Electroplankton [DS]

It's all so clear. The DS isn't meant to be a game platform at all. Not when there's software like Electroplankton around. Nintendo's latest title is as far from a game as we can imagine. It features no rules and almost no structure. Instead, Electroplankton is an addictive audio-visual synthesizer that uses every bit of the DS hardware to produce an experience that can be stunningly beautiful.

10 species of plankton inhabit the "game," each of which is stirred into action by touching the lower screen or speaking into the microphone. Each creature has a unique environment, displayed on the touch screen, while the upper image provides a close-up on the action. Each species has its own behavior patterns, almost all of which are completely intuitive.

Performance mode is where you'll spend the most time, as it offers full control over the ocean-dwelling instruments. But Audience mode has advantages as well, as the plankton can essentially play themselves, and the results can be good enough that we sometimes leave the title running instead of iTunes.

Each species is so different that we can't describe them all -- that's a task for the whimsical and very attractive manual packaged with the cartridge.

One offers five creatures that follow lines drawn by the stylus, making different sounds along the way. Another has four plankton that move at different speeds along pathways made of arrows; changing the orientation of the arrows creates miniature loops for each different-sounding creature. A third is essentially a tool for remixing old Nintendo soundtracks, as players can tap in patterns of sound on the bodies of long, segmented plankton. The patterns are repeated for four bars, creating a tune that constantly evolves as players tap out new loops.

Most of the musical sounds are limited to chimes, bells and piano tones, though a couple of species offer pre-programmed beats as a backing track. Pressing select will switch to another backbeat or tone set, depending upon the species of plankton.