Difference between revisions of "Yume Penguin Monogatari"

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[[Image:Yume Penguin Monogatari - FC - Japan.jpg|thumb|256x256px|Famicom cover.]]
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = Yume Penguin Monogatari
 +
| Image           = Yume Penguin Monogatari - FC - Japan.jpg
 +
| ImageDescription = Famicom - Japan - 1st Edition.
 +
| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|Konami|Konami Industry}}
 +
| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Konami}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 1991
 +
| PublishedMonth  = 01
 +
| PublishedDay    = 25
 +
| Platforms        = {{Platform|NES}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Action video game|Action}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Multi-genre video game|Multi-genre}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Platform shooter|Platform shooter}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Platformer|Platformer}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Shooter|Shooter}}
 +
| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|Cartoon}}
 +
| Series          = ''[[Penta (universe)|Penta]]''
 +
| Distributions    = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}
 +
}}
  
'''''Yume Penguin Monogatari''''' is a multi-genre action game developed and published by [[Konami]] for the [[Famicom]] on 1991-01-25. The game combines a traditional [[platformer]], a [[platform shooter]], and a [[scrolling shooter]]. In the game, you play Penta the penguin from earlier Konami titles like ''[[Arctic Adventure]]'' and ''[[Penguin Adventure]]''. After binging, you've become obese and your girlfriend Penko has left you for the debonair Ginji. Penko gives Penta an ultimatum to lose weight if he wants to see her again, so you have to try and collect diet drinks and avoid food across several stages in order to slim down. The game has only ever been released in Japan in Japanese, but a translation hack for the ROM has been made.
+
'''''Yume Penguin Monogatari''''' is a multi-genre video game developed and published by [[Konami]] for the [[Famicom]] on 1991-01-25. The game combines a [[platformer]], a [[platform shooter]], and a [[scrolling shooter]] into a single action game.
  
I heard about this game from my friend Ryan who suggested it after I posted on Facebook of having just beat two penguin-themed games within a short period of time. Assuming I was purposely playing penguin games, he told me about this game. I was glad he did because it's really quite a gem that never made it to the USA. I played and beat the Japanese game on my first attempt, but, unable to read Japanese, I didn't know there was an [[unlockable difficulty levels|unlockable hard mode]] afterward. So, I got and English translation patch to play it through again and then beat the hard mode, also on my first attempt on 2019-11-24, now being able to read the actual story.
+
You play Penta the penguin from earlier Konami titles like ''[[Arctic Adventure]]'' and ''[[Penguin Adventure]]'' who, after binging on candy, has become obese, and your girlfriend Penko has left you for the debonair Ginji. Penko gives Penta an ultimatum to lose weight if he wants to see her again, and you have to try and collect diet drinks across several stages in order to slim down and win back the affection of Penko. Unfortunately, Ginji's minions are trying to trick Penta into eating more food and staying fat. The game has only ever been released in Japan in Japanese, but a translation hack for the ROM has been made.
  
==Status==
+
==Personal==
I don't own this game, but I have beat both passes and had a prefect weight at the end.
+
{{VideoGameStatus
 +
| Own      =
 +
| CantOwn  =
 +
| Won      = Yes. Both passes with perfect weight.
 +
| CantWin  =
 +
| Finished = 2019-11-24.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
I heard about this game from my friend Ryan who suggested it after I posted on Facebook about beating two penguin-themed games back-to-back. Assuming I was purposely playing penguin games, he told me about this game, and, I was glad he did because it's really a gem that I probably wouldn't have consider playing otherwise. I played and beat the Japanese game on my first attempt, but, unable to read Japanese, I didn't know there was an [[unlockable difficulty levels|unlockable hard mode]] afterward. So, I got and English translation patch to play it through again and then beat the hard mode, also on my first attempt, enjoying it more since I was able to read the actual story.
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
{{Video Game Review|8|6|8|7|4|66%|Famicom}}
+
{{Video Game Review|7|6|8|7|4|Famicom}}
  
 
{{Spoilers}}
 
{{Spoilers}}
Line 15: Line 37:
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
 
* The game is quite creative. The story is certainly original, and the different settings and bosses in each stage are unique.
 
* The game is quite creative. The story is certainly original, and the different settings and bosses in each stage are unique.
* The weight mechanic is quite interesting. When Penta is chubby, he's more difficult to control and bad at attacking, but, as he slims down, he becomes faster and more deadly.
+
* The weight mechanic is quite interesting. When Penta is chubby, he's more difficult to control and bad at attacking, but, as he slims down, he becomes faster and more powerful.
 
* The game uses wonderful cartoon art which has been very competently converted into graphics by [[Batten Takaki]] and [[Gonzalez Shindo]].
 
* The game uses wonderful cartoon art which has been very competently converted into graphics by [[Batten Takaki]] and [[Gonzalez Shindo]].
* The music by [[Katsuhiko Suzuki]] and [[Atsushi Fujio]] is enjoyable and perfect for the game.
+
* The music by [[Katsuhiko Suzuki]] and [[Atsushi Fujio]] is enjoyable and perfect for the game and makes great use of the DPCM channel.
 
* It was certainly an enjoyable change for Konami to make a game that doesn't kill you every few seconds.
 
* It was certainly an enjoyable change for Konami to make a game that doesn't kill you every few seconds.
  
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
* Although I like the fact that "death" is just running out of time, and you have infinite continues, this means a dedicated player is pretty much guaranteed to beat the game after only a little effort. I would have liked it if there was a bit more challenge to the game.
+
* The hard mode run doesn't add anything new to the game. It just weakens the power-ups and increases the damage. I would have preferred if the developers either added more content to the second run or simply made the first run longer and more difficult. Also, by showing the complete ending on the first run, there's nothing left to show for the players who beat the hard mode run. The designers should have made a simple ending for the easy victory and moved the complete ending to hard mode.
* The hit box for Penta seems to be a bit too large. I guess you could argue that he reaches out to try and grab food because he's so hungry, but it does get a bit frustrating when you're pretty sure you're going to avoid an apple only to have it hit you.
+
* The hit box for Penta seems to be a bit too large. I guess you could argue that he reaches out to try and grab food because he's so hungry, but it does get a bit frustrating when you're pretty confident you're going to avoid an apple only to have it hit you.
* By showing the complete ending on the first run through, there's nothing left to show for the players who beat the hard mode run. The designers should have made a simple ending for the easy victory and moved the complete ending to hard mode.
+
* Rather than have apples make you fat, the game probably should have used junk food instead.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
* The game is too short. You can beat it in about 20 minutes, and the second play-through only pushes it to 40, but doesn't add new content. The hard mode just weakens the power-ups and increase the damage. I would have preferred if the developers just made each of the stages longer and harder rather than require a second pass.
+
* The game is too short and too easy. I'm not even that good at platformers, but I beat it in about 20 minutes on my first attempt, and around 40 minutes total for hard mode, also on my first attempt.
* The game is unapologetic in it's [[fat-shaming]], and that sends a pretty terrible message to children.
+
* The game is certainly unapologetic in its [[fat-shaming]] which sends a pretty terrible message to children. I do like the play mechanic of the game, but I think they could have been a bit more sensitive about it.
  
 
==Media==
 
==Media==
 
===Box Art===
 
===Box Art===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Yume Penguin Monogatari - FC - Japan.jpg|The Famicom box uses a cutout paper medium with the game's lovely cartoon characters.
+
Yume Penguin Monogatari - FC - Japan.jpg|The Famicom box uses a cutout paper medium with the game's lovely cartoon characters. The effect is wonderful, and it really gets the theme of the game across.
 +
Yume Penguin Monogatari - FC - Japan - Back.jpg|Back of the box.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Documentation===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Yume Penguin Monogatari - FC - Japan - Manual.pdf|Famicom manual.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Graphics===
 +
* [https://www.spriters-resource.com/nes/yumepenguinmonogatari spriters-resource.com/nes/yumepenguinmonogatari] - Graphics.
  
 
===Videos===
 
===Videos===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9lfRs48lGE youtube.com/watch?v=g9lfRs48lGE] - Longplay (first run only).
+
{{YouTube|v3yN-9fDNdk|Longplay - Japan (first run).}}
 +
{{YouTube|g9lfRs48lGE|Longplay - English (first run).}}
 +
 
 +
==Play Online==
 +
{{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/nes-games/yume-penguin-monogatari-japan.html|Famicom}}
 +
 
 +
==Representation==
 +
{{Representation
 +
| Media                      = Video games
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Fail
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = The only woman is someone who will only date the hero if he loses weight.
 +
| BechdelTestStatus          = Fail
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = There is only one woman.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Fail
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = There are no human characters.
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no queer characters.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
Also, the entire game is about fat-shaming.
  
 
==Titles==
 
==Titles==
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! Language !! Native !! Transliteration !! Translation
 
! Language !! Native !! Transliteration !! Translation
 
|-
 
|-
| Japanese || 夢ペンギン物語 || Yume Penguin Monogatari || Story of the Dream Penguin
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| Japanese || 夢ペンギン物語 || Yume Pengin Monogatari || Story of the Dream Penguin
 
|}
 
|}
  
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[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]]
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Multi-Genre]]
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[[Category: Game Mechanic - Ratchet Scrolling]]
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Platformer]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Platform Shooter]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Shooter]]
 
 
[[Category: Game Mechanic - Unlockable Difficulty Levels]]
 
[[Category: Game Mechanic - Unlockable Difficulty Levels]]
[[Category: Media Theme - Fantasy]]
 
[[Category: NES Games]]
 
 
[[Category: Trope - Damsel In Distress]]
 
[[Category: Trope - Damsel In Distress]]
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
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[[Category: Trope - Women As Reward]]
 +
[[Category: Underrated]]

Latest revision as of 16:16, 14 March 2024

Yume Penguin Monogatari

Yume Penguin Monogatari - FC - Japan.jpg

Famicom - Japan - 1st Edition.

Developer Konami Industry
Publisher Konami
Published 1991-01-25
Platforms NES
Genres Action, Multi-genre, Platform shooter, Platformer, Shooter
Themes Cartoon
Series Penta
Distribution Commercial

Yume Penguin Monogatari is a multi-genre video game developed and published by Konami for the Famicom on 1991-01-25. The game combines a platformer, a platform shooter, and a scrolling shooter into a single action game.

You play Penta the penguin from earlier Konami titles like Arctic Adventure and Penguin Adventure who, after binging on candy, has become obese, and your girlfriend Penko has left you for the debonair Ginji. Penko gives Penta an ultimatum to lose weight if he wants to see her again, and you have to try and collect diet drinks across several stages in order to slim down and win back the affection of Penko. Unfortunately, Ginji's minions are trying to trick Penta into eating more food and staying fat. The game has only ever been released in Japan in Japanese, but a translation hack for the ROM has been made.

Personal

Own?No.
Won?Yes. Both passes with perfect weight.
Finished2019-11-24.

I heard about this game from my friend Ryan who suggested it after I posted on Facebook about beating two penguin-themed games back-to-back. Assuming I was purposely playing penguin games, he told me about this game, and, I was glad he did because it's really a gem that I probably wouldn't have consider playing otherwise. I played and beat the Japanese game on my first attempt, but, unable to read Japanese, I didn't know there was an unlockable hard mode afterward. So, I got and English translation patch to play it through again and then beat the hard mode, also on my first attempt, enjoying it more since I was able to read the actual story.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
7 6 8 7 4

Best Version: Famicom

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The game is quite creative. The story is certainly original, and the different settings and bosses in each stage are unique.
  • The weight mechanic is quite interesting. When Penta is chubby, he's more difficult to control and bad at attacking, but, as he slims down, he becomes faster and more powerful.
  • The game uses wonderful cartoon art which has been very competently converted into graphics by Batten Takaki and Gonzalez Shindo.
  • The music by Katsuhiko Suzuki and Atsushi Fujio is enjoyable and perfect for the game and makes great use of the DPCM channel.
  • It was certainly an enjoyable change for Konami to make a game that doesn't kill you every few seconds.

Bad

  • The hard mode run doesn't add anything new to the game. It just weakens the power-ups and increases the damage. I would have preferred if the developers either added more content to the second run or simply made the first run longer and more difficult. Also, by showing the complete ending on the first run, there's nothing left to show for the players who beat the hard mode run. The designers should have made a simple ending for the easy victory and moved the complete ending to hard mode.
  • The hit box for Penta seems to be a bit too large. I guess you could argue that he reaches out to try and grab food because he's so hungry, but it does get a bit frustrating when you're pretty confident you're going to avoid an apple only to have it hit you.
  • Rather than have apples make you fat, the game probably should have used junk food instead.

Ugly

  • The game is too short and too easy. I'm not even that good at platformers, but I beat it in about 20 minutes on my first attempt, and around 40 minutes total for hard mode, also on my first attempt.
  • The game is certainly unapologetic in its fat-shaming which sends a pretty terrible message to children. I do like the play mechanic of the game, but I think they could have been a bit more sensitive about it.

Media

Box Art

Documentation

Graphics

Videos

Longplay - Japan (first run).
Longplay - English (first run).

Play Online

Famicom

Representation

Strong female character?FailThe only woman is someone who will only date the hero if he loses weight.
Bechdel test?FailThere is only one woman.
Strong person of color character?FailThere are no human characters.
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

Also, the entire game is about fat-shaming.

Titles

Language Native Transliteration Translation
Japanese 夢ペンギン物語 Yume Pengin Monogatari Story of the Dream Penguin

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-GameFAQs.png  Link-TCRF.png  Link-TVTropes.png