Madagascar 3: The Video Game (Video Game Review)

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is another big release for what is easily one of the biggest DreamWorks' series to ever be released. Gamers should obviously view the game based on the film with some understandable skepticism, but Madagascar 3: The Video Game is actually a fun family title that excels in excellent cooperative play for up to two players. Fans of the Madagascar film series will love this release, and it actually offers some fun platforming gameplay at a bargain bin price for Summer 2013.

The story of Madagascar 3: The Video Game is very similar to the film on which the game is based. All of the film's best characters are present in the game including Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, Melman the Giraffe as playable characters and other favorites such as Julien the Lemur and those adorable penguins. The team is still trying to find their way back to home in America and are trying to find rescue while performing in a traveling circus. This creates all types of hilarious scenarios, as the team performs for crowds nightly and explores the European city in their free time. Though the voice actors from the film aren't present for the game, Madagascar 3: The Video Game still manages to have a really fun storyline complete with animated cutscenes that tie the different chapters of the game together nicely.

A good majority of the game is spent outside of the circus with the characters working together to platform around the different levels in search of important items. The game demands cooperative play for large portions of the game and will be played with either a local partner or AI companion. Each character in the game has unique moves that help create some of the game's more complex puzzles, though the game never gets overly difficult. There are also mini-game segments inside of the circus that are a mix bag of enjoyable fun and frustrating to control segments as well. All in all, Madagascar 3: The Video Game is a fun game to play and is even better when playing locally with a family member.

Madagascar 3: The Video Game is a fine looking game. Character models closely resemble the actual characters from the films in their looks and mannerisms. Animations are smooth for the most part, and the voice actors do a fairly good job of replacing the celebrities from the film. The environments the characters are placed in aren't as carefully crafted however. While the platforming sections of the world does its job well, the actual items placed in the world are bland and take away from the immersiveness that so much of the presentation establishes for the player. Still, younger gamers are likely to not notice this minor flaw and will continue to have a good time regardless.

Unlike many family games, Madagascar 3: The Video Game only supports up to two players, but it's still an entertaining game based on a highly popular film that is sure to be a blast for you and your kids. The best characters from the hit film are placed in a virtual world for players to explore together, and platforming together can be incredibly rewarding when not playing with the often poor AI the game comes packed with. A relatively low price tag at many major retailers means families can pick up Madagascar 3: The Video Game this Summer and nab some Achievements and Trophies or breathe life into their Wii without breaking the bank. Check out Madagascar 3: The Video Game today!

Game Features:
Offline Cooperative 1-2
Features Characters from Madagascar 3
Challenging Mini-Games

Game Information:
Developer: Torus Games
Publisher: D3Publisher
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii (reviewed), Nintendo DS & Nintendo 3DS
Release Date: June 5, 2012