Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Where the Wild Things Are on Nintendo DS offers a familiar yet charming sidescrolling platformer experience. You control Max, the boy in wolf pajamas, navigating flat levels filled with enemies, hazards, and hidden collectibles. His core moves—running, jumping, and picking up objects—remain intuitive, making it easy for newcomers and younger players to dive right into the action.

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One of the game’s standout features is recruiting up to three of the six Wild Things in each level. By locating creatures such as Carol, K.W., or Bull, you unlock a touch‐screen ability unique to that monster. Whether it’s conjuring platforms, hurling boulders, or clearing out enemies, these special powers add strategic layers to otherwise straightforward platforming.

The level design occasionally broadens beyond a simple 2D plane by introducing up to four parallel scrolling layers. This mechanic cleverly uses the DS’s dual screens, allowing you to hop between foregrounds and backgrounds at key points. The effect not only enhances exploration but also keeps familiar platforming tropes feeling fresh as you traverse beaches, forests, ruins, caves, and lava fields.

To break up the main quest, the developers included six challenge minigames—each themed around a different Wild Thing’s ability. These bite‐sized diversions range from precision boulder‐throwing to timed platform creation, testing both your reflexes and your mastery of each creature’s skill set. They’re short, replayable, and offer a pleasant change of pace from the core adventure.

Lastly, a whimsical feature lets you record your own custom roar via the DS microphone. While it doesn’t impact gameplay mechanics, hearing your own voice reverberate through the speakers adds a personal touch that underscores the game’s childlike wonder and encourages playful experimentation.

Graphics

Graphically, Where the Wild Things Are embraces a storybook aesthetic reminiscent of Maurice Sendak’s illustrations. Character sprites are expressive and animated with just enough whimsy to bring Max and his monstrous friends to life on the small screen. The game’s art style strikes a balance between the film’s cinematic inspirations and the cozy charm of a classic picture book.

Backgrounds are richly layered, with parallax scrolling across both DS screens adding depth and immersion. From the gentle waves lapping a tropical beach to the flickering embers of a volcanic cavern, each environment feels distinct and thoughtfully crafted. The muted color palette evokes an almost watercolor feel, reinforcing the game’s dreamy, otherworldly atmosphere.

Enemy designs vary from fluffy furballs to menacing ash creatures, each animated to convey personality and threat level. Boss encounters scale up the detail, featuring larger-than-life animations and dynamic attack patterns. While the DS’s technical limitations prevent high‐resolution detail, the developers effectively use silhouette, contrast, and motion to deliver a visually compelling journey.

Menus and touch‐screen interfaces are cleanly integrated, with bold icons and intuitive layouts. Tapping a Wild Thing’s portrait to trigger its special ability feels both natural and responsive, minimizing any frustration that could arise from misplaced inputs. Overall, the graphical presentation succeeds in preserving the spirit of the source material while working within the DS’s hardware constraints.

Story

Where the Wild Things Are loosely adapts the 2009 feature film, itself inspired by Maurice Sendak’s beloved picture book. While the game doesn’t strive for narrative complexity, it faithfully captures the essence of Max’s emotional journey—from feelings of isolation and frustration to wonder and camaraderie among the Wild Things.

The storyline unfolds through brief cutscenes and in‐game events, emphasizing exploration and discovery over heavy dialogue. As Max befriends each creature—Carol, K.W., Bull, Ira, Judith, and Douglas—you sense the budding bond that motivates him to explore new reaches of the island. Their interactions are lighthearted, occasionally humorous, and always supportive of the game’s playful tone.

Although the plot doesn’t deviate far from its cinematic counterpart, the game makes up for any narrative brevity with imaginative level design and character-driven moments. You get a genuine feeling of belonging to a ragtag band of oversized monsters, each with its own quirks and abilities. This lends enough emotional weight to keep younger players engaged throughout the adventure.

Side objectives and hidden areas offer glimpses of additional lore, such as ancient ruins or subterranean chambers hinting at the island’s history. While not essential to the main story, these optional detours enrich the world-building and reward players who take the time to explore every nook and cranny.

Overall Experience

Where the Wild Things Are on DS delivers an accessible, heartwarming platforming adventure perfectly suited for families and younger gamers. Its intuitive controls, charming art style, and the novelty of recruiting and utilizing the Wild Things ensure that each level feels both comfortable and dynamic.

The inclusion of challenge minigames and the custom roar recorder injects just the right amount of variety and replay value. While some veterans of more complex platformers might find the core mechanics straightforward, the game’s endearing presentation and mild difficulty curve make it ideal for fans of the film, those who love classic platformers, or parents seeking kid-friendly content.

Performance is steady throughout, with no significant frame‐rate drops or technical hiccups—an achievement on chunky DS hardware. Music and sound effects complement the visuals, with gentle melodies and ambient noises that enhance each environment’s mood and reinforce the sense of adventure.

In summary, Where the Wild Things Are is a delightful adaptation that captures the magic of its source material while providing solid platforming action. Whether you’re exploring multiple scrolling layers, experimenting with a Wild Thing’s power, or simply enjoying Max’s journey, this DS title offers a consistently engaging experience from start to finish.

Retro Replay Score

null/10