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Penarium review
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by h

It’s one of these faux “nintendo hard” pixel aesthetic games where you’re a lad dodging deadly traps in a circus, except instead of replicating the actually satisfying parts of the well-liked games in this genre it replicates the annoying parts of old games that everyone forgot they hated – the complete lack of polish, what can only generously be called “difficulty” that’s either tedious, cheap or non-existent depending on the level, floaty, imprecise and just generally tactically unpleasant controls, just enough different types of traps and obstacles to get unbearably old before the game ends but not actually enough to keep it interesting the whole way through, on top of the fact that a metric ton of said obstacles are designed to waste your time rather than challenging you in any meaningful way – Penarium has all of these classics and more!

Just…just buy Super Meat Boy if you want this effect. You don’t need this kind of monotony and tedium in your life.

Other reviews7

Penarium is a hateful, spiteful game that aims to make you cry. You know the types of games I'm talking about - Super Meat Boy, I Wanna Be The Guy - this game operates with the same modus operandi as those two did.

Unfortunately, Penarium often falls into the same trap the "super hard indie game designed to make YouTubers yell" genre often falls into - a lot of the difficulty isn't so much exhilarating as it is really annoying, and not just because double jumping fails to register about 20% of the time.

Here's my rule as far as difficulty goes: if you look at something and your reaction is "oh man, this is gonna be tough, can't wait" then you're doing something right. On the other hand, if you look at something and your reaction is "oh man, this looks horrendous, I'd really rather shove a cactus up my ass than have to do this", that's a problem, and that's a sadly far too common feeling in Penarium.
«Constantly dying and enjoy it»
Translated by
Microsoft from Deutsch
Very entertaining 1-Level arcade platformer that delivers exactly what it promises. The Campaign is over after about an Hour, after which the arcade mode beckons. Compared to Games like Super Meat Boy very short, but within time just as entertaining and--at least in the Campaign--lighter than SMB. Unfortunately, Co-op mode has not been tested.
Translated by
Microsoft from Deutsch
A very very great Game. I tangled the Game on the Gamescomso 15 and I liked it. However, I refunded the Game as there was no Online Multiplayer. Single-player, in my Opinion, it's not much Fun. With Friends, the Game would be a lot funnier. If there was an Online Multiplayer, I would get the Game back. Otherwise, it's a very great and fun Game.
Translated by
Microsoft from Deutsch
A very cool, simple, difficult, frustrating and just great game. It is one of easy to learn and hard to master Games. You can easily play the Game with one Hand and have to do small Tasks in your small Arena, but of course survive. The Game is perfect for drinking with one Hand from a Glass of Straw and dying with the other Hand in the Game:D
Translated by
Microsoft from Deutsch
Have you always Wanted to join the Circus? If so then you should not go to this Circus, because here you will find only death. In this Circus, participants are supposed to survive for so long and eventually find Your Death. This is where the Story revolves around a Boy named Willy, whom we need to help Survive. There are a Variety of Traps and Challenges to survive. The Controls are quite simple and you can even overcome the Challenges together with someone else or compete against someone else, almost in Competition. However, this is only possible Local. The Game is challenging in any case and is getting heavier and heavier. I enjoyed it. Here's another Gameplay Video from me: https://youtu.be/UzP0xNGGEnY
Translated by
Microsoft from Deutsch
Penarium is simply the HIT!!! Anyone who liked Super Meat Boy has found their next Pill with Penarium. After the Intro, you are thrown into the constantly heavier arenas without much Schnick Schnack, where you should usually collect a certain Number of Boxes. So that this does not become too easy, however, there are absurd (and absurdly many) Traps. The Main Character controls itself 100% accurately, so you are partly responsible at every Screen dead. Since a lot is died, it is best to order a Replacement Controller. Since the Goal is never so far away and you can get started again quickly, you keep trying the Level all over again. I've made it to the third World so far (as unfortunately only 8% of the other Players) and just bite out of two Target Seekers rocket Launchers. At some Point I certainly pack this Passage as well;-) Until then, Penarium Is also a Pagan Fun In the Co-op!!! 4/5