"Not a game, not a toy, not a worthless tech demo..."

But a work of art. Electroplankton is quite possibly the most beautiful piece of software I have ever experienced. There is no guarantee that you will like it as much as I have, but no one can deny the innovation and artistry involved in its creation.

Electroplankton is essentially a game in which you control plankton and make pretty light and sound. (That last sentence designed for simpletons).
PACKAGING:
10/10

Normally I wouldn't even review this, but Electroplankton has some of the most beautiful packaging I have ever seen. The box is shiny blue. Regrettably, the version I purchased from Nintendo.com does not come with the blue earphones that the Japanese version included, but it isn't really worth the import considering how cheaply made the headphones are.

The manual is also absolutely beautiful and well done. It is made of a very nice paper, which is either very expensive or very cheap recycled paper (I can't tell which). Either way, it smells good (only time I'll ever be able to say that reviewing a game other than Earthbound). The actual content of the manual is excellent too. There are absolutely hilarious cartoon drawings explaining the use of the plankton, and the end features several pages of personal notes by the game's creator Toshio Iwai. These notes, combined with the high quality of the manual and the fact that this game is uncommon and must be purchased on the Internet, give the game a personal feel, almost as if it was manufactured and packaged exclusively for you.

This game is the first that has actually made me want to keep the box and the manual.

TANGENT: In a normal review, I would review sound and graphics separately, but since they are so intertwined in this game I will review them under AESTHETICS.

AESTHETICS:
10/10

The graphics and sound in this game are beautiful. Harmonic yet arythmic (yes, I made that word up just to describe an aspect of this game) notes play, while the plankton emit light and move around. The bridge between sound and visuals is so seamless, it could almost be called synaesthesia (if you don't know what it is, wikipedia will answer). There is no way to describe this, so go to http://electroplankton.nintendods.com/flash.html to get an idea of exactly how they combine.

GAMEPLAY:
9/10

The gameplay is not perfect, but it is fun and entertaining. The main mode, performance mode, gives you complete control over the plankton you choose. I don't want to waste your time by attempting to explain what the plankton do, so head over to the site given above and see for yourself.

There are two main flaws in the gameplay. There is not much actual control over about half the plankton, so it is generally hard to make specific sounds. The other flaw is the fact that it is impossible to mix plankton, although they can be layered over one another by recording into a computer (details how to do that on the Electroplankton forums here). This also takes care of the major complaint of almost every reviewer, namely that your creations cannot be saved.

Although the sound can be routed through the headphone jack into a computer, I have no idea how to record video. This takes away a major aspect of Electroplankton compositions, as explained in the AESTHETICS section.

REPLAY VALUE:
8/10:

Infinite, or none, depending on just how literal of a person you are. There are only ten plankton, and each of them is shallow at first sight. However, they almost never get boring if you have a creative mind. Overall, the replay value on this game depends on the player and how much you can get out of it.

MISCELLANEOUS

Performance mode is the main mode, but another good choice is audience mode. The computer plays for you, so it is mainly used for relaxation or if you do not want to put in the effort involved in creating good compositions in Electroplankton. However, the player can join in at any time, while the computer continues to play, essentially providing a backdrop for your own compositions. Many plankton are not very fun to play individually, but look and sound great when the computer, whose reflexes are inhuman, plays them, especially Lumiloop.

Electroplankton is a game that should only be purchased if you have a creative, open mind and can appreciate something that completely breaks the mold of what a video game system can do. It shows the capabilities of the Nintendo DS, and provides a wonderful experiences for those who are willing to put aside their previous beliefs and prejudices and enjoy it.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/27/06