A visual novel and dating sim taking place in a dark and gritty reboot of your favourite game as a kid.
Game Geeks News is proud to bring you another great gaming project currently running on Kickstarter. Crush Penguin is a visual novel/dating sim that has been in development for a while now for Windows. It is a nostalgia-fest containing references to your favourite (and not so favourite) memories from the internet in the mid to late 2000s. In this game, you are teleported into the flippers of a penguin returning to their hometown and looking for a suitable penguin to romance.
You just arrived back on the ‘Berg, your old hometown. It looks like a lot has changed here. Rampant corruption and pollution have really destroyed your old arctic home. Some places, like the Plaza, are almost unrecognizable. However, there are still a few gems and good faces in this sea of cold characters.
Your player character has been teleported back to what was once a fun and innocent place and has found it overrun with various criminals and corruption. Desperate to breathe life back into their old escape spot, they have to come to terms with who now inhabits the town and see if there is a way to fix things.
Features:
– Multiple different endings and storylines
– Four penguins to date
– A large amount of supporting cast
– Sense of mystery, revolution, and misadventure…. depending on your penguin of choice
– Stop the ‘Berg from sinking into the ocean!
– Combat system
– Keep track of your dates with Penguinbook – the latest spyware on the island!
– Rhythm-based section and the chance to let a penguin’s dream of being a rapper come true
You can download and try their demo version of Crush Penguin by clicking the banner below.
Meet the Penguins:
Bailey – Although she used to play her daily with her friends, she no longer recognizes what was once a fun and carefree place. She yearns to go back to what she called a “troubled childhood” after being forced to work for minimum wage in a pizza shop to make ends meet. She didn’t expect her life to turn out like this, but now she wonders if she was truly naïve or just stupidly optimistic.
She has no hopes that The ‘Berg will return to its former glory days. With the rampant commercialism (that she hates herself for having to take part in) along with the corruption and crime on the island, she feels she has no choice but to adopt this view. Secretly though, sometimes she wonders if she’s just taking the easy way out and if it’s comforting to feel like this.
Maybe somebody new in her life would help her see a new viewpoint?
Joey – Joey has definitely seen better days. Hypnotized by the nightlife and big lights in the city, he has attempted to insert himself and make a name for himself as a rapper and life coach. Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out exactly the way he planned. At this point, the party is long over, but he’s very determined to see his plans through.
Joey knew he was born for greater things and didn’t want to surrender to the monotony of modern life. He sees himself as better than those conformists working low-level jobs or pursuing higher education since at least he didn’t sell out. Of course, he’s not completely disassociated and is aware his life has its own issues.
Is it possible to get Joey back on his feet?
Alex – Alex is a business penguin, no doubt. With a promising past in both high school and higher education, he’s always thought he was going to be the boss of his own company and make something out of himself. No such luck. As of right now, he’s currently being bossed by his own father and stuck in the same made-up position where he does nothing of interest or that utilizes his skills. Sure, it pays well. But what’s the point? Some days he thinks he might as well have gotten a job as a server.
Desperate to remind himself that he did not waste his youth or alienate his friends, he comes off as a bit hostile and closed. It may be hard to warm up to this penguin, but he still believes he has depths to be explored.
Is it possible to get him to open up before he’s too far gone?
Tommy – This penguin is certainly in the wrong era. But with how depressing his surroundings are, some people can’t blame him for wanting to go back several hundred years and roleplay as a pirate. Other people love to come to the beach and gawk at him. Sometimes it’s a lesson where parents will bring their kids to showcase what they should avoid turning into when they’re adults.
Tommy has no issues with his lifestyle, however. To him, penguins weren’t originally meant to be at sea, so what’s the issue with him returning to this lifestyle? Local authorities aren’t entirely sure about his backstory or what to make of him. They tried to make some charges stick in the past, but failed.
What will make this penguin return back to the current year?
And we are sure there is more to come if stretch goals are met!.
Pledges start from as little as a few dollars, but pledging just $9 will get you a copy of the game PLUS your name in the credits. Other rewards include a random penguin pin and your very own penguin which will have lines and make at least one appearance in a scene. For more information about Crush Penguin visit their Kickstarter here.
F.A.Q.
Q: How is the game made?
A: The demo has been made with love in Ren’Py. We have made working builds in GameMaker, however; we found it is currently not suitable for what we’re trying to do. When considering possible ports, we may make a “special edition” of the game through another program.
Q: How long will the final product be?
A: The final game length is to be determined. Currently, the entire story and dialogue is mapped out however how it will translate into gameplay is always hard to gauge. Generally, we’re trying to make an experience that will last at least 3-4 hours. Not including the True Ending. That’s another matter, however…
Q: How many people are on the team?
A: Just two. We are confident we can do it together, as we have the experience and optimism.
Q: Can the game be saved and will save data transfer?
A: For the demo, we’ve decided to disable saving for simplicity’s sake. Obviously, this means that saved data won’t transfer. However, the demo is so short you probably won’t care.
Q: Will there be translations?
A: At this time, we currently have no plans for translations of the game. However, it’s absolutely something we are considering in the future.
Q: What’s the inspiration for this game?
A: If you think about it hard enough, you’ll probably reach your answer.
Q: How can I contact you?
A: If you want to send death threats or cease and desist letters, you can contact Crush Penguin at: crushpenguin@gmail.com. If you have any issues with donating or playing the demo, please contact them as well.
For more information, and to back this project. Visit their Kickstarter page or visit their website for more information.
