Pengo

n/a

Arcade JP/EU US
Pengo
System(s): Galaxian-based hardware, Sega Game Gear, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit Family
Publisher: Sega Atari
Developer: Sega Coreland Arc System Works
Licensor: Sega
Genre: Puzzle, Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code JP 1982-09 ¥? ? US 1982 $? ? US 1983 RX8045 EU 1984 JP 1990-10-06 ¥2,9002,900 G-3102 EU 1991-11 2202 UK 1991-11 £24.9924.99 2202 KR 199x

Pengo (ペンゴ) is an arcade game developed by Sega and Coreland and published by Sega. It stars Pengo the penguin who must navigate a maze and defeat all the enemy "Sno-Bees" by pushing blocks of ice. It was released in 1982 and was a reasonable success.

Gameplay

In Pengo, the main objective of the game is to eliminate all the Sno-Bees on-screen in the shortest time possible. Comparisons can be drawn with Hudson Soft's Bomberman franchise, though rather than laying bombs, Pengo must push blocks.

Every block in the level can be pushed in one of four directions, provided there is space for the block to move. If an "ice block" is aligned next to another block, Pengo will smash it. Pushing a block will cause it to slide across the screen until it hits a solid obstacle (i.e. a wall or another block).

In each stage, three "diamond blocks" exist, which cannot be destroyed. If the player can line them up in a row (or column) of three, a bonus is awarded.

Pengo is joined by a number of Sno-Bees, who typically wander around the stage acting as a hazard. If Pengo touches a Sno-Bee, a life is lost, but if a sliding block collides with a Sno-Bee, the Sno-Bee will be killed. More points are awarded for killing two or more Sno-Bees with the same block. Sno-Bees can also be hit by Pengo when "stunned", caused by "wobbling" the edge of the stage (if a Sno-Bee is positioned on that edge of the screen) or by aligning the three diamond blocks.

Two types of Sno-Bee exist - a normal type, which simply wanders around the stage, following Pengo if it is close, and a more aggressive type, which can destroy ice blocks. Sno-Bee "eggs" can also hatch from beneath ice blocks (which are highlighted at the start of each stage).

Similar to games such as Namco's Dig Dug, if only one enemy is left on screen, it will try and escape by running off to one of the corners.

Scoring

Crushing a Sno-Bee with an ice block awards the player 400 points. This bonus becomes 1,600 if two are crushed in one push, 3,200 if three and 6,400 if four. Walking over a stunned Sno-Bee awards 100 points. 10,000 points are awarded for aligning the three diamond blocks together if at least one is not touching a wall, but only 5,000 if all are against a wall.

Smashing an ice block will award 30 points, or 500 points if it contains a Sno-Bee egg.

A bonus is awarded upon round completion, depending on time elapsed:

• 5,000 points for under 20 seconds.
• 2,000 points for between 20–29 seconds.
• 1,000 points for between 30–39 seconds.
• 500 points for between 40–49 seconds.
• 10 points for between 50–59 seconds.
• 0 points for 60 seconds or more.

By default, Pengo begins with three lives and a bonus life is awarded at 30,000 points. These values can be changed (anywhere from 2 to 5 lives, and the bonus life can be awarded at 50,000 instead) through DIP switch settings.

History

Ports

Pengo was ported to the Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit computer line and Sega Game Gear (where it was one of three launch titles for the system in Japan, along with Columns and Super Monaco GP). There were also numerous clones, such as Pengi for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron. Capcom's Don't Pull (Donburu), a game which features as part of Wonder 3, is based on Pengo. Pengo was also released as part of Sega Ages Memorial Selection Vol.1 for the Sega Saturn.

An enhanced version of Pengo was later released for the Sega Mega Drive in the form of Pepenga Pengo. Papenga Pengo also contains a reproduction of this game to play.

A 2010 version of Pengo was released in 2010 for Sega RingWide arcade hardware, adding 8-player support and a higher screen resolution.

Pengo the Penguin was also found as an unused model in Sonic the Fighters.

Versions

In the original release, the main music track in Pengo extremely similar to the 1969 synthpop instrumental Popcorn. This was changed in a revised version (which also draws its maze instantly), and again in the many home ports and conversions. Also included is Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, third movement for the intermission screens.

Production credits

Arcade version

In the arcade version, the credits screen can be accessed in the attract mode by holding on both joysticks, holding both action buttons, and pressing  START .

• Directed by: Nobuo Kodera
• Programmed by: Akira Nakakuma
• Designed by: Shinji Egi

Coreland Technology Inc. 1982.9.1

Game Gear version

• Cover artist: Akira Watanabe

Source:

Sega TV Game Genga Gallery

File:Sega TV Game Genga Gallery.pdf

Magazine articles

Main article: Pengo/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

PDF

Arcade US flyer

PDF

Arcade US flyer (alt)

PDF

Arcade JP flyer

Physical scans

Arcade version

Arcade, US
Manual

Arcade, JP

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 60 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 70 Consoles + (FR) 75 Console XS (UK) PAL 79 FX (UK) 80 Game Power (IT) 80 Gamers (DE) 67 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 50 Hobby Consolas (ES) 76 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 48 Player One (FR) 65 Sega Power (UK) PAL 75 Sega Power (UK) PAL 54 Sega Pro (UK) 70 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 79 Sega Force (UK) 60 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 75 Zero (UK) 76

	69
Based on 18 reviews

Pengo

Game Gear, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, JP (01)
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, KR
Cart

Atari 2600 version

Atari 2600, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Atari 2600, EU
Cart

Atari 5200 version

Atari 5200, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Atari 8-bit Family version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Computer & Video Games (UK) 70 Tilt (FR) 100 Tilt (FR) 100

	90
Based on 3 reviews

Pengo

Atari 8-bit family, US
Cover

Atari 8-bit family, US (alt)
Cover

Atari 8-bit family, US (1986)
Cover
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
?	CRC32 ce863dba MD5 95cea3a33a3f5915942904b4817b2010 SHA-1 5883e2d19ab7126d52abc177a97d44bc88c319de	32kB		Cartridge (JP)
?	CRC32 0da23cc1 MD5 f431bc2798fa03d51a9c45d107c66bcf SHA-1 e42f85feb631712b8615a0b19bfbf6432633ba00	32kB		Cartridge (US/EU)