Pen Pen TriIcelon (ペンペントライアイスロン, Pen Pen ToraiAisuron), known simply as Pen Pen in Europe, is a video game created by one of the first Japanese companies to reveal Dreamcast development, General Entertainment, otherwise known as Team Land Ho! It was released in Japan as one of four launch titles, as well as all other regions.
| Pen Pen Trilcelon | |
|---|---|
 European boxart | |
| Developer(s) | Team Land Ho! General Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) |
|
| Platform(s) | Dreamcast |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
Development
editPen Pen Trilceon was developed by Land Ho!, a former internal team at General Entertainment that later became its own company. The studio was still newly founded by the time development began. General Entertainment had been developing two titles, Pen Pen and Godzilla Generations, for the Dreamcast's launch. As a result, Pen Pen had a rushed development which likely explains its short length and lack of promised unlockables.[2]
The soundtrack was composed by Hiroyuki Nagashima, Hisahiko Horiuchi and Yuki Osaka under the band name "DogStarMan".[3] The soundtrack was released on CD as Pen Pen Trilceon Sound Tracks by the label Marvelous Entertainment Inc. in December 1998.[4]
Gameplay
editA TriIcelon is similar to the real-world triathlon. TriIcelons consist of three separate sporting styles in one game: running, sliding, and swimming. These three things combine to make a race where everyone competes for first place. The TriIcelons take place in four courses: Sweets, Jungle, Toys, and Horror.
The player controls little penguin-like characters called Pen Pen, in a race consisting of the three separate sporting styles. Both the sliding and swimming parts are raced by tapping and holding the action button in a rhythmic motion to maintain a smooth flowing pace. The running section is controlled simply with the analogue stick, also with the ability to jump, and charge into other competitors. The playable characters include the Pen Pens Sparky and Tina, the Pen Hippo Ballery, the Pen Shark Jaw, the Pen Walrus Back, the Pen Octopus Sneak, the Pen Dog Mr. Bow, and the unknown-species Hanamizu.
Story
editThe Pen Pen are said to live on a small world called Iced Planet, and was here that the strange alien race were first discovered. Since the closest animal on Earth they resemble is the penguin, they were first given the name Pen Pen. The Pen Pen pretty much inhabit most of the planet's surface. It is believed they do, in fact, have their own language, but if so, it is totally incomprehensible to humans.[5]
It was later discovered that they come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Other types came from other planets to visit the Iced Planet. Six types have been discovered so far.
In a world of snow, ice and water, the Pen Pen have mastered the arts of running, sliding and swimming, and always used to play about on an iced field.
These creatures saw the Pen Pen and came up with an idea, and thus, the TriIcelon was born.
This soon became the most popular sport on the Iced Planet. Pen Pens enjoy this sport everyday and never get bored of competing, but once a year, they hold a grand TriIcelon race to determine the number one TriIcelon player. The PenPen characters later made a cameo appearance on several posters in Blue Stinger's Christmas mall area.
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| GameRankings | 64%[6] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| AllGame |    [7] |
| Edge | 5/10[8] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 5.5/10[9] |
| Famitsu | 25/40[10] |
| Game Informer | 4/10[11] |
| GameFan | (J.W.) 80%[12] 60%[13] |
| GamePro | [14] |
| GameRevolution | C+[15] |
| GameSpot | 6/10[16] |
| GameSpy | 3.5/10[17] |
| IGN | 6.6/10[18] |
| Next Generation | [19] |
The game received mixed reviews according to video game review aggregator GameRankings.[6] Adam Pavlacka of NextGen said of the game, "If you regularly play games with a group, pick it up – otherwise make it a rental."[19] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 25 out of 40.[10]
References
edit- ^ "INA Press Release". 2001-08-04. Archived from the original on 2001-08-04. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ https://www.hardcoregaming101.net/pen-pen-triicelon/amp/
- ^ https://www.mobygames.com/game/9786/pen-pen-triicelon/credits/dreamcast/
- ^ https://www.suruga-ya.jp/kaitori/kaitori_detail/120016471
- ^ From Issue #36 of Sega Saturn Magazine
- ^ a b "Pen Pen TriIcelon for Dreamcast". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019.
- ^ Marriott, Scott Alan. "PenPen TriIcelon - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ Edge staff (January 1999). "PenPen TriIcelon [Import]". Edge. No. 67. Future Publishing. p. 87. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ "Pen Pen TriIcelon". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 123. Ziff Davis. October 1999. p. 220.
- ^ a b "ペンペン トライアイスロン [ドリームキャスト]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ Helgeson, Matt (October 1999). "Pen Pen Tri-Icelon". Game Informer. No. 78. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on May 31, 2000. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ Weitzner, Jason "Fury" (November 1999). "Pen Pen TriIcelon". GameFan. Vol. 7, no. 11. Shinno Media. p. 72. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Rodriguez, Tyrone "Cerberus"; Ngo, George "Eggo" (November 1999). "Pen Pen TriIcelon". GameFan. Vol. 7, no. 11. Shinno Media. p. 18. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ The D-Pad Destroyer (1999). "Pen Pen Tri Icelon [sic] Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 20, 2005. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ Dr. Moo (September 1999). "Pen Pen Tri-Icelon (Japan) Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ Gerstmann, Jeff (December 11, 1998). "Pen Pen TriIcelon Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 22, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ Bowen, Kevin (September 10, 1999). "PenPen TriIceLon [sic]". PlanetDreamcast. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ Gantayat, Anoop (September 8, 1999). "Pen Pen Tri-Icelon". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ a b Pavlacka, Adam (December 1999). "Pen Pen TriIceLon [sic]". NextGen. No. 60. Imagine Media. p. 104. Retrieved October 22, 2020.