Pengilo is a new budget platformer from developer Double Mizzlee and retropublisher EastAsiaSoft. It’s out now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, priced at $4.99. We’ve been putting the Switch port through its paces, and bring you our findings in this first impressions post. While most budget platformers that we play follow the tried and tested formulas of classic jump and climb, Pengilo takes a different approach to the genre.
The best way we could describe Pengilo‘s gameplay is a mix of Angry Birds and Grapple Dog. The aim in each level is to collect the key and then head to the exit. It sounds simple, but you can’t jump; instead, you bounce your little penguin friend by holding the action button, which reveals a laser sight, then aiming your next bounce towards a platform. It all sounds like it shouldn’t work on paper, but once you spend a few levels bouncing around, it all falls into place.
Pengilo is a genuinely different kind of platform game that uses a great gimmick to create an entertaining experience. It does take a while, but once you practice the technique of aiming, bouncing, and landing, as well as the general way the physics work, this becomes such a joyful game. What’s great about it is that you can also experiment with different angles and timings and watch the poor penguin fly off in a direction, then learn where you went wrong and retry.
The basic principles are so well implemented that we sat and finished the entire game in one sitting, only needing to go back and perfect a few levels. Each level has three stars to collect along with the key, and getting to all of them is the real challenge. Pengilo isn’t a hard game; we finished the main portion of the game in under a couple of hours, but this is fine considering the price. What it lacks in difficulty is made up for in fun and standing out from other budget platform titles.
The graphics in Pengilo, as well as the music and overall presentation, are fine for a budget title, although we would’ve enjoyed them more had there been a little more variety in level settings. There was also some good variety in obstacles to avoid, and although many of the levels felt a bit samey, the overall flow is well thought out, and the difficulty curve is very gentle. Also, this game feels like the perfect match for the Switch and its handheld capabilities; we could imagine blasting a few levels of this on the train.
Overall, Pengilo is a fun, if short-lived, platformer that does something new and exciting. The bounce mechanic is well-designed, and it feels fresh to play with. The level design is good, and the presentation is clean, if a little underwhelming in places. If you’re looking for something different to play and are on a budget, this is well worth trying out. It also feels perfect for anyone looking for a retro-like experience but with new ideas. We really enjoyed our time with Pengilo, thoroughly recommended.
