Antarctic Adventure
Antarctic Adventure, known in Japan as Kekkyoku Nankyoku Daibōken (けっきょく南極大冒険) is a video game developed by Konami in 1983 for MSX, and later for video game consoles, such as NES. The player takes the role of an Antarctic penguin, racing to disparate research stations owned by different countries in Antarctica.
The gameplay is similar to Sega's Turbo, but plays at a much slower pace, and features platform game elements. The penguin, later named Penta, must reach the next station before time runs out while avoiding sea lions and breaks in the ice. Throughout the levels, fish jump out of ice holes and can be caught for bonus points. The game, like many early video games, has no ending – when the player reaches the last station, the game starts from the first level again, but with increased difficulty.
The gameplay is similar to Sega's Turbo, but plays at a much slower pace, and features platform game elements. The penguin, later named Penta, must reach the next station before time runs out while avoiding sea lions and breaks in the ice. Throughout the levels, fish jump out of ice holes and can be caught for bonus points. The game, like many early video games, has no ending – when the player reaches the last station, the game starts from the first level again, but with increased difficulty.
Antarctic Adventure
Technical
CPU
- z80 Z80 (@ 3 Mhz)
Chipset
- SN76489A (@ 3 Mhz)
Display
- Orientation Yoko
- Resolution 255 x 216
- Frequency 59.922738 Hz
Controlers
- Number of players 2
- Number of buttons 4
- Kind of controler
- joy (8 ways)
- joy (8 ways)
- joy (8 ways)
- joy (8 ways)
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Antarctic Adventure Screenshots
Legacy
Antarctic Adventure was followed by a sequel for the MSX computer in 1986, entitled Penguin Adventure. In addition, the penguin character Penta, and his son Pentarou became a mascot for Konami through the 1980s. They have made appearances in over 10 games. Of particularly note are his appearances in the Parodius series of shoot 'em up games.
A screen from this game can briefly be seen in the introduction of Gradius ReBirth, released in 2008 for the Wii Virtual Console.
There was rumored to be a coin operated arcade version released by Konami in 1984, but the existence of an actual example has yet to be confirmed.
In 1990, Konami released only in Japan a handheld electronic game of Antarctic Adventure, although it is usually listed as South Pole (a more literal translation of the Japanese title).
A screen from this game can briefly be seen in the introduction of Gradius ReBirth, released in 2008 for the Wii Virtual Console.
There was rumored to be a coin operated arcade version released by Konami in 1984, but the existence of an actual example has yet to be confirmed.
In 1990, Konami released only in Japan a handheld electronic game of Antarctic Adventure, although it is usually listed as South Pole (a more literal translation of the Japanese title).
Trivia
- The music that plays in each level is "The Skaters' Waltz" by Émile Waldteufel.
See also
- Pentarou
