M&M's The Lost Formulas

Box Art for the PC version of M&M's The Lost Formulas

M&M's The Lost Formulas is an edutainment 3D platformer game released for computers on September 28, 2000. It is the first M&M's video game and was released for operating systems such as Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows XP, and Macintosh by Simon & Schuster Interactive. Its multiple gameplay styles are heavily influenced by the Crash Bandicoot series, and there is an option to turn on additional levels which teach math.

A console version of the game was also released under the title M&M's: Shell Shocked for PlayStation on September 30, 2001.

Gameplay

Yellow is the only playable character. There are three zones in each level, the start zone, math zone, and the end zone. Math zones consist of answering a math question correctly, with difficulty of the problems slightly progressing as the levels grow higher. The game has a total of 8 levels, consisting of multiple gameplay styles such as driving, flying, sections in which Yellow will automatically progress forward, and bonus levels where the player must run towards the camera while avoiding obstacles.

Between levels, there are fully rendered 3D-animated cutscenes with voice acting from Billy West, J.K. Simmons, and Cree Summer, reprising their roles from various M&M's commercials as Red, Yellow, and Green.

Reception

The game was criticized for being based on a candy product, and for being incredibly similar in gameplay to Crash Bandicoot in adventure mode. Its "Math Mode" was praised for having fun features, but not so much having problems as much as having math facts. It was also criticized for being too easy on higher difficulties. However, critics did praise the high-quality graphics and controls of the game. It's considered the best of the M&M's games.

Levels

Level 1 - Get Out Of Town

Level 2 - Milk Chocolate

Level 3 - Oh Chute!

Level 4 - Candy Colors

Level 5 - Stampin' and Sortin'

Level 6 - Pack It In

Level 7 - Warehouse Woes

Level 8 - The Shocking Truth

Bonus Levels

Ride the Rocket (Blue Formula After the Start Zones of Levels 2, 4, 6, and 8)

Robot Stampede (Brown Formula After the End Zones of Levels 2, 4, and 6)

Pipe Down (Yellow Formula After the Start Zones of Levels 3, 5, and 7)

Track Trouble (Red Formula After the End Zones of Levels 3, 5, and 7)

Cutscenes Transcript

Get Out of Town intro

[We find Red and Yellow in front of what appears to be a beach sipping drinks]

Red: Well, my Yellow Fellow, it's time these M&M's had a little R&R.

Yellow: "R&R"? Is that a new candy? Are we being phased out?

Red: We are going on vacation! [he tosses his cup into a trash can and it is shown that they were just standing in front of pictures of vacation spots] Come on! [they walk to the travel agency, but before they could even go in, Red had a question for Yellow] One last thing before we arrivederchi... Who did you leave in charge of the candy factory? [Red's cell phone rings and he answers it] Hello! [starts to get alarmed] It's what? They what?! AND WHAT?!!

[Red turns to Yellow and snarls at him]

Yellow: [noticing this] You're turning red- er.

Red: Repeat after me. "I... Did... Not... Leave... The M&M's Minis... In charge... Of the candy factory"! [Yellow smiles innocently and this makes Red scream in frustration] HAS YOUR CHOCOLATE MELTED?! HAVE YOU GONE COMPLETELY NUTS?!!

Yellow: Well, the Minis aren't that bad. All they need is a chance.

[But he was wrong. In one chamber of the M&M's Factory, some of the Minis are making a great big mess by knocking machines apart and flying around. We then go back to Red and Yellow]

Red: All YOU need is a BRAIN DONOR! Get to the factory! PRONTO! [Yellow hops into his Jeep and before he leaves, Red explains the problem rather angrily] There's a Minis Mutiny going on! They've stolen the formulas for all the M&M's Candies! STOP THOSE MINIS! FIND THOSE FORMULAS!! GO, GO, GO!!! [Yellow drives off to the factory as fast as he could and Red watches him leave] There goes my pride. Hmph. There goes my career.

Get Out of Town ending

[Yellow stops the Jeep in front of the factory and heads for the front doors. At that same time, Red shows up in a helicopter]

Yellow: Here goes nothin'.

Red: [but before Yellow can go in, Red stops him briefly] Wait, little friend. Maybe it's time to ask who's the best candy for the job. Maybe this calls for the Ringer. The Top Gun! The Go-To Guy! [ultimately, he decides Yellow is the one] Nah. You're right. You go.

Yellow: Wish me luck.

Red: [as Yellow goes inside] Miracles happen. Every single day. They do. [as soon as the door closes] We're dead!

Milk Chocolate intro

[Inside the factory, several Minis fly past Yellow laughing mischievously]

Yellow: Oh, no! The Minis have messed with the Milk Chocolate. We're in big trouble.

Red: [walks up to him to correct him sternly] The Minis have messed with the Milk Chocolate. YOU are in big trouble!

Milk Chocolate ending

[Red is shown coming out of a manhole to catch up with Yellow. He was breathing in and out because of how fast he went. All of a sudden, a floating camera comes to them and this gets them scared]

Red: Oh, no! It's...

Red and Yellow: Big Boss Cam!

Yellow: [speaking to him first as the floating camera starts to record what they're saying] Sir, I did a terrible thing. I left the Minis in charge of the factory.

Red: [acting innocent] He delegated. The hallmark of a confident manager.

Yellow: [still nervous] They're turning the whole place upside-down.

Red: A chance to review our emergency plans.

Yellow: [starting to beg for mercy in a sobbing tone] I don't know what to do! Please help me! Oh, please!

Red: [nervous chuckle] Today's manager can admit that he doesn't have all the answers.

Yellow: I'm a Big Huge Yellow Goofball!

Red: [in the Big Boss' office, the video is shown on a screen on the desk] Um... He's a Big Huge Yellow Goofball. So, eh, hot enough for ya?

[The recording becomes static and the screen turns off]

Oh, Chute! intro

Yellow: [as they are shown in a room filled with conveyor belts] Oh, Chute!

Red: I'll say. This factory's full of them. Well, while you're chute-ing the chutes, I'll be in the Green Room napping. [Yellow is suspicious of that line before Red corrects himself] Uh, MAPPING a new offensive strategy. [murmurs to the player] Or hiding in a broom closet. Whatever.

[After Red leaves, Yellow has a look of worry]

Oh, Chute! ending

Red: [after he slides down one chute and bumps into Yellow, he has a piece of paper with him] Urgent memo from upstairs!

Yellow: [tries to read it, but it's upside-down at first] "OWEW"? [Red fixes it and he begins to read the note correctly] "MEMO: Get things under control now, or we're sending in Green to finish the job!" [begins thinking about her] Oh, Green. Uh, how do I look?

Red: Chill out, Romeo. If Green comes to finish the job, guess who gets all the credit. All the kudos. All the Job-Well-Dones.

Yellow: [thinking about it] Mm, don't tell me. I know this one.

Red: Green! That's who! GREEN, GREEN, GREEN!

Yellow: Where, Where, Where?

Red: [annoyed] Ay-Yi-Yi!

Candy Colors intro

Yellow: [now they are shown in a chamber where candy color coating is splashing around] Hey, Red, this reminds me of the time we were shooting a commercial outside that paint store, and the paint cans blew up, and we flew half a mile into a garbage truck, and the...

Red: [putting his hands on him to interrupt and even his left hand leaves a blue handprint on him] Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thanks for that Do-Si-Do down Memory Lane.

[Yellow gives an unimpressed look]

Candy Colors ending

[A buzzer blares and a door opens and out comes Green with a clipboard and a hard hat]

Green: Gentlemen.

Red: So, uh, heh-heh, here to learn a thing or two about disaster management?

Green: [has a question about them at work] Where are your hard hats?

Yellow: Uh, I have an unusually hard shell.

Red: Yeah. I left my hat in the Executive Lounge.

Yellow: While you were collecting the trash?

Red: When I want comments from the Peanut Gallery, I'll fill out a purchase order!

Green: [has another question after the two guys look at each other competitively] That reminds me. Which of you ordered the Inflatable Power Nap Sofa with Dual Cup Holders and Miracle Foot Massage?

Red and Yellow: [pointing at each other at the same time] THAT WAS HIM!

[Red pointed confidently, but Yellow couldn't point in time]

Green: [sighs disappointingly and contacts someone on her phone] Margaret, cancel my other appointments. Gonna be a long one.

Stampin' and Sortin' intro

Green: [she and Yellow are shown as she prepares him for a timed performance. She also no longer has her hard hat] As efficiency expert, I'll be timing your performance.

Yellow: [as Green started a stopwatch] Actually, I do better in the freestyle. [Green starts to get slightly impatient as Yellow explains] See, it all goes back to when I was just a little peanut. I had this coach who was always...

Green: [showing him the stopwatch] Meter's runnin', big fella.

Yellow: [alert of this] WHOA! [he starts to begin the course, but quickly says to her...] To Be Continued.

[He goes off and Green just looks annoyed]

Stampin' and Sortin' ending

[Yellow comes back to Green breathing heavily and wiping sweat off his head because of how fast he went]

Yellow: For a big guy, I'm surprisingly light on my feet.

Green: I'm impressed. I think I'll be giving you a very favorable...

Red: [shows up covered in "M" prints talking snarky] Sure. Go ahead and write your report. Tell 'em we're nothing but a couple of overpaid nincompoops.

Yellow: [softly to his friend] Ixnay on the incompoopnay.

Red: [still unsatisfied] Tell 'em we botched the whole thing from start to finish!

Yellow: [still trying to persuade him] She said she was impressed.

Red: But tell 'em this, and get it word for word! They can't fire me! I qu- [suddenly changes his tune] Impressed, huh? [to Green] Well, what can I say? We do our best. [Green chuckles at this and Red walks off with her discussing ideas while Yellow looks on] And wait'll you hear about our incentives program. Forget stock options. Snack options are where it's at.

Yellow: [still thinking of Green] Sometimes, that candy amazes me.

Pack It In intro

[Red and Yellow are now in a corridor where M&M's candies are being packaged]

Red: Okay, Yellow, pack it in.

Yellow: [puzzled] Huh?

Red: [reminding him] This is where candies get packed into bags and boxes.

Yellow: I knew that. I did.

Red: Oh, then you know that you'll be plunging through the hazardous equipment while I provide the moral support.

Yellow: [sighs] I knew that. I did.

[Yellow begins to walk away]

Pack It In ending

Yellow: [walking along stacks of boxes] Bagged, boxed, and ready to ship.

Red: [muffled voice] HEY! I'm stuck in a box over here!

Yellow: [looking around] What's that, little buddy? Can't hear you.

Red: [muffled still] I'm stuck in a box over here!!

Yellow: Not copying your transmission.

Red: [the box falls and he pops out before shouting] I SAID, "I'M STUCK IN A BOX OVER HERE!!!"

Yellow: No, you're not.

Red: [to the player] Why do spokescandies work in pairs? The Little Dough Guy works alone. He's happy.

Yellow: [another box falls on top of Red] Now you're in a box.

Red: [from inside the box] Now I'm in a state of emotional despair! There's a difference!

Warehouse Woes intro

Green: [she, Red, and Yellow are in the warehouse and Yellow is sitting in a forklift truck] I still need to check you out one last time. Let's see how you do with the heavy equipment.

Red: [slyly] You want me to use my brain? [Green gives an uneased groan] Or not.

[Red whistles casually and Yellow activates to forklift and drives off]

Warehouse Woes ending (NOTE: this cutscene plays whether you complete the red formula or not)

[The forklift stops and Yellow is flung off at a spot where Red and Green are waiting. Green had a bit of bad news about their report]

Green: Gentlemen, it's been... An education.

Red: Then give us our report card. [he snatches the clipboard from her and looks at it] F's a funny letter, huh? So effiant. Effish.

Yellow: Maybe, it stands for "fabulous".

Red: Or "fantastic".

Yellow: Or "febrifuge". [being factual] Uh, that's medicine used to bring down a fever.

Red: [he and Green look at Yellow confusedly before Red grumpily says to the camera] Someone fetch me a febrifuge. Fast!

The Shocking Truth intro

Red: [this time, he and Yellow are in the electrical corridor] Voila! The power system for the whole M&M's Factory. [they see a loose wire dangling and sparking and they are alarmed] Madre Mia! The Minis have been here too!

Yellow: I can't say I'm shocked.

Red: Oh, I think you'll find a way. Can you say... "Charge it"?

[The electricity activates and it surges through them, but it doesn't affect Yellow as much as it does Red. Red is smoking and frozen and Yellow blows at the smoke and backs away]

Conclusion

[The ending scene is we see a boat called the S.S. Minis on the ocean and Red and Yellow are lounging in beach chairs. Yellow had finished drinking his drink and begins to suck on the straw]

Red: Ah, the wonders of teamwork. You mess things up, I put the factory back in order, the Big Boss rewards us with a cruise ship vacation.

Yellow: [pointing out the message] Uh, "Get out of town and don't even think of coming back!" was how he put it.

Red: Details. Details. Just promise me this. Next time you decide to leave a pack of tiny hysterical snack items in charge of vital operations... [in his face crossly] RUN IT BY ME FIRST!

Yellow: Well, the Minis said they're really sorry. They wanna make it up to us.

Red: But of course, you told them that would not be necessary. [Yellow is getting worried at this] That is what you told them, isn't it? Because as for me, I don't wanna see another Minis a long as I live! [for the rest of this scene, we only hear their voices as we see a shaking life raft which is actually the Minis in camouflage. They show their colors as they fly around cheering] And I won't have to, right? I mean, it's not as if they're running the cruise ship or anything. Because that would be terrible. Heh-Heh. I mean, you didn't leave the Minis in charge of the cruise ship. Say something, my peanutty pal! [this final shot is a long shot that pulls away from the cruise ship] You didn't leave the Minis in charge of the cruise ship!?! [screams angrily] WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?! DO YOU CONSIDER THINKING AN EXTREME SPORT?! IS THERE A BRAIN IN THERE WITH THAT OVERSIZED NUT OF YOURS?!!

Yellow: [innocently] The Minis aren't that bad. All they need is a chance.

Red: I'll give YOU a chance! When I throw you overboard, I won't aim for the biggest shark! [stressed out] Three weeks on the Cruise Ship of Catastrophe.

Yellow: [tries to mention fun things] I hear the shuffleboard is state of the art.

Red: [irate] GO AWAY FROM ME!! [vampire voice] I vant to be alone.

Yellow: We can talk about this, can't we, little buddy? I mean... You and me, we can always talk, right? Red? Re-ed? [nervously] Red?

Red: [shouts angrily] WHAT!!?

Yellow: [timidly] Little Minis Guy wants to borrow your drink umbrella.

[At last, Red lets out a long and furious scream as the game ends]

M&M's console main series games