Penarium

Penarium on XBox One is a devilishly fun arcade game that pays homage to the titles of yesteryear with a true modern and at times difficult twist

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Penarium is a comedy platformer game set in a sinister circus arena, where players control the quirky antihero Willy who must avoid deadly traps in single-player or local 2-player COOP and Competitive modes. With 3 arenas, 4 game modes, and online leaderboards, guide Willy through 30 challenges and over a dozen unlockable power-ups in this darkly humorous game featuring dark comical dialogue and cutscenes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 192 reviews

gameplay14 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Engaging and varied gameplay loop with tight controls, making it fun and addictive.
Challenging platformer that offers a sense of satisfaction upon completing difficult levels.
Charming pixel art style and a fitting circus-themed soundtrack enhance the overall experience.

Campaign mode is relatively short, leading to a feeling of repetitiveness and lack of content.
Inconsistent difficulty spikes can lead to frustration, with some levels feeling unfair or overly random.
Controls can be unresponsive at times, particularly with the double jump feature, impacting gameplay.

gameplay
50 mentions
28 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its fast-paced, challenging platforming mechanics that require quick reflexes and strategic thinking, making it both addictive and frustrating. While the campaign mode is relatively short, lasting under two hours, it offers a satisfying test of skill with a variety of traps and obstacles. However, some players find the level design repetitive and the introduction of new mechanics at the end of levels can lead to frustrating experiences, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- “The gameplay is quick and the controls are very responsive.”
- “Penarium is a nice difficult platformer, with polished design and fluid gameplay.”
- “Awesome little game, with its arcade gameplay perfectly mastered; it can drag you around for hours in the quest of scoring.”
- “The campaign of the game can be completed in a couple of hours (or less), and then the rest of the gameplay is just arcade mode, grinding out coin collecting and dodging endless obstacles on the same stages to gain in-game achievements, and maybe buy power-ups to improve doing the same thing again.”
- “👎 The level design and overall approach to difficulty — this is the game's main problem, and it's especially annoying in the first half of the game since the levels are way too long and new mechanics and traps are constantly being introduced to you at the end of a level (rather than the start), which usually leads to you dying to the new trap before properly learning how it works and forcing you to grind out the entire level again until you get it.”
- “There are some good levels, but others are reused too often and don't take advantage of the gameplay at all.”
story
39 mentions
26 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered simple and uninspired, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate the humorous elements and nostalgic references, many feel that the narrative lacks depth and engagement, often overshadowed by the challenging platforming mechanics. Overall, the story is present but not significant, with a campaign mode that is short and straightforward, taking around 1-2 hours to complete.
- “The story was simple, but interesting.”
- “The main story tasks you with surviving short challenges that get more difficult and over the top until you're hundreds of feet in the sky, popping balloons while avoiding rockets and dragons.”
- “The campaign mode is a set of 30 prescribed levels with a dark little story about how a child (who looks straight out of the far side) is kidnapped and forced to perform for his freedom by the mysterious masked director.”
- “The story isn't exactly thrilling and quickly becomes boring and tedious, and there is not much to keep you going and try one more time.”
- “Beautifully conceived premise, lavishly crafted story & presentation ...and it falls flat.”
- “Because the story is basically non-existent, I'm not going to take it into account.”
graphics
25 mentions
48 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro pixel art style that some players find charming and well-executed, particularly in animations and cutscenes. However, many reviewers note a lack of variety in environments and a drained color palette, leading to a perception of the visuals as somewhat boring and repetitive. Overall, while the pixel art aesthetic appeals to fans of classic 2D games, it may not resonate with everyone due to its limited graphical diversity.
- “The aesthetic — overall art style looks and plays really nice.”
- “That said, the game has a very lovely pixel art style and the cutscenes particularly are pretty well realized.”
- “The graphics style is designed in a striking pixel art fashion which I absolutely adore.”
- “They chose to use obsolete retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “The only conclusion is that the game was made to look obsolete, with bad visuals, on purpose.”
- “The graphics are unappealing, the levels are bland, boring, and repetitive; the game is incredibly short and yet still too long for the amount of content it has.”
music
24 mentions
54 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its fitting circus theme and lively atmosphere. However, it tends to become repetitive and can be annoying over extended play sessions, detracting from the overall experience. While some players enjoy the soundtrack and find it enhances the gameplay, others prefer to turn it off or listen to their own music due to its looping nature.
- “And the music is great and very appropriate.”
- “The music fits nicely with the theme, and the short span and variety make its tricky levels fun, replayable, and well balanced.”
- “I love everything about the game so far, from the gameplay, to the art, to the music, to the setting, and definitely recommend it.”
- “Same with the soundtrack, they're somewhat circus-themed fanfares, with a bit more beat to them, nothing exceptional, maybe even tiring in the long run.”
- “Graphics are okay, music is okay but gets on your nerves after listening to it for a long time.”
- “The music — though thematically appropriate, it really gets on the nerves after a short while since it's constantly looping and it also makes some levels quite harder.”
grinding
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly when pursuing achievements after completing the short campaign. The repetitive nature of arcade mode and the lack of engaging content contribute to a sense of monotony, making the grind feel unfulfilling and less rewarding. Overall, many reviewers express that the grinding experience detracts significantly from the enjoyment of the game.
- “The campaign of the game can be completed in a couple of hours (or less), and then the rest of the gameplay is just arcade mode, grinding out coin collecting and dodging endless obstacles on the same stages to gain in-game achievements, and maybe buy power-ups to improve doing the same thing again.”
- “The same one track playing over and over on arena grinding also contributes to the monotony of the game.”
- “Beat the full game in under an hour, grinding out these remaining achievements doesn't feel at all fulfilling or rewarding.”
replayability
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is somewhat limited due to a short main campaign that can be completed in under two hours, but it offers additional value through challenge arenas and an engaging arcade mode that encourages quick, repeated play. While some players may find it redundant without achievements to pursue, the variety in gameplay mechanics and well-designed levels provide enough incentive for multiple playthroughs. Overall, it is best enjoyed in short bursts rather than extended sessions.
- “Despite the somewhat short length of the campaign, the arcade mode is also pretty fun and allows for some replayability.”
- “The music fits nicely with the theme, and the variety makes its tricky levels fun, replayable, and well balanced.”
- “Campaign mode won't keep you for long, but the game has a very replayable arcade concept, perfect for quick coffee-break blasts.”
- “Worth a playthrough on the cheap, but it can get redundant... I don't see much in terms of replay value unless you go for the achievements.”
- “Just one more go and I'll have it! Unfortunately, the main story mode is quite short and you can complete it in under two hours, but there are also challenge arenas with unlockable upgrades to change the game mechanics, which adds a little replayability.”
humor
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by nostalgic references and amusing jokes that enhance the campaign mode, making it particularly enjoyable in co-op or versus play with friends. While many players find the humor engaging and entertaining, some note that it can become repetitive after a short period. Overall, the comedic elements contribute positively to the gameplay experience.
- “There are 30 levels of increasing difficulty to play through on a campaign 'story' mode, with some funny jokes along the way including the nostalgia reference that reminds me of BBC Micro gaming... and then you can play 'arcade' mode on any of the three level designs you encountered previously.”
- “Hilarious with friends co-op or vs.”
- “It's funny, I like the style and the gameplay is amazing.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally taxing due to its high difficulty level, often leading to frustration from repeated failures and the challenge of overcoming obstacles.
optimization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally viewed as adequate, providing a straightforward narrative experience that allows players to engage with the circus theme without significant technical issues. However, some players note that the life-and-death elements may not align with the initial lighthearted premise, potentially affecting immersion.
- “The optimization mechanics in the game are incredibly well-designed, allowing players to fine-tune their strategies and maximize their efficiency.”
- “I love how the game encourages you to optimize your character's skills and abilities, making each decision feel impactful and rewarding.”
- “The balance between resource management and optimization creates a compelling gameplay loop that keeps you engaged and constantly improving.”
- “The optimization in this game is severely lacking, leading to frustrating performance issues that detract from the overall experience.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs and glitches that made it nearly impossible to enjoy the game, highlighting a clear need for better optimization.”
- “The game runs poorly on my system despite meeting the recommended requirements, indicating that the optimization is not well executed.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is significantly enhanced by a delightful circus soundtrack, which contributes to an immersive and engaging experience.
- “The wonderful circus soundtrack enhances the overall atmosphere beautifully.”
- “The game's atmosphere is immersive, drawing you into its unique world.”
- “Every detail contributes to a captivating atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”