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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Action Developer: Eiconic Games Publisher: Valcon Games |
Any gamer that has been around the block a couple of times will probably remember a SEGA arcade game for the early 1980s called “Pengo.” In this game players had to maneuver a penguin through mazes and push
ice blocks in order to crush the enemy blobs on each level. That basic design is the same blueprint that was used to create “Polar Panic,” a new game on Xbox Live Arcade that trades out the penguin from “Pengo” and
inserts a polar bear. Also, the blobs that worked as the enemies in the original game have been replaced by trappers that work for a corporation that wants to capture the bear. It is a fun arcade game that is sure to
appeal to any young gamers that are just starting to get their feet wet in the arcade gaming genre.
Evil corporations make for great antagonists in videogames, and here players have got Globoco Inc. and its CEO, Mr. Big. Mr. Big's trappers have captured Polar the polar bear's family and the bear must go on a quest
for revenge, taking out anyone that gets in his way of revenge. This isn’t a very violent game, but Polar does have to squash every trapper in each level with ice blocks within a time limit before he is able to proceed onto
the next level. This is a kids' game, though, so the violence is more comical than actually being violent. There is a message about protecting the environment here, and while it is great to get those ideas into kids'
heads, older gamers might be rolling their eyes.
The single-player Story Mode follows Polar on his crusade to save his captured kin. Each area in the game consists of five different levels. Now and then, players will face off with Mr. Big in a boss fight where he drives
some giant machine, such as a bulldozer. Mazes are made up of various blocks. Snow blocks are able to be destroyed, ice blocks can be slid around the level, and dynamite blocks explode on contact. There are
others to be discovered as players get further into the game and the game does a nice job of introducing new mechanics as players make progress.
The various trappers have different behaviors as well. Basic enemies merely club Polar, but others will use various weapons including fire rockets, wield flamethrowers, or they will blast him with a freeze ray. If players
are able to squish multiple trappers with one ice block, they increase your score multiplier and raise their status on the online leader boards. “Polar Panic” includes great leader boards for each game mode that is
available.
Besides the trapper problem, most levels have a secret or two that will take some quick thinking to uncover. These may be caged family members or valuable ice bears, but getting to them takes several steps and time
is always against the player. This is where much of the game's replay value comes from, since merely defeating all of the trappers on a level is much easier than also obtaining all of the secret items that are able to be
found in the level. There are a lot of clever challenges here that should keep players of any skill level busy for a while.
After completing the Story Mode, there are Puzzle and Survival modes to work through. In Puzzle Mode, players are scored on both the number of blocks that they push and the time it takes them to complete the level.
Any players who have ever played any games of this type will know exactly what Survival mode entails. Survival mode entails players taking on never ending waves of trappers attacking Polar until he finally gives in to his
final defeat. Survival mode can be played with up to four people. Both it and Puzzle Mode are definitely worth a try for those who try this game out.
“Polar Panic” is a very good time but there are a few blemishes that keep it from being more than just an acceptable game for kids. The controls can be a bit tricky at times, which is a problem to arcade maze games
that require quick reflexes on the part of the player. Taking a corner in the game sometimes isn't as easy as it should be. Collision detection is also off a little bit with the game, so enemy projectiles and clubs never
quite seem to make contact with Polar. And while the orchestral soundtrack is well done, the visuals lack personality and character that many would hope for with a game of this type. The bland presentation also
occasionally makes it difficult to see some of the obstacles on the screen. These aren't necessarily deal breakers for the game, but they will be disappointments to the older players of the game.
“Polar Panic” keeps the memory of “Pengo” alive and is a solid, if uninspired, arcade game for the kids to play. The levels are inventive, Puzzle and Survival modes round out the package, and the orchestral score is
quite nice. It doesn't have a lot of personality though, and some tricky controls and collision detection reveal a lack of polish in the game. However, “Polar Panic” should get younger gamers through the cold winter
ahead. Luckily, its issues don't keep it from being a fun game.
ice blocks in order to crush the enemy blobs on each level. That basic design is the same blueprint that was used to create “Polar Panic,” a new game on Xbox Live Arcade that trades out the penguin from “Pengo” and
inserts a polar bear. Also, the blobs that worked as the enemies in the original game have been replaced by trappers that work for a corporation that wants to capture the bear. It is a fun arcade game that is sure to
appeal to any young gamers that are just starting to get their feet wet in the arcade gaming genre.
Evil corporations make for great antagonists in videogames, and here players have got Globoco Inc. and its CEO, Mr. Big. Mr. Big's trappers have captured Polar the polar bear's family and the bear must go on a quest
for revenge, taking out anyone that gets in his way of revenge. This isn’t a very violent game, but Polar does have to squash every trapper in each level with ice blocks within a time limit before he is able to proceed onto
the next level. This is a kids' game, though, so the violence is more comical than actually being violent. There is a message about protecting the environment here, and while it is great to get those ideas into kids'
heads, older gamers might be rolling their eyes.
The single-player Story Mode follows Polar on his crusade to save his captured kin. Each area in the game consists of five different levels. Now and then, players will face off with Mr. Big in a boss fight where he drives
some giant machine, such as a bulldozer. Mazes are made up of various blocks. Snow blocks are able to be destroyed, ice blocks can be slid around the level, and dynamite blocks explode on contact. There are
others to be discovered as players get further into the game and the game does a nice job of introducing new mechanics as players make progress.
The various trappers have different behaviors as well. Basic enemies merely club Polar, but others will use various weapons including fire rockets, wield flamethrowers, or they will blast him with a freeze ray. If players
are able to squish multiple trappers with one ice block, they increase your score multiplier and raise their status on the online leader boards. “Polar Panic” includes great leader boards for each game mode that is
available.
Besides the trapper problem, most levels have a secret or two that will take some quick thinking to uncover. These may be caged family members or valuable ice bears, but getting to them takes several steps and time
is always against the player. This is where much of the game's replay value comes from, since merely defeating all of the trappers on a level is much easier than also obtaining all of the secret items that are able to be
found in the level. There are a lot of clever challenges here that should keep players of any skill level busy for a while.
After completing the Story Mode, there are Puzzle and Survival modes to work through. In Puzzle Mode, players are scored on both the number of blocks that they push and the time it takes them to complete the level.
Any players who have ever played any games of this type will know exactly what Survival mode entails. Survival mode entails players taking on never ending waves of trappers attacking Polar until he finally gives in to his
final defeat. Survival mode can be played with up to four people. Both it and Puzzle Mode are definitely worth a try for those who try this game out.
“Polar Panic” is a very good time but there are a few blemishes that keep it from being more than just an acceptable game for kids. The controls can be a bit tricky at times, which is a problem to arcade maze games
that require quick reflexes on the part of the player. Taking a corner in the game sometimes isn't as easy as it should be. Collision detection is also off a little bit with the game, so enemy projectiles and clubs never
quite seem to make contact with Polar. And while the orchestral soundtrack is well done, the visuals lack personality and character that many would hope for with a game of this type. The bland presentation also
occasionally makes it difficult to see some of the obstacles on the screen. These aren't necessarily deal breakers for the game, but they will be disappointments to the older players of the game.
“Polar Panic” keeps the memory of “Pengo” alive and is a solid, if uninspired, arcade game for the kids to play. The levels are inventive, Puzzle and Survival modes round out the package, and the orchestral score is
quite nice. It doesn't have a lot of personality though, and some tricky controls and collision detection reveal a lack of polish in the game. However, “Polar Panic” should get younger gamers through the cold winter
ahead. Luckily, its issues don't keep it from being a fun game.
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