Do you like Madagaskar? Do you like Racing Games? Well when you put them together you get...a pretty dull experience? I'm not going to lie, IDo you like Madagaskar? Do you like Racing Games? Well when you put them together you get...a pretty dull experience? I'm not going to lie, I was expecting more from Madagascar Kartz. It's strange feeling to carry. I actually adored the Madagaskar when I was a kid. With its great comedy, fun characters, and even the atmosphere of night scenes brought me a great deal of joy. I thought this game would at least have one of those elements. But no, this game is void of substance. The game starts off with...a menu!? Yep, as far as I'm aware there's no specific reason why these guys are in race cars. The closest thing I can call an explanation, is the opening cutscene from the console version where King Julien asks Alex where he can get his own kart and decides to throw a competition to decide who is the best driver. Doesn't explain why Alex and the others were racing in the first place, but that's a story for another day...a day that will never come. Why is it important that they have a story mode? The CTR series for example, each game has there own unique story to set a theme for a game. So even games like Wrath of Cortex and Tag Team Racing aren't all that great, at least they both give memorable experiences to look back on. But since this game doesn't have story or a specific theme, I feel bit empty inside. I don't why I'm supposed to be racing. I just feel nothing when a win a trophy. And this wouldn't be a problem if the core mechanics weren't so bland. The control isn't that great, but its passable. I will give credit that the developers did their research, with the track and power-up design. It still doesn't explain why the helicopter power-up doesn't prevent me from falling into the lava...and as a bonus, it plays a really annoying sound at top speed. Each character has there own special ability power-up, Alex's roar can hit racers from far away, Marty's got an auto pilot speed boost that acts like a Bullet Bill, and Shrek has...an ear wax attack, highlight of the game right there. The level selection includes, the Zoo, the Shipping Freighter, Shark Beach, Fossa Rocks, the Watering Hole, the Plane Wreck, the Volcano, and some reverse tracks. Honestly, that may sound like a lot, but the overall game is really short. Its only took me a couple of hours to complete all of the cups, but it felt like an eternity because it felt like I trance. Playing a cup with the Shark Beach and then playing the reverse version in the following track collection, things just get repetitive really fast. I don't mind replaying tacks in Mario Kart DS because there's 32 unique courses! Each with its own reverse course. Take away the reverse courses and Madgakar Kartz has only a pitiful 7 courses to race on. Instead of looking forward to returning to old courses, I'm close to falling into dreamland thanks to the sheer amount of boredom this game has given me. After winning all of the cups, I'll say this. Even though there's no record system in this game, I guess you can find proof of your achievements by unlocking all of the characters and courses for each speed class. But even then, there's not even an ending cutscene after completion of winging all of the 150cc cups. Again Mario Kart DS, doesn't have a story, but seeing all of the characters driving into the sunset during the credits fills me with a lot of joy. And if you manage to win every single cup, all of the characters come together to thank you for playing the game and you even get a cool new title screen! Along with tight controls, Mario Kart DS is a legendary game because it does all of these gaming elements so damn well so it doesn't need a story theme to standout. This game doesn't have good control, a story, or even a theme. This is Madagaskar Kartz! That's it, this a Madagascar racing game and there isn't even any jokes to laugh about. The only voice acting on display is in the character selection for the purpose of bad one-liners. Stick with the console version, it looks a lot better aside from Melman's demonic neck dance and at least the racers are making sub-par quips during each race. Its better than nothing, which is what this game feels like! At least Shrek Carnival games had a story! A clunkily-animated, barebones one...but at least I knew why I was playing those absurd carnival games! If the game wanted to give off a more memorable experience, why not make a New York City at night track? Or maybe a level based off of Alex's Candyman fevering dream, one of the funniest scenes in the movie. Even a story told via slideshow would fill up the void a bit. If you can't make awe-inspiring game mechanics, you can at least make the players laugh. Maybe the story can act as a cross over fan fiction, tell me how crazy it would be to see a crossover between Madagascar, Shrek, and Monsters V.S Aliens! But no, instead of racing Susan with two cars attached to her feet in a secret boss fight, we get another empty experience from Dreamworks DS games.… Expand
