Penko Park plays like Pokémon Snap but is super scary
Penko Park is inhabited by some horrendous creatures.
Genre: photo adventure Developer: ghost butter Platforms: Nintendo Switch and PC release: September 27, 2022
Video game clones are one thing. They have to do something better or at least different than the template – otherwise they are redundant. Penko Park of indie studio Ghostbutter does both. The game was available on PC before the release of New Pokémon Snap and introduced mechanics found in the sequel compared to the N64 title Pokémon Snap, which obviously served as a blueprint. In addition, the brightly colored setting is replaced by a gloomy backdrop with a tragic story.
Penko Park’s gameplay loop is addictive
In Penko Park we visit an abandoned animal park. Just like in Pokémon Snap, we move through the terrain on predetermined paths and can take photos of the more than 140 resident creatures. Once we have arrived at our destination, we will be billed. Points are awarded for pictures of new monsters and for better pictures of creatures that have already been photographed, which can be exchanged for new skills or courses.
When taking a picture, points are awarded for the quality of the picture and for the pose of the monster.
Penko Park doesn’t stand in its own way: Unlocking all game mechanics and areas is quick and Penko Park can be completed in a few hours. Thanks to the new abilities (a hand with which objects can be removed or collected, balls with which we tickle special poses from the monsters, the possibility of entering a spirit world), we can find them again and again in places we have already visited new ways or activities. In between there are no annoying cutscenes that separate you from the addictive gameplay.
Penko Park would be the better Pokemon Snap if not…
If you’re like me, you’ve known Pokémon like Squirtle and Pikachu for 24 years. The appeal of discovering one of the pocket monsters in Pokémon Snap or New Pokémon Snap and capturing it on film is correspondingly great. This motivation is completely missing in Penko Park, because we don’t know how rare or strong the creatures are, or what significance they have in the game world.
In addition, the color palette is relatively one-sided and many monsters look very similar. The backdrop, reminiscent of a watercolor painting, looks appealing, but on more than one occasion I’ve snapped a photo and wondered why I didn’t have any of this monster in my collection. In addition, the contrast between the environment and the creatures is a little too low for my taste.
You can judge the style for yourself based on the trailer:
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The Penko Park Switch trailer features the sinister Pokémon Snap
Despite the creatures’ lack of unique selling propositions, Penko Park offers enough to not have to hide behind the Nintendo franchise. The star here is not the monsters that you have to get in front of the lens, but the already mentioned gameplay and atmosphere. Penko Park has a somber mood that is accentuated by the muted colors. You will learn the appropriate background story if you dare to go on the safari yourself.
Will you go on safari in Penko Park, or is the photo tour just not the same without Pikachu and Co.?
Reference-www.gamepro.de