Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

M&M’s: The Lost Formulas delivers a blend of platforming action and educational challenges that will be familiar to fans of the Crash Bandicoot series. Players guide the yellow candy through eight distinct levels, each presenting a unique twist on traditional platform mechanics. Early stages have you speeding along roads in a car, spotting math formulas on the roadside and then smashing into the correct answer among three numbered crates. Choose poorly and it’s game over—steel crates end your run in an instant.

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As you progress, the game shifts to a forklift-driving segment that retains the same pick-the-right-answer dynamic but changes the vehicle and pace. Then comes the jumping puzzle levels, where you leap from one numbered platform to another in response to formulas read aloud by a disembodied female narrator. These levels require quick thinking and precision, especially on higher difficulty settings where math problems involve multiplication and division.

The finale of each section often takes the form of a 3D running and jumping corridor. You dash down a factory hallway, scanning walls for clues to upcoming math problems before reaching three doors—and behind each door lies one potential answer. Collectible M&M candies are scattered throughout every stage; grabbing 100 of them nets an extra life, adding a rewarding exploration element. With configurable skill levels—covering addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—the game adapts to different age groups and learning needs, making it equally suitable for beginners and more advanced young mathematicians.

Graphics

M&M’s: The Lost Formulas features bright, candy-themed visuals that pop on screen. The character models for Red and Yellow M&Ms are faithfully rendered with smooth animations, capturing their playful personalities. The factory environments are rendered in vibrant primary colors, reinforcing the brand’s identity while keeping the mood light and engaging for younger players.

Level designs range from sunlit roads to industrial factory interiors, each with its own distinct palette. The driving stages showcase detailed backdrops—rolling hills, conveyor belts, and distant machinery—while the platform segments present clear, numbered tiles that stand out against the background, ensuring readability during fast-paced jumps. Simple but effective lighting and shadow effects give depth to each scene without overwhelming the educational focus.

On both PC and PlayStation versions, performance remains steady, with minimal frame drops during hectic sequences. The 3D models of collectible candies glisten pleasantly when you run past or pick them up, rewarding your attention to detail. While not pushing the hardware to its limits, the graphics strike an optimal balance between visual appeal and educational clarity, ensuring problems are always legible and obstacles distinct.

Story

The premise of M&M’s: The Lost Formulas is delightfully straightforward: just as Red and Yellow candy prepare for a well-deserved vacation, Yellow realizes the M&M Minis have been left in charge of the factory. Predictably, the Minis succumb to mischief, absconding with the secret formulas and setting off chaotic traps throughout the plant. It falls to Yellow candy to retrieve the stolen formulas and restore order before Red gets back from packing suitcases.

The narrative unfolds through brief cutscenes at the start and end of each level, using simple dialogue and expressive animations. These interludes add context to the math challenges, reinforcing why you’re racing, jumping, or steering a forklift. A cheerful soundtrack underscores the lighthearted tone, and the occasional voiceover—especially the mysterious female guide who calls out formulas—helps immerse players in the mission.

While the story isn’t deep, it serves its purpose well: motivating young learners to press forward, solve problems, and collect spare candies along the way. The playful banter between characters and the escalating stakes—rescuing the long-lost candy recipes—provide enough narrative drive to keep kids engaged across all eight levels.

Overall Experience

M&M’s: The Lost Formulas strikes a rare balance between education and entertainment. Its core appeal lies in weaving basic arithmetic into platforming challenges that feel dynamic rather than didactic. The adjustable difficulty settings allow parents and teachers to tailor the experience to individual skill levels, making it a versatile tool for reinforcing math facts through play.

Replay value stems from the collectible M&M candies and the drive to improve your accuracy and speed. Each run offers a chance to boost your candy count, snag extra lives, and tackle tougher math problems. While the overall level count is modest, the escalating complexity and the satisfaction of mastering formulas keep the game fresh.

Ultimately, this title is a solid pick for families seeking fun, screen-based learning. Fans of lighthearted platformers will appreciate the familiar mechanics, and educators will welcome the structured practice in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Note that the PlayStation version omits the math-specific mode, so platform choice may influence the educational depth. Regardless, M&M’s: The Lost Formulas offers a sweet combination of action and academics that’s hard to resist.

Retro Replay Score

5.7/10