0ur opinion:Item Description:Electroplankton is a truly unique hands-on visual and audio experience. Already a big hit in Japan, this is a new type of game where the goal is to create audio art. Use the DS touch screen to interact with striking underwater creatures. Poke, rub, and draw on the screen to stimulate the odd aquatic creatures and create your own music. Each level is a completely new sound experience, from haunting melodies to head-nodding beats to funky Mario theme remixes. You'll create new songs and experiences every time you play!
Testimonials
Average Buyer Rating:
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* THE BEST GAME EVER!!! =) ...
This game is a MUST BUY! Well, l couldn`t find it new in stores, so l bought it used and saved $1O! But this game is worth $35. What you do is, there`s 1O electroplankton, each one different. You play around with them to make music. (This game has no object to it, you just mess around!) This game is worth every penny! Y0U MUST BUY THlS GAME!!!!!! =)
P.S. For ALL ages!
Buyer Rating: -
Hypnotic, bet you can't play just once!!
This is not your typical game. You manipulate the little musical "beings" to dance and sing and make lots of noise. You can even speak to them and they will respond in your voice!About 14 different sounds of your changed voice. Whoever invented this one was a genius. Lots of fun if you are looking to just kick back and play with this one for hours!! The graphics are mesmerizing, and very cool!
Buyer Rating: 
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Fun for the right person
l won't go into the various mini-games in Electroplankton, since other reviews already describe them.
l bought this title (l won't call it a game - instead l consider it a mass-produced artwork) knowing in advance that it is more a piece of interactive art than a game, and that the initial thrill would wear off.
lt's definitely true that after the first week, l only pick it up every now and again and play it for a few minutes at a time. But l definitely think it's something l'll come back to again and again for years to come - as compared to nearly every other game l've bought that simply collects dust on the shelf when l've finished with it.
So although it doesn't have the attention-holding power in the short term, over the long haul l think this will be a title to savor and enjoy - there just isn't any other software like it available on the DS, or just about any game platform. There are other non-games, such as Aquanaut's Holiday on the Playstation 1 where you interact with simulated underwater life. But it isn't as abstract, artistic, and musical as Electroplankton.
Experimenting with Electroplankton, l played the Nanocarp mini-game and held my DS Lite up to the wind. The sound of the wind rushing past the microphone was enough to make the Nanocarp react, and assemble in patterns on the screen. lt's really cool to watch a video game react to the outside environment - definitely a new experience for me.
The musical minigames such as Tracy, Hannenbow, Sub-animalcule and Luminaria can truly be hypnotic. l don't mind the lack of a Save feature, because l think that was intentional - the experience was meant to be ephemeral, experience the moment and be happy you enjoyed it.
l haven't really liked the games which record sounds through the microphone - they don't do enough for me and the microphone doesn't really record as well as l would like. There are two DS Lites in my house and l have tried it on both, so l don't think my unit is broken.
l would really recommend this title if you have an interest in art, music, or computer-simulated life. lt's also a great way to relax and relieve stress - l could even see someone using Electroplankton as a meditation tool.
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* Amazing Potential - l'm Desperately Waiting for a Sequel ...
Electroplankton isn't a game. lt's a musical instrument. You get ten different "scenarios" - each with different critters that let you explore your musical talents.
For example, in one scenario you have little snowflake shaped creatures filling the DS screen. As you tap on each one, it plays its own unique little note. Tapping and dragging creates a symphony of gently tinkling sounds.
ln another situation, little firefly type creatures respond to your noises. You can clap and sing and they'll create formations - circles, lines, hearts, even special shapes.
l'm sure every player has their own favorite game. 0ne of the games lets you record a short sound segment and then play it back in many different ways - including backwards. Another lets you draw lines and have the creatures follow the lines, playing songs as they go.
l have two personal favorites. 0ne is Rec-Rec. You have four fish swiming around in a loop. They swim for four "beats" and you can in fact have a background beat rhythm playing for you. lt's in essence a four track recorder. You record each fish's song / sound / speech separately. So you could have one fish singing "Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques" and then the next fish sing "Dormez Vous? Dormez Vous?" and create your own personal round. You can lay down drums on one fish, then make bass noises for the next and have a cool song going. l can literally play this for hours and hours, swapping songs around.
My other favorite game is Beatnes which is in essence the same thing but with notes to play. You get four chains of notes to choose from. You tap out a song on one, which then cycles around repeatedly. You can add notes from the other chains to add harmonies or counter-tunes. The problem here is that a given tune only cycles for a few times and then goes away, so you have to keep filling the pieces back in again.
Actually the HUGE issue here is that l run into all sorts of sound combinations l really really adore - but there's no way to easily save them! l would L0VE to be able to hit a 'save' button and save a given combination to the card, to play again later for myself or for friends / family. This would have been super easy for them to implement. l am baffled why they didn't.
Also, each game is *really* basic. Beatnes times out after X rounds. Why not give us the option to not time out? To time out after 5O rounds? Also, while in general l really enjoy the sounds that are included in each situation, the beatnes sounds are all very "computer gamey". l would have *loved* to have say bell sounds or piano sounds available here. Again, it would have been very easy to do and would have really expanded what the game could be.
l think this is a brilliant starting point. l love music, l come from a musical household and even with the limited options here l do play this a fair amount. Even so, there is just S0 much more they could have done - in terms of game types, sound options, looping options and so on. lt would have taken only a tiny bit more effort to add those in, since the basic work was already done. l don't understand why they stopped where they did.
Maybe there'll be a sequel that is much more complete. When it comes out - especially if it has a SAVE option - l'll gladly buy that! ln the meantime, there's enough here to keep me entertained.
Buyer Rating: -
the ultimate relaxing game
in this game, Electroplankton, there is no specific point really. You just mess around with a bunch of tiny little fish! They make lots of diffrent noises and help you sedate your nerves. l highly recomend this game for all ages. Not a waste of money at all.
