The Penguins of Madagascar for DS puts players in control of all four of the different penguins that star in the show.  Each one has unique abilities and specialties, and they must all work together to make their way through various puzzles.

Players will move around using the d-pad on the DS, and perform special actions with the buttons.  For example, Kowalski can build crazy contraptions if the supplies have been gathered, Rico can belch out an explosive, Private can climb or crawl, and Skipper can do big jumps and get the whole group to follow him.  Each penguin has a unique look, and all four appear on the bottom touch screen, and switching between them is as simple as clicking on the one you want to be.

Each puzzle consists of a series of jumps or obstacles which the penguins must overcome to reach their goal.  Usually, abilities from all four penguins are needed to get through.  For example, each penguin may need to retrieve an object only they can get to (Skipper can jump high, Private can crawl, Rico and explode objects out of the way), and then bring them to Kowalski who will build something like a bridge to get them all to their end goal.

Penguins of Madagascar for Nintendo DS is actually a good exercise in critical thinking, as players must figure out how to best solve the problem of getting to the end of the puzzle.  Additionally, the game is also a good example of teamwork, because each penguin must rely on the others’ abilities in order to make it through the level.  So even though it’s only a one-player game with lots of different controls to remember, there is a good lesson in cooperation that takes place here.  We recommend this game for kids and tweens who are experienced DS players, and highlight the self-cooperation that must take place between the four in-game characters.