Happy Feet (video game)

The console versions (for PlayStation 2, GameCube, Wii, and Microsoft Windows) feature three different modes: a dancing mode which simulates Dance Dance Revolution with the player pushing the button in response to arrows on the screen, a fishing mode in which the player collects pebbles and shrimp as well as air bubbles in order to breathe, and a belly-sledding mode where the player sleds and collects the number of fish needed, sleds to beat a given time or races another character down the hill. In the Nintendo DS version of the game, the rhythm sequences use gameplay mechanics similar to those in Elite Beat Agents, though greatly simplified.

The game also features each of these modes for two players. In the dancing and swimming games, the players compete with each other, while cooperating with each other in the multi-player belly-sledding mode. The game features songs not in the film, such as "Shake Your Booty" from KC and the Sunshine Band when Mumble hatches, and "I Will Survive" from Gloria Gaynor when Mumble drives Gloria away by dancing. These are for the dance modes of the game.^[12]

The Game Boy Advance release is significantly different from the console and DS versions; it is primarily a 2D platformer, where Mumble will traverse set levels, usually to perform one task or another for the various characters on the level. Most levels feature a rhythm game, usually playing a song from the film's soundtrack. Other levels are interspaced with smaller minigames, such as sledding or diving for fish, and are required to progress.

All versions of Happy Feet received generally mixed-to-negative reviews. The review aggregator Metacritic reports that the PC and PS2 versions of the game received "generally unfavourable" reviews, with the PC receiving a Metascore of 42 out of 100, based on four reviews,^[25] whilst the PS2 version received a Metascore of 49 out of 100, based on six reviews.^[26] The GameCube, PS2, Wii, and DS versions got similarly mixed reviews,^{[8][9][10][11][7]} though the Game Boy Advance version of the game got slightly more mixed to positive ratings.^[6]