November 20, 2009 - Ever play the classic SEGA arcade game Pengo? Players controlled a penguin through a series of ice block mazes, avoiding enemies and crushing them between the frozen slabs. A similar effort titled Polar Panic is on its way to Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network this winter. Here, players control a polar bear named Polar who is out to rescue his family from trappers. In each stage you'll need to eliminate all enemies (again by crushing them with ice blocks) and make it to the exit before time runs out.
Many of the blocks making up mazes can be destroyed or manipulated. Snow blocks can be broken down, ice blocks can be pushed (these are your primary weapons against the trappers), and dyno blocks can be detonated to take out everything in their vicinity. Ice blocks can also be pushed into holes in order to create a bridge you can stroll across.
If you manage to squash more than one trapper at a time you'll boost your score multiplier for massive points. Some stages include igloos, which are spawn points for the trappers. Sliding a block through the front door will knock the structure down, taking out any remaining enemies inside (again providing a score multiplier if more than one trapper was hiding). Even more bonus points can be earned by knocking over snowmen, freeing your family from cages, and breaking ice bear statues.
Story mode spans 50 levels as Polar searches for his loved ones from his arctic home to the offshore oil rig where the evil Mr. Big awaits. Puzzle mode includes another 50 levels with more of a focus on brain teasers than action. Here, you'll want to reach the exit in as few moves as possible. Then there is Survivor mode, which sends waves of trappers after Polar and up to three of his friends.
We're enjoying Polar Panic so far. It definitely owes a lot to Pengo, but it also has a few tricks of its own up its sleeve. It shouldn't be too long before it's thawed out for release.
