1998 · Puzzle

Pingus

Pingus is an open-source video game programmed by German developer Ingo Ruhnke. It is a clone of Lemmings with penguins instead of lemmings.

Released: 1998
Platforms: Linux Unix Windows macOS
Genres: Puzzle
Developers: —
Publishers: —
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Side view
Country: Germany
Time to beat: 13hwith extras

About

Pingus is a free software game programmed by German developer Ingo Ruhnke. It is a clone of Lemmings in which the characters are penguins instead of lemmings.

›Story

For a long time, the Pingus have lived happily in peace on the South Pole along with all the other animals. Everything was in balance and it seemed like nothing could disrupt their peace. The Pingus were happy and it seemed like this could never end. But then one day, things began to change slowly: the sky got darker and the earth got warmer.

Firstly, they thought this was just a normal fluctuation in the world's climate, but things seemed to get worse and worse with every year. The snow began to melt away in a few areas and food became an issue. Other animals tried to leave the region to search for colder areas, but the Pingus knew that this wouldn't help: they knew that they had to do something about it. So the circle of the eldest came together to decide what to do about it.

They decided to send out an expedition around the world to find the cause of this warming. The expedition consisted of hundreds of the bravest Pingus on the South Pole. And they picked you to lead them on their journey around the world. Since the journey will be dangerous and difficult, your first goal is the Island of Mogorok, also known as the Tutorial Island.

According to the eldest, this island has always been the first stop of Pingus that were sent out into the world. The island consists of many areas that are ideal to teach the Pingus their abilities. The Pingus can learn to build bridges, climb, bash and use many other talents which they will need on their long and dangerous journey. While there, you can practice your abilities in commanding and guiding the Pingus.

You can also get familiar with all the abilities the Pingus provide and learn to master them, since you will need all of them on your journey around the world. Now that you and the Pingus have arrived at Tutorial Island it is time ti take command and begin your mission. Good Luck!

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Pingus has 77 levels, grouped into 5 level sets, as well as 21 winter-themed tutorial levels. Pingus 0.7.2 introduced 'levelsets', which are lists of related levels; levels in levelsets usually must be completed in order. However, there are many more levels included with the game not accessible from its GUI, some with entirely different graphics.

Development

Work on the game began in 1998. 6 was released in 2003 for Linux, and featured new levels along with a level editor. On February 11, 2006 the game began being ported from ClanLib to Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL). 0 (the first version to use SDL) was released.

In addition to Windows and Linux, the switch to SDL enabled Pingus to be easily built on other platforms, including Apple's OS X. 1 was released with a new level editor. 2 was released with a set of Halloween-themed levels. 2 available from the Pingus website.

Reception

This game was the first "Game of the Month" by The Linux Game Tome. Critics were favorable toward Pingus. TechGage named Pingus among the "Top 10 Free Linux games" in 2006. CNN and PC-Welt ranked it as one of the best free games available for Linux.

Thinkdigit 2009-05 ranked Pingus among the "Most addictive Linux games". Linux For You September 2009 ranked Pingus 5/5. com called it a great game, while acknowledging its debt to Lemmings. In a 2017 review for Windows Central, George Ponder wrote: "The graphics are good, the gameplay is challenging, and overall, Pingus has the potential of being a fun way to pass the time.