GAME REVIEWS

Electroplankton
Platform: Nintendo DS
-- reviewed by Alexander Scott

More fun than Sea Monkeys

When the Nintendo DS launched, I thought that it would go the way of the Virtual Boy. It seemed like just a gimmicky Game Boy, and the initial run of titles did very little with the system’s unique capabilities. However, over the course of 2005, Nintendo and third-party companies proved me wrong about the system; the touch screen was not just a gimmick, but a legitimately useful control device.

Having been a fan of “odd” games, the Nintendo DS became a regular conduit for my addiction. Titles like the litigious “Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney” and the difficult surgical experience of “Trauma Center: Under the Knife” showed me that innovation and new ideas were not dead. And with the release of Electroplankton, I am given yet another experience that I could not have on my Playstation or Xbox.

The brainchild of Japanese media artist Toshio Iwai, Electroplankton has you making music using various creatures of the titular species. Each has a very unique format that uses the unique control possibilities of the DS. Two of my favorites are the Volvoice, who records your voice using the DS microphone and then can distort it in a variety of ways, and the Lumiloop, who make sounds when rotated with the stylus.

All of the little creatures are very cute and minimalistic, which adds to the stylish feel of the game. The backgrounds and light effects are rather minimal too, though you do get a good light show with your music.

The real star of this game, while illustrated by the little Electroplankton, is the music they create. The music of the game primarily uses chime and string-based sounds, but it is up to the player to choose what to do with it. There are also some pre-recorded compositions that you can listen to in “Audience Mode”, and the Beatnes species has you re-mixing some classic Nintendo melodies (including the music from Duck Hunt). The aural effects sound great through the DS’ speakers, but there is a headphone setting that really allows the player to enjoy their creations.

Sadly, the enjoyment of your creation will only last as long as the DS is on; there is no way to save your creations, which is a shame considering the imaginative nature of the game. But, it could be argued that it is a game about making music using “living” creatures, and thus you can’t keep creatures in a persistent state. While it’s sad, it really doesn’t detract much from the title, and makes every play session unique.

Also, it must be mentioned that Electroplankton is not really a game, but more of an interactive experience. That does sound odd, but there are no goals to Electroplankton; it is a very unique slate on which the player can compose. It is a very cool experience, but it is not suited to extended periods of play, and is assuredly not a game made for the masses. Even Nintendo seems to realize this, and it can ONLY be purchased online (either at Nintendo’s online store or online game retailers like GameStop and EB Games).

In the end, I have to mention that this “game” is unique to the point that it is very difficult to do justice to with words. It is an experience that changes every time you play it and it really has never been done before. With that in mind, if you enjoy something way outside the norm, give Electroplankton a chance. It’s memorable and creative, something that many games today can’t claim.

Graphics: 7/10
Sound: 10/10
Control: 8/10
Gameplay: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.5/10