Penguin Colony takes ample creative freedom in creating one of H.P. Lovecraft’s most authentic adaptations of his work, while you play as a stocky penguin.
For all intents and purposes, Penguin Colony is, indeed, a video game. You control a character in a digital sandbox. There is a main quest, which proves elusive, as it is initially not clear. You collect shiny orbs scattered across a desolate Antarctica along the way. So, from the outset, it might seem like simply another regular release in the ever-crowded schedule. “What will I play tonight?” You may ask yourself. “That absurd game where you play as a penguin?” “Sure.” But the truth is that Penguin Colony is not just an interactive experience. It is a bold statement, and one that transcends gaming. It is a valuable, albeit experimental, work that begs to be witnessed.
Happy Feet, This Is Not
Let’s start with what we can grasp. Penguin Colony is based on “At The Mountains of Madness” and “The Shadow Out Of Time” by H.P. Lovecraft. It is set in the 1930s, with the rise of the Third Reich. An English explorer named Howard Blakely is mysteriously drawn to the depths of the South Pole and embarks on an expedition with said fascists. And finally, as we established, you play as a penguin. Looking at it in paper, it does not make a lot of sense, does it? Yet it perfectly does. How else can the human mind even try to comprehend cosmic horror? That which they have never seen, and still try so defiantly to understand.
You do not play as only one penguin, mind you. As Mr. Blakely narrates his descent into madness with his exceptionally deep voice, the player can possess any penguin in their path over the course of seven chapters. This is where the gameplay falters. While you can change to several species of penguins with their corresponding strengths and weaknesses, their movement is predictably stifled. There is the option to slide around, and depending on the type, you can even double jump or swim faster, but the point stands. Penguin Colony is not fun to play, and I suspect it is not meant to be.
What The Mind Can’t Comprehend
A cryptic veneer permeates everything you encounter, much like the works it is based on. In between loading screens, there are redacted notes about the explorers’ otherworldly encounter. Photographs lost to time are also found here, giving more context as to the nature of the soldiers’ journey and their background. As the penguin entity, collecting glowing orbs grants Insight, meaning that after acquiring a certain amount, you begin to see things not perceptible to an untrained eye. Although jumping imprecisely to reach them might not be worth the effort for some, those who truly want to decipher every little secret have much to find.
There is a stiffness in the mobility, but it is forgiven in how the story is carefully laid out as the sole witnesses of this doomed expedition. As Blakely continues to discover a forgotten civilization and horrors beyond human comprehension with it, the penguins see it all unfold. Nazis eating each other, or being consumed by alien lifeforms, as much as they deserve it, is a deeply uncomfortable scene. Not even with the game’s PS2-style graphics are the penguins saved from such traumatic and violent situations.
More Than Meets The Eye
Giving the impression of being an experimental horror indie film from the get-go, it is shocking to be assaulted by sudden images on the screen. Or the inevitable dangers that can kill even the penguins in one of the most distressing game reactions to a player character dying. Even with all that said, there is nothing more baffling than humanity’s lust for power. Portraying a narrative that subverts and takes over control of its original author’s bigoted views, Penguin Colony’s indigenous developers invite a new type of storytelling. One that breaks the mold in hopes of jumpstarting a revolution.
We live in a world obsessed with scores, which I detest. I say this beforehand because the score itself might reflect a few failures on the video game’s behalf that it could have been better. That said, the truth of the matter is that it achieves exactly what it sets out to do. It poses an impenetrable mystery, only revealing it to those who put in the effort. But I inherently see that it is a flawed masterpiece, one that a mainstream audience will very likely not even make the time to play. But I have been fundamentally moved by its message, and I know those with a sliver of curiosity reading this will be as well.
Verdict: Penguin Colony
Penguin Colony is many things. Within its four-hour playtime, the amusing penguin gameplay might overstay its welcome. Nonetheless, the subject matter is one that rings true even to this day. In a world where it seems that people in power are walking on eggshells trying not to offend anybody, it seems like abusive tyrants took that advantage to take over the world. Using cosmic horror to portray these real-life horrors is a stroke of genius.
This “game” is fully aware of it and takes the time to speak of real-life issues headfirst. Penguin Colony is absurd, yes, but as any great work of art, it is also defiant and a fearless statement in a time when it is sorely needed. I firmly believe it will go down in gaming history as a pivotal moment where a developer finally took a direct stand against the powers that be. It has been a long time coming.
Reviewed on Steam. Nintendo Switch 2 & PlayStation 5 ports are in the works.
A key was provided for this review.
Developer: ORIGAME DIGITAL
Publisher: Fellow Traveller
Release Date: Out now
Pros
- Deep narrator's voice
- Plenty of penguins to possess
- A timely narrative that speaks truth to power
- Some of the best cosmic horror portrayals in any media
Cons
- Stocky movement
- Gameplay is secondary
- Finding collectibles is puzzling
- The baby penguin can die if you're not careful
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Good
