When I think about the Nintendo DS, the game that immediately comes to mind may surprise you. It’s not Super Mario 64 DS or Advance Wars; it’s Electroplankton. Released in 2005, this touchscreen oddity allowed players to create music loops through interactive toy-like experiences. While it may be mostly forgotten now, Electroplankton still stands out to me as one of the handheld’s most unique releases.
Although I don’t anticipate the series making a comeback or being ported to the Switch anytime soon, Oddada might be the closest thing you can buy. This $10 PC game is a colorful music-making tool that transforms synths into tactile toys, capturing the charm that I always admired in Electroplankton but in a more modern and standout package. If you enjoy experimenting with synths, this creative tool might be just what you’re looking for.
In Oddada, players create short songs by constructing brief synth loops using colorful children’s toy instruments. Each toy works in its own unique way, from stacking toy houses on a grid to programming beats with a beat pad connected to the houses. Another instrument involves stacking blocks across a voxel landscape, with a spinning lighthouse turning each block into a musical note as it passes. The thrill initially comes from exploring and understanding how each toy generates sound.
Once I’ve created six loops, each represented as a car on a toy train, I can record a song by manipulating the final train. This involves toggling loops on and off by poking the train or adjusting the volume of each loop by sliding the height of each car. Within just 10 minutes, I’ve created a short melody out of thin air, providing the same sense of satisfaction and curiosity that made Electroplankton such a special experience in 2005.
What sets Oddada apart is how it takes this idea to another level. After completing a song, I can turn it into a personalized cassette by recoloring it and adding stickers. Once done, I can save the song as a WAV file and share it online if desired. This transforms the experience from a mere fidget toy into a creative tool with tangible results.
Oddada appeals to a specific type of player with a simple curiosity, but it captures a crucial essence of the joy of music – sound emerges from play. Whenever I’ve used a real synth, I’ve spent hours experimenting with knobs before creating anything concrete, and that experimentation is where the fun lies. Oddada brings this concept to life by turning synths into colorful toys that encourage players to explore until they stumble upon a pleasing tune.
Even if you only spend an hour or two playing around with it, Oddada is a delightful tool for musicians or music enthusiasts of all ages. And even if you don’t fall into those categories, you may still be charmed by its tactile allure that harkens back to the Nintendo DS era. While playing Electroplankton may not be as accessible nowadays, Oddada keeps the spirit of its legacy alive.
