Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

If you ever saw the film of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, you’d think you would have a pretty good idea of what this game is trying to sell you, right? Wrong! The game version is, arguably, more interesting. If you love the Madagascar movies humour and interesting style, then you’ll love this addition to the franchise. Gear up and let’s jump into it.

Gameplay

Alright, there is a shocking amount of gameplay in this, definitely a lot more than I was expecting. The game is divided into platforming sections interspliced with a significant number of mini games that vary quite a lot from kicking watermelons into targets or unique driving sections and more. The minigames are rarely replayed, nowhere enough for it to be boring or repetitive.

There is also a hub section where you can go between missions and, once again, I have to compliment the surprising depth of the game. The watering hole, as it is called, has a lot to offer in regards to player fun. On top of that, you can upgrade and increase the number of mini games and unique gameplay opportunities at that location as you continue. The game could be completed in about 5 hours but if you wanted, there are many, many more hours available in these minigames and in collectible hunting which is in contrast to games like Ice Age Scrat's Nutty Adventure. Perhaps not quite on the same level as GoldenEye 007 but definitely better than The Lion King game.

Given that you play as many of the characters, including Alex, Gloria, Melvin and Marty, you also play as the penguins who I cannot stop laughing at. Always on a whacky clandestine adventure, these little birds spend a significant amount of the game up to nonsense, but they provide a brilliant amount of humour and comedy to shine through on multiple levels.

Story

The story follows on from the film, you hit all of the same plot points but the game has an interesting way of making those plot points come through in mini games. If you saw the film, you’d recognise each part but if you didn’t, the game provides an adequate recollection that congeal into the plot points of a functioning story.

Art Style

As you would expect from aa game that was made about an animated movie, the games art style is seriously reminiscent of the movie but doesn’t quite reach to the same standard. Slightly more pixelated but the general gist of the art comes through in abundance, you can clearly tell who is who, the art isn’t too blocky and low resolution. It does a more than serviceable job showing you everything you need to see in good detail.

Pros:

• Lots of gameplay diversity
• Great minigames
• Handles well
• Great art style

Cons:

• Could have been a longer game
• Needed more Penguins, they are the star of this game