Review Review - Electroplankton (NDS)

[TheGreat2nd]

Electroplankton

This is not a game that can be categorized. This game cannot be fit into a mold. This is not an FPS, it is not a platformer, it is not a sports game. In fact, we should go as far as not even calling it a game. This is simply a music tool. Electroplankton is full of life, full of sounds and mystery. What you do is take your stylus, manipulate the images, and listen to the sounds.

Gameplay
The gameplay is music. The whole game is based on music. The graphics are based on music. There are only 3 options in the main menu. To either perform, or to play with the plankton, to go into audience mode, or listen to the plankton, or to switch the sound settings. Audience mode, just hit it and sit back and listen to the plankton do their thing. It’s all live and very chill. There are ten plankton in all. To go into depth of a few interesting plankton, there is Hanenbow, Luminaria, Rec Rec, Lumiloop, and Beatnes. Hanenbow is as close to a game that Electroplankton can get. You launch your plankton against this plant to make sounds, and you control the launching angles. You can get rid of the plant by excessively bouncing the plankton against the plant. Luminaria is a trip, where you can direct plankton with arrows, and depending on their path, make different sounds. Rec Rec has several plankton swimming in a row, and you record sounds individually for each one to mesh together, creating a cacophony of instruments and voices. Lumiloop is the most tranquil of the group, where there are five circles, and you spin each one to create a circle of music. And finally, Beatnes is a NES style synthesizer. Most of these plankton are hard to explain in words, because it’s the same thing as trying to describe a classical music piece in words. Electroplankton is about music, and almost perfect at that.

Graphics
The colors are very blue, subtle, tired and true. They all take place underwater, so your stylus subtly leaves behind little water bubbles. The graphics of the plankton are shades of every color and really take a backseat to the main course of this game, the sound.

Sound
The sound is the game. The sound is the reason for success. Think about an instrument. You interact with an instrument to make sound. You pluck strings on a guitar to create noise. You hit keys on a piano to make noise. You blow on a saxophone reed to make noise. You use a stylus to interact with plankton and create music. The plankton are commanded under your will. Each plankton has a specific sound, and you, as a “composer” use your stylus to create music, each different plankton making a different sound. Each of these different sounds are a part of a symphony.

The replay of Electroplankton is non existent because there is no end, and this is not a game. Overall, this “game” is a tool. If you are interested in making music, or interested in a different type of game, then try out Electroplankton. It might not be for you, but at least go for a play and experience a new type of way of gaming. One without any objectives, a game without any end.

Gameplay - 9/10
Graphics - 7/10
Sound - 10/10
Lasting Replay – N/A
Overall - 8/10 (Not an average)