Madagascar, based on the upcoming computer-animated movie from Dreamworks, lets you play through the story of four animals who escape from the Central Park Zoo to return to wild. The animals all talk, of course, and each one has a unique urban personality, so hijinks definitely ensue as they return to the exotic land they never really even knew.

The game employs the same exaggerated art style as the movie, with sharp angles making the animals look almost like cubist renditions of their real life counterparts. Voice samples are abundant during both gameplay and cut-scenes, although sound-alike actors have been used for the game’s script. The game plays much like previous Dreamworks/Activision collaborations, mixing simple platforming and collecting with a wide variety of mini-games. Most levels allow for free exploration and are completed when you win a certain number of activities, which are scattered about and may be activated by helping out other characters.

All four of the main characters are playable: Marty the zebra, Alex the lion, Gloria the hippo, and Melman the giraffe. Each one has unique moves, so you’ll need to switch among the animals at special totem poles. Certain levels allow you to control other characters, like the crazy penguins who march around saying “hut, hut”. The main items to collect are coins, which can be traded in at the souvenir shop to unlock mini-games, health upgrades, and cosmetic features to add to the characters. For instance, you can buy a straw hat for the zebra or a starfish bikini top for the hippo.

Madagascar is primarily intended for the younger audiences who will form the movie’s core audience. Fans of the recent Shrek 2 and Shark Tale games should find a similar experience here.