Activision discovers Madagascar

Activision has announced Madagascar for the PC, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, and DS. Based on the forthcoming movie of the same name, Madagascar is an action title featuring animals that decide to escape the shackles of the Central Park Zoo in favor of the freedom of the African island of Madagascar.

In the game, gamers will get in touch with their animal instincts and control four characters from the film, each with its own unique characteristics and strengths. Alex the lion uses his brawn, powerful roar, and feline pouncing ability to remain the king of both the wild and concrete jungles. Marty the zebra earns his stripes by using his equine jumping, kicking, and stealthy crawling skills. Gloria proves that hippos are surprisingly agile by employing both her "butt smash" and running barrel attack. Melman the giraffe's anxious personality is complemented by a helicopter spin and his coconut and lemur-launching neck fling.

Madagascar will follow the movie's storyline by detailing the animals' journey from caged exhibits in the Central Park Zoo to the paradise of the land of lemurs. Along the way, they'll encounter characters from the film as well as game-exclusive creatures.

The movie, from Shrek creators Dreamworks, features the voice talent of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and Sascha Baron Cohen, aka Ali G. Madagascar hits theaters May 27.

Madagascar is being developed by Toys for Bob for consoles, Beenox for the PC, and Vicarious Visions for handhelds. Gamers will be able to explore Madagascar when the game hits retail shelves in May.