EA announces new rhythm-based kids DS game Zubo

EA's Casual Entertainment Label is set to add a new game to its stable this autumn. One aimed at 7- to 11-year-old boys and girls, to be specific. So if you don't fit into that quite narrow demographic, you might want to click away now.

Or you might still be interested in hearing about it, especially when we tell you it sounds a bit like Patapon on PSP, except that it's for DS and probably features more primary colours.

Taking place in the world of Zubalon, Zubo has you trying to help its inhabitants, the Zubos, defeat an 'evil force' bent on world domination called the Zombos. (If that sentence became a little hazy, don't worry – it's unlikely you'll ever need to remember any of this.)

There are 55 Zubos available to find in the game and, once found, they can be recruited to your squad. Players must feed and nurture their Zubos and help them gain new skills and strengths but also – and most importantly – assist them in battles.

And it's the battling bit that sounds most like Patapon. Zubo's music is the game's key element and players will use music to drive battles forward by tapping the stylus in time to the musical beats.

As well as exploring a colourful land full of singing plants and collectable musical notes, there will also be mini-games to play. And all of those different Zubos (pictured on the artwork above) to find, too. Hopefully this'll be something a bit more inventive than one of EA's last attempts at a DS game aimed at children: EA Playground. We'll find out in the autumn.