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IT'S A ZOO OUT THERE
The Star, In.Tech, June 16, 2005
MADAGASCAR
(Activision)
Action adventure for kids
System requirements
Operating system: Windows 98/2000/Me/XP
Processor: Intel Pentium III 800MHz or equivalent
Memory: 256MB RAM
Video memory: 32MB VRAM
Installation size: 800MB
Price: RM69
Website: www.activision.com
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CIRCUS ACT: Alex has to jump through hoops at the Central Park Zoo. Is it any wonder his pal Marty wanted out?
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IF YOUR kid has been repeatedly bugging you to go and watch Madagascar on the big screen for the third time, your great escape might just lie in this PC game.
Released to coincide with the recent animated movie of the same name by DreamWorks, this game definitely capitalises on the popularity of the movie.
You get to join the gang – Marty the zebra, Melman the hypochondriac giraffe, Alex the lion, Gloria the hippo, and the band of penguins – as they retrace the steps they took in the movie.
New York, New York
When Marty escapes from the Central Park Zoo, with the help of some penguins, Melman, Alex, and Gloria go after him.
The trio track Marty down at Grand Central Station in New York. But before they can make their way back to the zoo, they are caught and put in crates on a ship heading for Madagascar.
The gang find that the real world is a jungle and survival is much tougher than they imagined.
So much to do
Each level puts you in the shoes … or hooves … of a different character as you try to accomplish the different tasks set out for you. Completion of each task takes you to the next task as the same character or a different one.
Each level is in a different setting – from the zoo, to the streets of New York, onboard the ship and finally Madagascar.
While trying to complete each task, you must also try to grab as many gold coins as you can. With these you can buy stuff such as apparel or minigames from the Zoovenirs Shop.
Also try to grab as many health points along the way because they help you extend your life.
Jungle fever
The graphics are beautiful. The characters, scenery and cutscenes are beautifully rendered. And the game looks just like the movie.
The vibrant colours and animation should appeal to any kid under 12. The tasks and levels are difficult enough to challenge them. There is also a bit of thinking involved because how you set about achieving each task or which way to go in each level is not always clearly marked out.
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RUN, GLORIA: A hippo running through New York? Now that’s a sight that’ll stop traffic.
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Having said that, watch out for the arrows and brightly marked areas because they often hold the clue to which way to go.
Of course, if you fail at any task, try and try again. The game gives you as many chances to try each task till you succeed, with some encouraging messages from the characters thrown in too.
An annoyance here is if you keep repeating a particular task: The audio might get on your nerves as the characters repeat their lines with no variation whatsoever each time you replay any part of the game.
Pan up or down
Probably the only thing I found terribly annoying was the camera angle. You can move the camera any way you want by moving the mouse. This helps give you a better view of the surroundings.
Sounds great, right?
While this helps you get a clearer view of the scene and helps you decide where to go while keeping an eye on your adversaries, it also has some drawbacks and limitations.
If you are too close to a wall or any vertical object, your viewing angle is greatly limited. Get around this by moving slightly away from the wall.
The other thing is that while you can move the camera to see what’s going on at an elevated surface, this sometimes also gives you a view of your character’s legs or his rump!
Oops! Sorry, Marty. Didn’t mean to look there!
It’s raining men
I have to admit that as you get into the groove of the game, you kinda feel for Marty, Alex, Gloria and Melman.
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WATCH OUT!: As a good penguin, it is your duty to take out the sailors with one swift kick and one karate chop! | |
Not only was I rooting for Gloria as she tried to get her stubby little legs to run faster than those smart alec ostriches, but I also hated the sailors on the ship who tried to catch the penguins.
One of the more enjoyable tasks was when I got the chance to use the crane on the ship to catch the sailors running on the deck and dump them into the sea. Heh heh heh.
The other thing I enjoyed was taking the sailors out with the tranquiliser gun … actually, it looked more like tennis balls shooting out of the gun. But, hey, who’s complaining? As long as they go down!
All men are created equal
Speaking of those sailors, I do wish the game had some variation in the humans.
The sailors I threw off the ship came back in the very next few tasks in that level. I swear they looked exactly the same!
They walked the same; they dressed the same; wait … they were the same dudes!
It doesn’t matter I suppose because it is just a kids game, but it sure annoyed me to see the same fellas back on the ship after I’d thrown them overboard.
Survival of the fittest
This is definitely a fun and challenging game that the kids will enjoy.
If they’re hankering for more of Madagascar after watching the movie, then get them to play this.
Not only will they enjoy seeing their favourite animals on the screen again, but they’ll also enjoy helping them through each level. Best of all, they’ll stop hounding you to go to the cineplex again!
Pros: Nice graphics; challenging.
Cons: Camera angles could be better; all humans look the same.
Copyright Star Publications (M) Bhd
ALSO:
Just right for SOHO needs, September 6, 2006
All Style and Class, April 15, 2004
Make Me a Screensaver, Sept 2, 2003
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