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 Enterprises, Ltd.

Atari

Atari Corporation (re-release)

Developer:

Sega Enterprises, Ltd.

Coreland

Sega R&D 2

Arc System Works^[1]

Distributor:

Samsung (KR)

Licensor:

Sega Enterprises, Inc.

Genre: Puzzle^[2]^[3], Action^[4]

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1982-09	¥?	?
US	1982	$?	?

US	1983
EU	1983
US	1983-12^[5]
US	1984-03^[6]		RX8045
EU	1984
JP	1990-10-06^[4]	¥2,9002,900	G-3102
EU	1991-12^[8]^[9]		2202
PT	199x
UK	1991-12-12^[10]^[11]^[12]	£24.9924.99^[13]	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

Designer: Asohiy^[14]
Katsuhiro Hayashi^[15]

Source:

Uncredited

Cover artist: Akira Watanabe
Manual artist: Sega Consumer Design Development Dept.

Source:

Sega TV Game Genga Gallery^[16]

Magazine articles

Main article: Pengo/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

PDF

Arcade US flyer

PDF

Arcade US flyer (alt)

PDF

Arcade JP flyer

PDF

US "Sno-Bee Squasher" Game Card

PDF

US "Diamond Block Master" Game Card

Physical scans

Arcade version

Arcade, US

Manual

Arcade, JP

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

(RU)

60

^[17]

(JP)

NTSC-J

70

^[18]

(FR)

75

^[19]

(UK)

PAL

79

^[20]

(UK)

80

^[21]

(IT)

80

^[22]

(DE)

67

^[23]

(JP)

NTSC-J

50

^[24]

(ES)

76

^[25]

(UK)

PAL

48

^[26]

(FR)

65

^[27]

(UK)

PAL

75

^[28]

(UK)

PAL

54

^[29]

(UK)

70

^[30]

(UK)

PAL

79

^[31]

(UK)

60

^[13]

(JP)

NTSC-J

75

^[32]

(UK)

76

^[33]

	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, PT

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

Version

Score

(UK)

70

^[7]

(FR)

100

^[34]

(FR)

100

^[35]

	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)

References

↑ GDRI (as mentioned in Arc System Works 25th Anniversary Official Character Collection)
↑ File:Pengo GG EU Box Back.jpg
↑ File:Pengo gg jp cover.jpg
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/gamegear/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-12-07 04:57)
↑ Computer Entertainer, "January 1984" (US; 1984-01-xx), page 16
↑ Computer Entertainer, "April 1984" (US; 1984-04-xx), page 16
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 Computer & Video Games, "August 1984" (UK; 1984-07-16), page 34
↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1991-12-09), page 27
↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-01-13), page 19
↑ Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 7
↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1991-12-09), page 27
↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-01-13), page 19
↑ ^13.0 ^13.1 Sega Force, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 56
↑ Sega Players Enjoy Club, "Vol. 7 Winter" (JP; 1990-11-30), page 15
↑ http://www.iris.dti.ne.jp/~haya-c/funkykh/profile.html
↑ Sega TV Game Genga Gallery, Graphic Sha, page 141
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 231
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1991" (JP; 1991-01-08), page 84
↑ Consoles +, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 111
↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 149
↑ (UK) (+0:00)
↑ Game Power, "Dicembre 1991" (IT; 1991-1x-xx), page 71
↑ Gamers, "Februar/März 1992" (DE; 1992-xx-xx), page 20
↑ Hippon Super, "February 1991" (JP; 1991-01-07), page 42
↑ Hobby Consolas, "Mayo 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 110
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 143
↑ Player One, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 110
↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 61
↑ Sega Power, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-07), page 34
↑ Sega Pro, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-20), page 20
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 74
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88
↑ Zero, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 91
↑ Tilt, "Juin 1984" (FR; 1984-xx-xx), page 40
↑ Tilt, "Novembre/Décembre 1984" (FR; 1984-xx-xx), page 86

Pengo
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Maps \| Hidden content \| Development \| Magazine articles \| Video coverage \| Reception \| Clones No results

Games in the Pengo series
Pengo (1982) \| Pepenga Pengo (1995) \| Ge-Sen Love: Plus Pengo! (2012)
Pengo (1982) \| FL Pengo (No results?) \| Ninku Gaiden: Hiroyuki Daikatsugeki (1995) \| Hello Kitty no Magical Block (2000) \| Pengo for Zaurus (2001) \| Pengo (No results?) \| Pengo (2009) \| Pengo! (No results?)

[.5Bhttp:.2F.2Fgdri.smspower.org.2Fwiki.2Findex.php.2FArc_System_Works_GDRI.5D_.28as_mentioned_in_Arc_System_Works_25th_Anniversary_Official_Character_Collection.29-1] GDRI (as mentioned in Arc System Works 25th Anniversary Official Character Collection)

[:File:Pengo_GG_EU_Box_Back.jpg_p-2] File:Pengo GG EU Box Back.jpg

[:File:Pengo_gg_jp_cover.jpg_p-3] File:Pengo gg jp cover.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20181207045745.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fgamegear.2Fsoftware.html-4] 4.0 ^4.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/gamegear/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-12-07 04:57)

[:File:ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.2_10.pdf_p16-5] Computer Entertainer, "January 1984" (US; 1984-01-xx), page 16

[:File:ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.3_01.pdf_p16-6] Computer Entertainer, "April 1984" (US; 1984-04-xx), page 16

[:File:CVG_UK_034.pdf_p34-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Computer & Video Games, "August 1984" (UK; 1984-07-16), page 34

[8] Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1991-12-09), page 27

[9] Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-01-13), page 19

[:File:SegaPro_UK_03.pdf_p7-10] Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 7

[11] Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1991-12-09), page 27

[12] Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-01-13), page 19

[:File:SegaForce_UK_04.pdf_p56-13] 13.0 ^13.1 Sega Force, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 56

[:File:SPEC_JP_07.pdf_p15-14] Sega Players Enjoy Club, "Vol. 7 Winter" (JP; 1990-11-30), page 15

[http:.2F.2Fwww.iris.dti.ne.jp.2F.7Ehaya-c.2Ffunkykh.2Fprofile.html-15] ttp://www.iris.dti.ne.jp/~haya-c/funkykh/profile.html

[:File:Sega_TV_Game_Genga_Gallery.pdf_p141-16] Sega TV Game Genga Gallery, Graphic Sha, page 141

[17] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 231

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1991-02.pdf_p84-18] Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1991" (JP; 1991-01-08), page 84

[19] Consoles +, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 111

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p149-20] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 149

[fx1992-03-29-21] (UK) (+0:00)

[:File:GamePower_IT_01.pdf_p71-22] Game Power, "Dicembre 1991" (IT; 1991-1x-xx), page 71

[:File:Gamers_DE_1992-01.pdf_p20-23] Gamers, "Februar/März 1992" (DE; 1992-xx-xx), page 20

[24] Hippon Super, "February 1991" (JP; 1991-01-07), page 42

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_008.pdf_p110-25] Hobby Consolas, "Mayo 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 110

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p143-26] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 143

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_015.pdf_p110-27] Player One, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 110

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p61-28] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 61

[:File:SegaPower_UK_31.pdf_p34-29] Sega Power, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-07), page 34

[:File:SegaPro_UK_05.pdf_p20-30] Sega Pro, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-20), page 20

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p74-31] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 74

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p88-32] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88

[33] Zero, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 91

[:File:Tilt_FR_013.pdf_p40-34] Tilt, "Juin 1984" (FR; 1984-xx-xx), page 40

[:File:Tilt_FR_017.pdf_p86-35] Tilt, "Novembre/Décembre 1984" (FR; 1984-xx-xx), page 86

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Pengo

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

Scoring

History

Ports

Versions

Production credits

Arcade version

Game Gear version

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Arcade version

Game Gear version

Atari 2600 version

Atari 5200 version

Atari 8-bit Family version

Technical information

ROM dump status

References