It seems like everything you read in the video game press nowadays is commending Nintendo for their innovation and willingness to take on brave new concepts with their games. Truth be told, it’s not like they have a choice in the matter anymore… it’s kind of become their schtick. On the other hand, they do also release a billion Mario-themed games a year, along with their own fair share of rehashed sequels. Are they really the creative trailblazer that everyone wants to think they are?
Well, one thing’s for sure. No other publisher in their right mind would release something as bizarre and indescribable as Toshio Iwai’s Electroplankton. This quirky little release for the Nintendo DS handheld is the strongest argument yet for convincing people that video games should be considered art. But while Electroplankton definitely qualifies as an artistic creation, it almost goes too far — to the point where it can no longer be considered a video game.
In the strictest sense, Electroplankton is a collection of 10 self-contained interactive multimedia installations that use your touch screen and/or microphone input to create music. There is no objective to these mini-games other than what you decide to do with them. In this way they resemble some of the little unlockable playthings in recent GBA games like Mario Party Advance and Warioware Twisted!.
I will admit that at first glance, many of these sound modules are fascinating and quite fun to fool around with. An early favourite of mine, “Hanenbow”, allows you to ricochet a stream of fish off of leaves to create a cascade of melodies. By adjusting the angles of the leaves, you can create some pretty cool sounds, and with just the right set up, you can even get the leaves to sprout flowers! How pretty!
Some of the modules that use the microphone, such as “Rec-Rec” and “Volvoice”, provide a fun distraction by warping and reversing any sound samples you can get the microphone to pick up. On the other hand, “Lumiloop” seems a little like filler; just 5 donut shaped organisms that can be spun clockwise or counterclockwise to create different tones.
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