your harmonic creations. This ultimately results in harmonic sounds that can often be fun to listen to, but do not feel like a direct result of your creative intuition-in other words, "music." Most unfortunate, however, is that the game just doesn't feel like it's meant to be played for an extended period of time. So if you're a gamer seeking depth and longevity, look elsewhere, but if you have a creative flair and a desire to experience something completely original, Electroplankton might be music to your ears.

KEY MOMENT: Creating my own--if somewhat silly--mix of the Mario Brothers theme song

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