Reviewed by Brandy Shaul
When movies are turned into video games, they are generally released on multiple platforms to capitalize on profit opportunities. DSI took this into account when they released the game version of March of the Penguins, available on both the GBA and the DS.
Split into twelve chapters, and just like the GBA version, March of the Penguins for the DS follows the most popular penguin species, the Emperors, as they make their way through their breeding season which is filled with obstacles and enemies. Level types vary, but they are split into four basic groups, and are mainly played on the touch screen.
The easiest of the chapters are the swimming levels, where you guide an Emperor penguin through the ocean depths in search of food. Enemies are present, but I found the damage to be basically nonexistent, allowing players to concentrate on the air bar, found in the top left corner of the screen. As penguins need air to breathe, you can’t keep them underwater for too long, and must keep a watchful eye on their oxygen, resurfacing when necessary. There isn’t much challenge to these chapters, but it can take a fair amount of time to find the necessary amount of food to complete the level.
The next two level types are fairly similar in that they both take place on the ice caps as you guide an emperor to their mate, safe spot, etc. One template has you walking through a maze of penguins while guarding an egg, while the other has you sliding on icy portions, following a path of snowflakes to your mate. The overhead camera angle in these levels adds a bit of difficulty since you can’t really see where you’re going, but along with the added challenge comes the possibility for frustration.
The fourth and most abundant chapter type places you in control of the landscape while 24 Emperors march across the screen at a very slow pace. Gaps and ice cubes block the way and it’s up to you to place various objects in the penguins’ path to help them safely reach the other side. Tents serve as trampolines, snowballs as cushions, and fish as lures to change the penguins’ marching direction. You also have a selection of ramps, stairs and slides at your disposal, and you’ll need every tool in your arsenal in almost every chapter of this type.
These levels also include the only real differences between the GBA and DS versions of the game. The first difference is the fact that you can use the stylus to drag and drop your tools in front of the penguins, instead of holding down the A button while using the D-Pad. The invisible lines separating each item from the other is a little obscure at points, so you might find yourself picking up the wrong item, but it doesn’t mar the situation too terribly.
The other difference is the addition of a Binocular View, which is shown on the top screen. The binoculars show you a zoomed out picture of the game play field, allowing you to see a bit farther behind and in front of the current action taking place on the screen below. With 24 penguins to keep track of at once, it’s nice to be able to see if any are lagging behind, but the camera isn’t as far zoomed out as it probably should be, so confusion can still arise.
While the idea of complex routes and planning ahead does add a great deal of strategy to an otherwise simple premise, the backgrounds and environments blend so well together (being that everything is covered in white snow or ice) that figuring out which item to place where can become confusing. This is especially true when you factor in the background ice blocks, some of which can and can’t be interacted with. Consequently, you’ll often find yourself sending the Emperors off of a cliff to their doom.
This wouldn’t be such a bad thing, since the penguins regenerate at the beginning of the level, but what does mar the situation is that every level is timed. While ten or more minutes may seem like plenty of time to guide your group of penguins from one end of the level to the other, when you factor in their suicidal tendencies, a limited supply of tools and somewhat disorienting backgrounds, it’s not an unusual situation to find yourself running out of time.
Fortunately, these chapters are not the entirety of the game, and the other level types are easy enough to make up for any irritation that the former levels might cause.
While the gameplay itself may be a little too complex to throw into the hands of a younger child, the overall message is not. Sponsored by National Geographic, March of the Penguins is edutainment at its finest. Before and after every level, you are not only given the password to allow you to come back to where you were (there is no save system), but are also given trivia facts about the penguins such as “When searching for food, Emperors can travel hundreds of miles in a single foraging trip.” These bits of trivia are filler material at best, but they are great for the kids who would be the main players of the game.
But getting back to the actual look of the game, the graphics are surprisingly decent. The penguins have individual movements and waddle to the their own beat. The gameplay is fairly black and white, which is obvious considering the environment and the main characters, but there is enough detail, on the ice cap levels especially, to keep children happy. The same can be said about the music and sound department.
There is something so cute about the honking sounds penguins make, and I’m happy to say the in-game call is just as satisfying. Being that the game takes place in the middle of the blistering cold, there aren’t many other sounds available except for the occasional sloshing of ice water and flutter of the wind. Adding to the almost quiet nature of the game is the background music, which is very calm and almost soothing even though it tends to be repetitive.
So while the gameplay might be a bit redundant and perhaps even boring to the older generations, it is simple enough in most aspects to make this a decent children’s title, or a worthwhile addition to any penguin fan’s collection. Where most titles released today are considered too violent for younger children to play, March of the Penguins is definitely not frozen in that mold, and will easily provide a few hours of enjoyable and educational gameplay for those who do decide to pick it up.
Special thanks to Alison Kain and DSI Games for providing a copy of this title.