Electroplankton Review

About Electroplankton

Designed by artist Toshio Iwai, famed Japanese melder of music and visuals, Electroplankton plays like a piece of touchable art. From the soothing underwater orchestral opening to the various modes of sound playing, the entire presentation is an interactive treat.

There are a total of ten sound games in Electroplankton, each one represented by a different underwater creature. The games use the touch screen heavily with a few button presses to do special effects. Most games have several modes tucked within that are accessed by pressing the Select button. This changes the arrangement of the plankton, alters their sounds or creates other interesting situations for you to make great music.

Meet the Plankton

The ten varieties of plankton in this game offer a huge choice of sound toys for you to experiment with.

Tracy

A row of several smiling plankton sit at the bottom of the screen. Touch one, then draw a path for it to follow. Depending on where you draw the line and at what speed, that Tracy will follow and make different sounds. Each plankton here has a slightly different tone, meaning you can set them in harmony or create a cacophany of music.

Hanenbow

The most game-like of all the Electroplankton modes, Hanenbow are small tadpole-like plankton that leap out of the water along a pointed green leaf. Their speed and direction can be adjusted with the d-pad and touch screen. As they arch into the sky above the pond, move various leaves that are growing on branches to intercept Hanenbows. Depending on the leaf's angle and size, the sound will be different. Watch as the Hanenbows ricochet back and forth on the leaves and create a beautiful symphony of sound.

Luminaria

A grid of arrows fills the screen and four Luminaria sit smiling in the corner. Touch one to send it moving, making a unique sound when it touches each grid point. Depending on where the arrows point, the plankton will go in that direction. Make loops, create rising and falling sounds and have a great time with one of the easiest plankton to play around with!

Sun-Animalcule

A gorgeous red sunset colors the deep waters where Sun-Animalcule live. Use the stylus to place one of the plankton in the water. Depending on where you place it, it makes a different set of sounds. First a plop, then a ting, then a shine. As you play, the sun sets and you begin placing moon-shaped Animalcules that make different sounds.

Rec-Rec

The most immediately pleasing game in Electroplankton, Rec-Rec features a row of four fish and a looping backbeat. Tap a fish, then make a sound into the microphone on the DS. As the fish swim across the screen they will play back your sound. Create some of the funniest music with Rec-Rec!

Nanocarp

These tiny sea monkey-like plankton float gently in the water. When they bump into each other, they swim in a circle and make sounds like plucking a harp's strings. This is the best game to just sit back and listen to the music, very little intervention is required.

Lumiloop

These large round plankton hum as you spin them. Create dramatic harmonies that sound remarkably like a movie soundtrack with Lumiloop.

Marine-Snow

Snowflake-like plankton fill the screen, each with a different tone. As you tap each one, they make their sound and switch positions with the last one you touched. Their piano music can be wonderful music in the right hands.

Beatnes

One of several classic Nintendo songs plays in the background while you tap the long plankton in the center. Make turtle stomping sounds when the Mario Bros. Music is playing, or run your stylus up and down the chain-like links on the plankton to make rising and falling beeps from the original games.

Volvoice

Got something to say? Volvoice will distort it! Mutter "Electroplankton rules!" then try out one of the nearly two dozen voice altering options and listen as Volvoice plays your words backwards, faster, slower, and inside out!

A Surprise Hit

Electroplankton has received a very limited release in North America. Nintendo is very cautious with selling such an unusual product to a new market. With famed artist Toshio Iwai behind the game, an amazing set of sound toys to play with, and an enormously positive fan response, Electroplankton is turning into a surprise hit. Amazon.com reported the game as their number one video game seller the week after its release. Will Nintendo unleash more plankton in the future? Snatch your copy of Electroplankton and see just why they should.