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Penguin Colony review - the least expected Soulslike you'll play, and a cracking parody of Lovecraftian empires
Rock Paper Shotgun • • technology
Key Points:
- Penguin Colony is a satirical Lovecraftian game by Indigenous Melbourne-based studio Origame Digital, featuring penguins as protagonists amidst a backdrop of Nazi occultists and Māori warriors in a frozen eldritch setting.
- The game humorously subverts Lovecraft's themes by portraying cosmic horror through the eyes of penguins, creating critical distance from imperialist and racist elements in the source material.
- Gameplay involves switching between different penguin types with unique abilities to solve terrain puzzles, though the controls and movement are intentionally awkward, emphasizing exploration over action.
- Penguin Colony incorporates Soulslike elements, such as challenging environments and a boss fight homage, but frustrates typical combat expectations, focusing instead on narrative and environmental storytelling through collectible words and photographs.
- The developers aim to continue exploring Lovecraftian horror with innovative mechanics and Indigenous perspectives, blending genre conventions with cultural critique and community-driven lore discovery.
