Madagascar let loose in retail

Activision today announced that Madagascar has shipped to retailers around the United States. The game is available on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PC, Game Boy Advance, and DS, and is based on the upcoming DreamWorks animated film, which is set for release this Friday.

The console versions were developed by Toys for Bob, the PC version by Beenox, and the portable versions by Vicarious Visions. All three developers were recently acquired by Activision, the latest being Beenox, which was announced today.

Players will follow Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe, and Gloria the hippo as they escape from their home in the Central Park Zoo and abscond to the mysterious island of Madagascar. Each of the playable animals offers its own unique skills to help overcome obstacles.

Alex can let loose a deafening roar, which scares nearby characters. Marty can unleash a powerful kick that can be used to open new areas. Melman, oddly enough, can hover by spinning like a helicopter to increase his jumping ability, letting him get to hard-to-reach places. Gloria the hippo can use her bulk to bump around foes.

The DS version will include exclusive minigames, as well as the ability to both play against others wirelessly and switch characters on the fly with the stylus.

Madagascar is rated E for Everyone on the portables, and it's rrated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and Older on all other versions. The Xbox, PS2, GameCube, and DS versions will retail for $39.99; the GBA version will sell for $29.99; and the PC version will cost $19.99. For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.