Bearing witness to insurmountable horror… as a penguin.
There is a strong argument to be made about penguins being a top-three bird. Out in the wild, they present stoic rule over the Arctic, giving off an undeniable impression of regality and strength. Harsh conditions ravage the core of their very being, though they remain grounded in unison with their colony. There’s a key lyric from Enter Shikari’s 2009 banger Solidarity that feels apt: “And still we will be here, standing like statues.” Now what makes these creatures even more fascinating is the contradictory nature of their species. While representing a symbol of perseverance, the essence of penguins can also simply be boiled down to little guys doing their best in a big world.
It’s fun allowing yourself to step into the mind of a penguin wonder what it would be like to see the world through the eyes of a penguin. One may be collecting the perfect pebble in the midst of a blizzard to deliver to their ideal mate. Another could be hanging out with a blissful kid, serving as a makeshift babysitter while his buzzed father winds down from an espresso with two shots of sambuca from Egidio’s on Arthur Ave (just me?). No matter the scenario, similar to cats, penguins carry big “single braincell” energy. Taking that a step further: are the experiences singular, or is there a collective consciousness at work here? An Arctic hivemind of sorts? That’s the question I found myself toying around with as I saw the world through those little beady eyes courtesy of ORIGAME DIGITAL’s upcoming cosmic horror, Penguin Colony.
Penguin Colony drops you in the frigid, vast abyss of Antarctica in 1939. Now committing to roleplaying a penguin for the purposes of this entire impressions piece, I’d suspect I have zero concept of time. I’m out in the frost surrounded by my homies and completely at peace simply existing. Time doesn’t matter as a penguin, which makes this specific era in our history that much more fascinating. We’ll get back to that later, though. Now whether I’ve been awoken like a sleeper cell or I’m delving into the mind of theses already exisiting penguins-in-progress is up for debate, but I spend my opening moments exploring my home. I greet my neighbors who I’d like to think at least perceive me, but do not react. Unspoken love. I slam a rad slope or two on my belly, experiencing what I can only categorize as penguin zoomies. I waddle around aimlessly, because, y’know, what else is there to do with my day? But there comes a moment where a spark triggers. There is something in the wind calling to me.
Without question, I rely on nature’s call to drive my momentum. The abyss begins to become more detailed, with abandoned shelters surrounded by fences. What are these structures here? Who are they for, and where are their inhabitants? Why have they come in the first place? Something draws me closer, yet my thicc stature does not allow me through the gap in the fence (also the name of another 2009 Enter Shikari bop). That’s when it hits me: the ability to jump into the mind of a youngling. Suddenly, the surrounding world has gotten much larger, and I see my former body beside me staring blankly. Is this the Arctic hivemind in play?
With my new form, I’m able to make it inside. Empty, as suspected, though clearly lived in. I come across a photograph of beings seemingly praising a spire. Is that what drew these people to my home? Continuing outside to follow the wind, I’ve taken over a strong, regal emperor penguin. Slower to waddle, but the velocity of my slide is exactly what I need to get answers quickly. Out in the distance, I see a glowing presence of sorts. Is this what remains of those who passed? Like a shiny pebble for the perfect partner, I’m drawn to the orb. I unexpectedly absorb its energy, and a singular word speaks out to me: “southern.” As my journey continues, so do more glowing orbs with fragments of the English language and remnants of beings who’ve abandoned the safety of shelter.
The harsh snow camouflages the surrounding environment, naturally triggering a sensation of feeling lost. But the wind is my calling, and I feel its warmth in exchange for my trust. The journey continues, and something new peers out from the frosty haze… a base camp? With humans? Some are alive, some… not so much.
This is the point where I pause and break character for a hot second. Since I’m a penguin (or an Arctic hivemind hopping around), I couldn’t possibly know that the base camp is riddled with fascist regalia and a particular angular symbol associated with the scum of the earth (past, present, and future) raised high on waving flags. There is something quite haunting and eerily comedic about a penguin rolling up to a bunch of Nazis either dead or losing their minds to the unknown horrors of the Arctic. Taking it a step further, it’s not too bad when you can waddle around them carefree. Again, just a little guy in a big ol’ world, doing their best to simply vibe. Back into the mind our beaked friend.
As I explore the camp, I hear the echo of a being calling out to me. The sentence is broken, but I can make out some of the words: “Heed to the whisper… Lord…” Something tells me that the fragments I’ve been absorbing may not be from what remains of those who passed, but someone… something more grand. Who exactly is calling out to me? Are the winds guiding me with my best interest in mind? Am I just a cog in a grand scheme by a greater power? Unfortunately, there’s a sick halfpipe carved through the path ahead. As a simple little guy, the priority is to shred gnar with my belly. Not time for cosmic beings when there’s a 540 Melon to rip.
With a brisk belly and a full heart, the end of the path is capped with more humans. Some bow in prayer, or possibly in fear. Others peer out into the distance, following the allure of the wind. There’s clearly only one way forward. I proceed into the abyss, completely alone. I’ve reached a point where my colony can no longer be seen. Am I following a greater purpose, being deceived by a horrific trickster, or am I simply leading myself to an inevitable demise away from my family? Before I can come to my own conclusion, a familiar shadow appears in front of me. I’ve reached the Great Obelisk; presumably the same spire from the photograph from the start of my pilgrimage. Purely off penguin instinct, I waddle my way inside the structure to find… power. A beam of blue light protected by a twisted, elongated ribcage soaring into the night’s sky, and all I can do is stare with my innocent penguin gaze.
With H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness as the primary source of adaptation, ORIGAME DIGITAL conceived an alluring premise where you are the innocent bystander of a grand narrative. It’s loosely reminiscent of God of War (2018). You and your son are on a supremely personal mission, but there is something much grander occurring around you. Reiterating an earlier notion, there is something inherently comedic and simultaneously terrifying about a penguin wrapped up in a cosmic horror conflict between a Nazi regime and the Māori caretakers of the land. There is a clear conflict behind the call of an ancient being, and you’re just there, waddling through the thick of it with (seemingly) no skin or feathers in the game. The melding of absurdity with deep horror and historical roots creates a complex stage for a fascinating experience. Before I close, I’d be remiss not to mention the astonishing narration by Lenval Brown. As Howard Blakely, the world he builds encapsulates the tension in such a smoothing, yet twisted manner. The discomfort of Blakely monologuing about his doctor discussing the Aryan people and their once-great civilizations while innocently waddling toward the bone-covered light is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. And this was just a demo.
I’m in awe of this studio and how they continue to push the boundaries of the space. Umurangi Generation made me a die-hard fan, so I was excited for Penguin Colony regardless. But I was not expecting NatGeo penguins doc meets Raiders of the Lost Ark with a splash of Chants of Sennar, and goddamn. I cannot wait to experience the full picture. There is plenty to uncover in the demo for yourselves, so please give it a try and throw them a wishlist. And while we wait for the full launch, remember: punch Nazis and always shred gnar with your belly.
