Madagascar 3: The Video Game
Simple platform puzzler lets kids play with animal stars.
Madagascar 3: The Video Game
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Madagascar 3: The Video Game is based on the movie Madagascar 3. The story is exactly the same, though it is told through terse sequences in between levels of gameplay. The game consists of a series of levels where players run through different European cities, collecting items and solving puzzles, and playing a variety of mini-games. The game is meant to be very accessible so that young Madagascar fans can appreciate it. There is some sense of peril in parts of the game where players have to avoid animal control officers, but other than that there is no objectionable content.
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What’s It About?
In MADAGASCAR 3: THE VIDEO GAME, players follow a loosely presented version of the same story as the movie Madagascar 3, in which the familiar zoo animals like Alex the Lion and Marty the Zebra must pretend to blend into a traveling circus in order to get home. The story is presented through brief sequences in between gameplay levels. The Story mode consists of a series of platform-jumping levels where players need to solve basic puzzles, with the help of voice-over tutorials for players who might get stuck, as well as a variety of mini-games. There are separate circus-themed mini-games as well.
Is It Any Good?
Madagascar 3: The Video Game is designed to be enjoyable for little kids. There is no sense of "death" in the game. If players fail, they simply re-appear at an earlier point in the level. In addition, voice-over dialogue constantly provides help and guides players in the right direction. The addition of a two-player mode in which players can navigate the levels independently and help one another is a nice touch. The mini-games are also fun and help to break up the sometimes repetitive platform-jumping levels. Older players will likely find a lack of challenge in this game, but for the young target audience of the Madagascar franchise, the presence of familiar characters, the ease of play, and the varied gameplay will be an enjoyable experience.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the inherent consumerism in this title. Would you enjoy this game if the characters were nondescript zoo animals instead of characters from Madagascar?
Do you prefer playing this game alone or with others? Do you like games that feature co-op play? Why?
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
- Skills: Collaboration: cooperation, meeting challenges together, teamwork, Communication: friendship building, Thinking & Reasoning: logic, problem solving, solving puzzles
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: D3Publisher of America
- Release date: June 5, 2012
- Genre: Puzzle
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Friendship
- ESRB rating: E for Comic Mischief
- Last updated: August 29, 2016
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A fun -- but surprisingly challenging -- game.
For kids who love puzzles and adventures
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