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Electroplankton
isn’t so much a game as a music maker, and a very addictive music
maker at that. The title was easily one of the most innovative
games for the NintendoDS showcased at the Electronic Entertainment
Expo (E3). In the preview build you had 10 different Electroplankton
to choose from (although there may be more in the completed
version) each combining some very aurally pleasing sounds to play
with, no surprise then that at the pre-E3 press conference a DJ
used two DS’s hooked up to an amplifier to make some pretty funky
tunes for the attendees.
The
concept behind it is you make these little plankton make sounds by
touching or talking to them for which they reward you with these
dulcet tones, which may or may not form a pattern of music. Even
just tapping randomly at the screen can make some good sounding
tunes.
On
the top screen you can see your little Electroplankton close
up through what looks like a microscopic lens (they’re tiny
plankton), and what cute faces they have! They look so happy making
their tunes you can’t help but smile and go ‘ahhhh’.
 The
scenes look very tranquil and could calm even the most sugar-ed up
child although I think adults will find this absorbing too, as the
visuals are beautiful and some change depending on what sound you
make. For example, there are fish you talk to through a microphone
which change colour as you talk.
This
probably wasn’t the best game to showcase at E3 because of the
general noise level, I had to put my ear right up to the speakers
to hear anything at all, but even so it worked well enough to get
an idea of what Nintendo were trying to achieve with this. Although
many haven’t been exactly enthralled with the idea of a simple
music maker being a prime example of innovation of their new
high-tech piece of kit, playing really is believing. As an added
bonus too you could take one of the base tracks (09 Beatnes)
away with you on your NintendoDS from the NintendoDS Download
Station. Thanks Nintendo!
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