PenPen TriIcelon [Dreamcast]

"Pen Pen is a cute racing game for up to 4 players who pick from 7 characters to run, belly slide and swim through themed cartoon environments. This was a Dreamcast launch title and sits quite oddly beside Virtua Fighter 3tb!

Graphics
This game is very much in the style of other cute racing games such as Mario Kart and Diddy Kong Racing. Colours are bright and bold and the levels are not overladen with features. However, what's there looks good but there is no doubt that the developers were still getting to grips with the hardware. The game sometimes skips frames when played in multi-player mode, but it doesn't happen very often, isn't at all severe, and isn't much of an issue when it does.

The characters look good and have high quality, if simple, textures wrapped around them. The game moves along at a decent pace and there is occasional draw-in with some of the levels in multi-player but it isn't severe.

In the single player mode the game looks great at full screen and there is a great deal more detail and features on the tracks.

The tracks are grouped together in themes (candy land, jungle etc.) and overall its a pleasant looking game, considering its age and the target audience of kids and families.

Sound
Some great tunes accompany the action - my favourites are those that have a jazzy, honky-tonk piano feel to them. The tunes change depending on what part of the track you are on and they are all pretty jolly (except for some of the haunted house levels,but even they are cute) and fit into the themes of the tracks.

Spot effects are well done which occur with jumps, collisions etc. and there are good sliding sounds when taking part on the belly slide stages.

There is an race announcer/commentator who for once isn't that annoying.

Gameplay
This is a straight up novelty racing game that doesn't take itself seriously and should be approached that way. I have read many reviews criticising this game for its light feel and content - but they are missing the point. Anyone who has kids will tell you that its great to come across such an accessible game that the whole family can play with good enough visuals to attract younger gamers.

Each area consists of one long track split into stages. Each stage consists of a race in 1 of 3 disciplines - running, belly sliding and swimming.

Running is simply that, move with the analogue stick and jump with the A button. You can attack other racers but if you miss you become dazed which delays your progress.

You also become dazed when your character is attacked by another player or hits an obstacle and it can get to be annoying - your character goes through a little animation which involves him turning around to look at you so that you can see his dazed expression - slightly amusing the 1st time but not the 50th time! Again, you have to realise that this isn't a serious game rewarding the best player with a victory every time (although the better player will win over a series of races) so relax - its only a game! A kid's one at that.

Having said that, there are some frustrating sections - one in particular is an enclosed arena which features a strong wind against which you have to run - in the 1 player mode with 6 other racers it can become very annoying when you keep getting hit over and over again in the melee....

Belly sliding and swimming are controlled in the same way - you steer with the analogue stick and propel yourself forward by pressing and holding the A button in rhythm - its takes a short while to get used to but my kids (6 an 7) can handle it and on the easy level there is an on-screen prompt telling you when to press and release.

Some of the underwater levels can get a bit much for kids who can easily get lost and as said before on some of the running levels there is the occasional frustrating section - kids can get stuck with some of the jumps (you have to back up and run at a jump sometimes; just pressing forward and repeatedly jumping won't progress you which can be frustrating for children). The levels all have arrows directing players along though and it isn't too long before kids get the hang of it.

At the end of each section, your character automatically trots across a grid that links to the next section after which you take control again. When selecting tracks you can pick the whole set of different sections or pick just one section (good for beginner kids who will handle the running races better at first).

The game produces genuinely comical moments - especially in the running races - watching the characters waddle and bounce off each other while navigating around tight corners is great fun in a multi-player environment.

The main mode of the title is a single player "grand prix" mode (racing against computer controlled characters). This is supported by a 2-4 player match mode and a TT mode. It is by winning races in the single player mode that tracks and special challenge races are unlocked.

There are 3 difficulty levels that adjust the skill of computer controlled components, track length and on-track obstacles.

Overall
This game didn't set the world alight (indeed many say it was a filler title to cash in on the Dreamcast release) but that wasn't the intention - it is a simple, fun, cute game that the whole family can enjoy. Winning races in single player mode also unlocks accessories such as hats, shoes etc. that can be used to dress up the characters (which are carried into the races - though sadly only on the main single player mode it seems). Simple menus that are clean and easily navigated underline the target audience.

It is quite a small game; some special challenge races, characters, and tracks to unlock - thats about it, and I can imagine being dissapointed had I paid full price for it. The implementation feels rushed in places - for example the match vs race doesn't keep score of how many races each player has won.

These days it'll be cheap to pick up - lets face it, if you can find a good games retailer, the Dreamcast still offers great value for money these days.

Great fun and recommended for family play.
"

"Pen Pen is a cute racing game for up to 4 players who pick from 7 characters to run, belly slide and swim through themed cartoon environments. This was a Dreamcast launch title and sits quite oddly beside Virtua Fighter 3tb!

Graphics
This game is very much in the style of other cute racing games such as Mario Kart and Diddy Kong Racing. Colours are bright and bold and the levels are not overladen with features. However, what's there looks good but there is no doubt that the developers were still getting to grips with the hardware. The game sometimes skips frames when played in multi-player mode, but it doesn't happen very often, isn't at all severe, and isn't much of an issue when it does.

The characters look good and have high quality, if simple, textures wrapped around them. The game moves along at a decent pace and there is occasional draw-in with some of the levels in multi-player but it isn't severe.

In the single player mode the game looks great at full screen and there is a great deal more detail and features on the tracks.

The tracks are grouped together in themes (candy land, jungle etc.) and overall its a pleasant looking game, considering its age and the target audience of kids and families.

Sound
Some great tunes accompany the action - my favourites are those that have a jazzy, honky-tonk piano feel to them. The tunes change depending on what part of the track you are on and they are all pretty jolly (except for some of the haunted house levels,but even they are cute) and fit into the themes of the tracks.

Spot effects are well done which occur with jumps, collisions etc. and there are good sliding sounds when taking part on the belly slide stages.

There is an race announcer/commentator who for once isn't that annoying.

Gameplay
This is a straight up novelty racing game that doesn't take itself seriously and should be approached that way. I have read many reviews criticising this game for its light feel and content - but they are missing the point. Anyone who has kids will tell you that its great to come across such an accessible game that the whole family can play with good enough visuals to attract younger gamers.

Each area consists of one long track split into stages. Each stage consists of a race in 1 of 3 disciplines - running, belly sliding and swimming.

Running is simply that, move with the analogue stick and jump with the A button. You can attack other racers but if you miss you become dazed which delays your progress.

You also become dazed when your character is attacked by another player or hits an obstacle and it can get to be annoying - your character goes through a little animation which involves him turning around to look at you so that you can see his dazed expression - slightly amusing the 1st time but not the 50th time! Again, you have to realise that this isn't a serious game rewarding the best player with a victory every time (although the better player will win over a series of races) so relax - its only a game! A kid's one at that.

Having said that, there are some frustrating sections - one in particular is an enclosed arena which features a strong wind against which you have to run - in the 1 player mode with 6 other racers it can become very annoying when you keep getting hit over and over again in the melee....

Belly sliding and swimming are controlled in the same way - you steer with the analogue stick and propel yourself forward by pressing and holding the A button in rhythm - its takes a short while to get used to but my kids (6 an 7) can handle it and on the easy level there is an on-screen prompt telling you when to press and release.

Some of the underwater levels can get a bit much for kids who can easily get lost and as said before on some of the running levels there is the occasional frustrating section - kids can get stuck with some of the jumps (you have to back up and run at a jump sometimes; just pressing forward and repeatedly jumping won't progress you which can be frustrating for children). The levels all have arrows directing players along though and it isn't too long before kids get the hang of it.

At the end of each section, your character automatically trots across a grid that links to the next section after which you take control again. When selecting tracks you can pick the whole set of different sections or pick just one section (good for beginner kids who will handle the running races better at first).

The game produces genuinely comical moments - especially in the running races - watching the characters waddle and bounce off each other while navigating around tight corners is great fun in a multi-player environment.

The main mode of the title is a single player "grand prix" mode (racing against computer controlled characters). This is supported by a 2-4 player match mode and a TT mode. It is by winning races in the single player mode that tracks and special challenge races are unlocked.

There are 3 difficulty levels that adjust the skill of computer controlled components, track length and on-track obstacles.

Overall
This game didn't set the world alight (indeed many say it was a filler title to cash in on the Dreamcast release) but that wasn't the intention - it is a simple, fun, cute game that the whole family can enjoy. Winning races in single player mode also unlocks accessories such as hats, shoes etc. that can be used to dress up the characters (which are carried into the races - though sadly only on the main single player mode it seems). Simple menus that are clean and easily navigated underline the target audience.

It is quite a small game; some special challenge races, characters, and tracks to unlock - thats about it, and I can imagine being dissapointed had I paid full price for it. The implementation feels rushed in places - for example the match vs race doesn't keep score of how many races each player has won.

These days it'll be cheap to pick up - lets face it, if you can find a good games retailer, the Dreamcast still offers great value for money these days.

Great fun and recommended for family play.
"