Madagascar

Dreamworks Animation has had a reputation for developing outstanding feature films for years. Their films carry humor, action, adventure, and stories that have spawned a host of toys, accessories and video games. The latest video game to be made based on one of their movies is Madagascar, by Activision. Madagascar boasts excellent graphics, entertaining gameplay, and a wonderful soundtrack. While the game might be aimed at a younger audience, Madagascar is fun for gamers of any age.

When players dive into the world they get to experience the world of the movie through the viewpoint of several characters. Alex the lion, Gloria the hippo, Melman the giraffe, and Marty the zebra are the main characters throughout the game. Players also have a chance to play as the clever penguins that give the animals their chance to explore the world outside of the zoo. Each of the characters has their own strengths and weaknesses. They also have their own play styles. Gloria, for example, is a thundering juggernaut. You don’t want to be standing in her way when she charges. Marty, on the other hand, is a sneaky and clever zebra. He can find his way around while avoiding trouble. When he has to fight he packs a wicked kick, so don’t take this zebra lightly.

Each of the zones players explore during the course of the game each have their own trials and tricks players will have to master. As the game progresses characters are able to unlock additional abilities for their characters. Learning how to apply these new skills to the environment is key. The game levels are large and lush. They are rendered in beautiful 3D. The levels are also three-dimensional. Players will find themselves, climbing, crawling, jumping, and running through levels that extend as far as the eye can see, including upwards.

The controls for the PC version of this game are responsive. It takes a little getting used to the camera angle, as it isn’t under player control. Aside from that small irritation the gameplay is wonderful. It's only worth mentioning because it’s the only real problem I ran into while I was playing the game- and it is that small. That should give you an idea of how well the controls perform. Players use the keyboard for directional movement, jumping, and an alternate attack. The mouse is only used for two buttons: primary attack and the “speak / interface” button.

One of the features that I particularly enjoyed was the large number of mini-games hidden inside Madagascar. In the zoo levels there are a series of video game machines that players can find with Marty. The talented zebra can easily access the games. The video games are a mix of new, if simple, games and remakes of arcade classics. Other mini-games are accessed by purchasing them through the Zoovenir shop, the in-game store. You can also spot a few areas where the developers have taken inspiration from old classics. There is a scene where Gloria has to dodge traffic in down-town New York. It is very reminiscent of the classic Frogger, and definitely entertaining to play through.

Madagascar is a fairly easy game to learn. It is obvious that this game is aimed as much at the children’s’ audience as it is for the more mature gamers. The controls are easy to learn and the sub-games will keep younger gamers enthralled for hours. In spite of this it is still fun for the more mature gamers. Madagascar has a number of different aspects that keep the gameplay feeling “new” throughout the game. Characters learn new abilities, mini-games appear, and there are always new puzzles to be found and solved.

Madagascar is an excellent game for gamers young and old. The wonderful graphics, entertaining sounds, and solid gameplay make this a game for puzzle / adventure fans. The wealth of extra content, like mini-games and fun side-stories, are an excellent bonus to an already entertaining game. Players won’t have to have seen the movie to enjoy this game. It’s a story, and an experience, all its own.
 

Gameplay: 9.0

The controls in Madagascar are very simple and easy to learn. They are also extremely flexible, allowing players to easily control their characters. The game has a lot of depth to it, with mini-games and puzzles galore.

Graphics: 9.0

The graphics of Madagascar are very good. The animation is consistently high quality. The world itself is lush and detailed. Even the mini-games, places developers are traditionally blamed for not putting in enough effort, are polished and shine with the same excellence as the rest of the game.

Sound: 8.5

Madagascar boasts excellent voice-over work, good background music, and fun sound effects. The voices are well done, conveying a great deal of depth. Characters display the full range of human emotions in their performances. Some of that is facial expressions and body language, but the voices carry a lot of the message.

Difficulty: Easy

Concept: 8.5

Madagascar might be a “children’s game” but it is definitely fun to play. The level designs and concepts are great. It's also entertaining to see all the sub-games hidden inside. Arcade classics and a few new games make for some diverting content.

Overall: 8.8

Madagascar is an outstanding game. The concept is not entirely original, but it is definitely fun. The sounds are of high quality, but not legendary. If this seems like faint complaints it is because even in these areas Madagascar strides towards excellence. The gameplay and graphics are both wonderful. Madagascar is a great buy for fans of the action / adventure genre or younger gamers excited by the movie.
 

Tips:

Explore the scenery every chance you get. Coins for the Zoovenir shop are hidden everywhere. Its also the best way to find the hidden “arcade games” inside the early levels.

They say that the super roar plant doesn’t last long for Alex in the game manual and they are right. Don’t munch down on those veggies until you really need to. The super roar is available for a few short seconds.

When you get a new power take a few minutes to get used to it. Madagascar doesn’t have a timer so you don’t lose anything. Playing around with a new ability when you don’t need it is more fun than trying to figure it out when you absolutely need it to work..